Skip to main content

FDA Approves Cimzia for Treatment of Adult Patients with Active Psoriatic Arthritis

BRUSSELS, Sept. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - UCB announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) for the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

"The FDA's approval of Cimzia for the treatment of active PsA provides an additional, effective treatment option for those living with the condition.  Psoriatic arthritis brings with it a heavy disease burden that often strikes during the prime years of life, impacting health-related quality of life and physical function," said Dr. Philip J. Mease, Director Rheumatology Research, Swedish Medical Center and Clinical Professor, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, U.S. "The RAPID™-PsA study supporting the US approval is the first randomized, controlled study of an anti-TNF in PsA  to include patients with and without prior anti-TNF exposure. The ACR20 results showed that Cimzia® rapidly improved the signs and symptoms of PsA for patients with response observed as early as the first week of treatment for some patients."

"UCB has a long heritage in rheumatology, with many years of clinical experience with Cimzia in moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis. This approval represents the third indication for Cimzia in the U.S. and reaffirms the value of our commitment to developing medicines that treat serious, chronic diseases, and in turn help those with PsA," said Professor Dr. Iris Loew-Friedrich, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President, UCB.

PsA is a chronic, inflammatory condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in and around the joints and tendons, and usually occurs in combination with psoriasis.1,2 In most people with PsA, psoriasis develops before joint problems.1 When hands and feet are affected in PsA, nail changes can occur, as well as swelling in the fingers and toes (dactylitis).1 PsA affects approximately 0.24 percent of the population worldwide1; up to 30 percent of the estimated 7.5 million psoriasis patients in the U.S. will develop PsA.3,4 Research suggests that nearly one in four people with psoriasis in the U.S. may have undiagnosed PsA.2

FDA approval of Cimzia for active PsA is based on data from the RAPID™-PsA study, an ongoing, Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of certolizumab pegol in 409 patients with active and progressive adult onset PsA. Patients received a loading dose of Cimzia 400 mg at Weeks 0, 2 and 4 or placebo, followed by either Cimzia 200 mg every other week, Cimzia 400 mg every 4 weeks, or placebo every other week.  Patients were evaluated for signs and symptoms of PsA using the ACR20 response at week 12 and for structural damage using the modified Total Sharp Score (mTSS) at Week 24.5

ACR20, 50, and 70 response rates at weeks 12 and 24 were higher for each Cimzia dose group relative to placebo. Patients treated with Cimzia 200 mg every other week demonstrated greater reduction in radiographic progression compared with placebo-treated patients at Week 24, as measured by change from baseline in total modified mTSS Score. Patients treated with Cimzia 400 mg every four weeks did not demonstrate greater inhibition of radiographic progression at Week 24, compared with placebo-treated patients. Treatment with Cimzia also resulted in improvement in skin manifestations in patients with PsA.  However, the safety and efficacy of Cimzia in the treatment of patients with plaque psoriasis has not been established.6

Adverse events occurred in 62% of patients in the certolizumab pegol group (combined dose) compared to 68% of patients in the placebo group. Serious adverse events occurred in 7% of patients in the certolizumab pegol group (combined dose) compared to 4% of patients in the placebo group.7 The safety profile for patients with PsA treated with Cimzia was similar to the safety profile seen in patients with RA and in patients with previous experience with Cimzia.6

In the U.S., Cimzia is also approved for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, it is approved for reducing signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease and maintaining clinical response in adult patients with moderately to severely active disease who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy.7 The FDA is also reviewing a filing for Cimzia in the treatment of adults with active axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), including patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

In the EU, Cimzia in combination with methotrexate (MTX) is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients inadequately responsive to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs including MTX. Cimzia can be given as monotherapy in case of intolerance to MTX or when continued treatment with MTX is inappropriate.8

The European Medicines Agency is currently reviewing a filing for certolizumab pegol in the treatment of adult patients with active PsA. In September 2013, the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use adopted a positive opinion recommending extending the European Union marketing authorization for the use of Cimzia in the treatment of adult patients with severe active axSpA. A final decision from the European Commission is expected within two months.

REFERENCES

Psoriatic Arthritis, Genetics Home Reference. Accessed September 2013 from http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/psoriatic-arthritis
National Psoriasis Foundation.  [Facts about Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis] Accessed September 2013 from
http://www.psoriasis.org/document.doc?id=191
About Psoriasis. National Psoriasis Foundation. Accessed September 2013 from
https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis
Psoriatic Arthritis. National Psoriasis Foundation. Accessed September 2013 from
https://www.psoriasis.org/psoriatic-arthritis
Mease, P., Fleischmann, R. M. et al. Effect of certolizumab pegol on signs and symptoms in patients with psoriatic arthritis: 24-week results of a Phase 3 double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study (RAPID-PsA) Ann Rheum Dis 2013;0:1–8. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203696. Accessed September 2013 from http://ard.bmj.com/content/early/2013/08/28/annrheumdis-2013-203696.full...  
Cimzia® US Prescribing Information. Accessed September 2013 from
http://www.cimzia.com/pdf/Prescribing_Information.pdf
Mease, P., Fleischmann, R. M. et al. Effect of certolizumab pegol on signs and symptoms in patients with psoriatic arthritis with and without prior anti-TNF exposure: 24 week results of a phase 3 double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. Arthritis Rheum. 2012;64(Suppl 10);S1107. ACR Meeting & 47th Annual meeting of the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ARHP); Washington; D.C., USA
Cimzia® EU Summary of Product Characteristics. Accessed September 2013 from http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Product_Info...
For further information
Andrea Levin, Associate Director, PR & Communications  
T +1 770 970 8352, andrea.Levin@ucb.com
Eimear O Brien, Director, Brand Communications
T +32.2.559.9271, eimear.obrien@ucb.com  
Antje Witte, Investor Relations UCB
T +32.2.559.9414, antje.witte@ucb.com   
France Nivelle, Global Communications, UCB
T +32.2.559.9178, france.nivelle@ucb.com
Laurent Schots, Media Relations, UCB
T +32.2.559.9264, laurent.schots@ucb.com      

About UCB

UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 8 500 people in about 40 countries, the company generated revenue of EUR 3.4 billion in 2012. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).

Forward looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current plans, estimates and beliefs of management. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial information, expected legal, political, regulatory or clinical results and other such estimates and results. By their nature, such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions which could cause actual results to differ materially from those that may be implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Important factors that could result in such differences include: changes in general economic, business and competitive conditions, the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or to obtain them on acceptable terms, costs associated with research and development, changes in the prospects for products in the pipeline or under development by UCB, effects of future judicial decisions or governmental investigations, product liability claims, challenges to patent protection for products or product candidates, changes in laws or regulations, exchange rate fluctuations,  changes or uncertainties in tax laws or the administration of such laws and hiring and retention of its employees.  UCB is providing this information as of the date of this press release and expressly disclaims any duty to update any information contained in this press release, either to confirm the actual results or to report a change in its expectations.

There is no guarantee that new product candidates in the pipeline will progress to product approval or that new indications for existing products will be developed and approved. Products or potential products which are the subject of partnerships, joint ventures or licensing collaborations may be subject to differences between the partners. Also, UCB or others could discover safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with its products after they are marketed.

Moreover, sales may be impacted by international and domestic trends toward managed care and health care cost containment and the reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers as well as legislation affecting biopharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement.

SOURCE UCB, Inc.

Posted: September 2013

Related articles

Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) FDA Approval History

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.