Additional Patient Registry Data Presented at ASH Annual Meeting Examined Burden of PNH on Patients' Lives
PNH is an ultra-rare, life-threatening blood disorder in which chronic uncontrolled activation of the complement system causes the chronic destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis). Alexion is the maker of Soliris® (eculizumab), a first-in-class terminal complement inhibitor that is the first treatment developed specifically for PNH.
Elevated Hemolysis Associated With Early Mortality and Risk of Thrombosis
Researchers presented a poster titled, "Association Between Elevated Hemolysis at Diagnosis and Early Mortality and Risk of Thrombosis In Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) Patients with Cytopenia." (1) The analysis, which included 301 PNH patients from the National Data Registry in
Researchers concluded that PNH patients with hemolysis are at an increased risk of mortality and life-threatening complications, and that hemolysis is a potential risk factor for mortality and life-threatening complications independent of the presence of cytopenia. In PNH patients with elevated hemolysis, as measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, researchers reported significantly higher rates of mortality (16% vs. 4%; p=0.019), thromboembolism (TE) (25% vs. 4%; p=0.001), and abdominal pain (54% vs. 32%; p=0.006) compared to PNH patients without hemolysis. In PNH patients with cytopenia, rates of mortality (19% vs. 3%; p=0.032), TE (19% vs. 3%; p=0.032), and abdominal pain (58% vs. 32%; p=0.015) also were significantly higher in patients with hemolysis compared to those without hemolysis.
"This research provides further evidence that uncontrolled complement activation and the resulting chronic hemolysis are the underlying causes of the morbidities and mortality associated with PNH," said
The PNH Registry: Burden of Disease from Patient Perspective
In a poster session on Saturday titled, "Evaluation of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Disease Burden: The Patient's Perspective," researchers presented patient-reported quality-of-life, hospitalization, and missed work outcomes for 431 patients enrolled in the PNH Registry. Patients were from 102 clinical sites in 17 countries and had completed a baseline questionnaire. (2)
In the study, patients with PNH reported a reduced quality of life as measured by the EORTC QLQ-30 questionnaire, with a mean reduction of six to 12 points compared to the general population in five of the six EORTC function subscales: global health, physical functioning, role functioning, cognitive functioning, and social functioning. A change of five or more points on this scale is considered a clinically meaningful difference. (3,4)
Patients with PNH also reported a substantially more severe level of fatigue as measured by the FACIT-Fatigue scale, with a 7.3 point reduction compared to the general population. A change of three or more points on this scale is considered a clinically meaningful difference. (5)
In the six months before enrolling in the study, one in four patients (26%) were hospitalized, and one in three patients with a paid job (33%) missed work due to PNH. At least one in six patients (16%) reported not working or worked less due to PNH. Patients with a history of thrombosis had an increased risk of hospitalization, being unemployed, or working less. Patients who reported abdominal pain, dyspnea, or icterus had an increased risk of hospitalization, missed work, or being unemployed (all p<.05).
"Just a decade ago, we knew very little about PNH. Today, with the growing PNH Registry, we're amassing valuable data that help us better understand and manage patients with this disease," said
The PNH Registry: Blood Transfusions in PNH Patients with and without Aplastic Anemia
A second set of PNH Registry data were presented in a poster session yesterday titled, "Use of Blood Transfusion in Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Patients with and without Aplastic Anemia in the Global PNH Registry." (6) The study aimed to characterize the use of transfusions among PNH patients with and without underlying history of aplastic anemia (AA), a type of BMD.
The registry data indicate that patients with AA have a similar likelihood of elevated hemolysis — which drives the life-threatening complications of PNH — as do patients without BMD. At enrollment, 31.8% of PNH patients had a history of AA, while 49.2% had no history of BMD.
For patients with clone sizes <10%, 10-49%, and >50%, LDH multiples of upper limit of normal for AA and no BMD patients were 0.90 and 1.01, 1.55 and 2.00, and 4.70 and 4.96, respectively.
In addition, as compared to PNH patients without AA, patients with PNH and a history of AA reported similar frequency of abdominal pain and fatigue, more bruising and bleeding, and less dysphagia and hemoglobinuria. The analysis showed that approximately 40% of patients did not require a transfusion in the year prior to enrollment, regardless of AA history.
"These data add to the growing body of knowledge we're gaining through the PNH Registry, which already has made significant strides in helping us define PNH treatment objectives and best practices," said Hubert Schrezenmeier, M.D.,
The PNH Registry is designed to increase medical understanding of PNH and facilitate diagnosis of the disease. The PNH Registry collects data from patients with PNH irrespective of clone size or treatment status. As of
About PNH
PNH is an ultra-rare blood disorder in which chronic uncontrolled activation of complement, a component of the normal immune system, results in hemolysis (destruction of the patient's red blood cells). PNH strikes people of all ages, with an average age of onset in the early 30s. (7) Approximately 10 percent of all patients first develop symptoms at 21 years of age or younger. (8) PNH develops without warning and can occur in men and women of all races, backgrounds and ages. PNH often goes unrecognized, with delays in diagnosis ranging from one to more than 10 years. (9) It is estimated that approximately one-third of patients with PNH do not survive more than five years from the time of diagnosis. (9) PNH has been identified more commonly among patients with disorders of the bone marrow, including aplastic anemia (AA) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). (10,11,12) In patients with thrombosis of unknown origin, PNH may be an underlying cause. (7) More information on PNH is available at www.pnhsource.com.
About Soliris
Soliris is a first-in-class terminal complement inhibitor developed from the laboratory through regulatory approval and commercialization by Alexion. Soliris has been approved in the U.S.,
Important Safety Information
Soliris is generally well tolerated in patients with PNH. The most frequent adverse events observed in clinical studies of patients with PNH were headache, nasopharyngitis (runny nose), back pain and nausea. Treatment with Soliris should not alter anticoagulant management because the effect of withdrawal of anticoagulant therapy during Soliris treatment has not been established.
The U.S. product label for Soliris also includes a boxed warning: "Soliris increases the risk of meningococcal infections. Meningococcal infection may become rapidly life-threatening or fatal if not recognized and treated early. Vaccinate patients with a meningococcal vaccine at least two weeks prior to receiving the first dose of Soliris; revaccinate according to current medical guidelines for vaccine use. Monitor patients for early signs of meningococcal infections, evaluate immediately if infection is suspected, and treat with antibiotics if necessary." During PNH clinical studies, two out of 196 vaccinated PNH patients treated with Soliris experienced a serious meningococcal infection. Prior to beginning Soliris therapy, all patients and their prescribing physicians are encouraged to enroll in the PNH Registry, which is part of a special risk-management program that involves initial and continuing education and long-term monitoring for detection of new safety findings.
About Alexion
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Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements related to potential health and medical benefits of Soliris (eculizumab) for the treatment of patients with PNH. Forward-looking statements are subject to factors that may cause Alexion's results and plans to differ from those expected, including for example, decisions of regulatory authorities regarding marketing approval or material limitations on the marketing of Soliris for its current or potential new indications, the possibility that results of published reports or clinical trials are not predictive of safety and efficacy results of Soliris in broader patient populations, the possibility that initial results of commercialization are not predictive of future rates of adoption of Soliris, the risk that third parties won't agree to license any necessary intellectual property to Alexion on reasonable terms or at all, the risk that third party payors will not reimburse for the use of Soliris at acceptable rates or at all, and a variety of other risks set forth from time to time in Alexion's filings with the
References
(1) Abstract 4241 entitled "Association Between Elevated Hemolysis at Diagnosis and Early Mortality and Risk of Thrombosis in Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) Patients with Cytopenia," presented in a poster session at the 52nd
(2) Abstract 1525 entitled "Evaluation of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Disease Burden: The Patient's Perspective. A Report from the International PNH Registry," presented in a poster session
(3) Osoba et al J Clin Oncol 1998; 16:139-144.
(4) EORTC QLQ-C30 Reference Values, 2008.
(5) Cella et al. Cancer 2002; 94:528-538
(6) Abstract 2241 entitled "Use of Blood Transfusions in Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Patients with and without Aplastic Anemia Enrolled in the Global PNH Registry," presented in a poster session
(7) Socié G, Mary J Yves, de Gramont A, et al. Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria: long-term follow-up and prognostic factors. Lancet. 1996: 348:573-577.
(8) Parker C, Omine M, Richards S, et al. Diagnosis and management of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Blood. 2005;106 (12):3699-3709.
(9) Hillmen P, Lewis SM, Bessler M, Luzzatto L, Dacie JV. Natural history of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. N Engl J Med. 1995; 333:1253-1258.
(10) Wang H, Chuhjo T, Yasue S, Omine M, Naka S. Clinical significance of a minor population of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria-type cells in bone marrow failure syndrome. Blood. 2002;100 (12):3897-3902.
(11) Iwanga M, Furukawa K, Amenomori T, et al. Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria clones in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol. 1998;102 (2):465-474.
(12) Maciejewski JP, Risitano AM, Sloand EM, et al. Relationship between bone marrow failure syndromes and the presence of glycophosphatidyl inositol-anchored protein-deficient clones. Br J Haematol. 2001;115:1015-1022.
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