Category Archives: Topics

Roxa Adcom Docs Released: FDA Mixed on Risk-Benefit

Today, FDA released the briefing documents for the July 15 roxadustat advisory committee. Overall, the documents have a mixed tone, making the outcome unclear for the two voting questions posed to the 15 voting panelists. Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights from the documents, including a prediction that the adcom vote will be split while still favoring Fibrogen/AZ due to the composition of the adcom panel.

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Novo Buys Cardiomyopathy Asset From Prothena; Teplizumab Receives UK Innovation Passport; Poxel Reorganizes Strategic Direction; Dario Announces New Employer Contracts; New Generic Sitagliptin Received Tentative Approval

Five cardiometabolic-related news items have recently been observed: Novo Nordisk and Prothena Corporation announced a definitive purchase agreement in which Novo has acquired Prothena’s clinical-stage antibody PRX004 and broader ATTR amyloidosis program; Provention Bio announced teplizumab was awarded an “Innovation Passport” in the UK for the delay of clinical T1DM in at-risk diabetes; Poxel announced a new strategic direction for its pipeline which focuses on high value, rare metabolic indications and NASH; Dario announced three new employer contracts; and Unichem Laboratories Limited announced tentative FDA approval of its generic sitagliptin. Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights for the respective news items.

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Finerenone Approved in US as “Kerendia”

Bayer announced the FDA approval of 10mg and 20mg finerenone, branded as “Kerendia,” to reduce the risk of sustained eGFR decline, end-stage kidney disease, CV death, non-fatal MI, and hHF in adults with CKD associated with T2DM (see logo below). The approval of finerenone is based on the positive results of the FIDELIO-DKD study and the timing comes in-line with FENIX’s projection. Recall, results from FIDELIO-DKD were presented at Kidney Week in October 2020 and demonstrated an 18% RRR in the primary composite endpoint. Finerenone is currently under review in the EU, China, and multiple other countries worldwide. FENIX will conduct a full label analysis of finerenone in the coming days once the label is available.

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Roxadustat Adcom May Be Impacted By Roster Changes

Ahead of the AstraZeneca/Fibrogen roxadustat FDA adcom on July 15, 2021, FENIX has identified a recent event that may be impactful to the overall result. More specifically, the Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee (CRDAC) roster has been updated with three committee member terms ending and two new members being added. Below, FENIX provides thoughts on how the updated roster could favor/disfavor AZ/Fibrogen.

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CGM Patent-infringement Suits: Dexcom Sues Abbott; Abbott Sues Dexcom

It has recently been observed that Dexcom filed a patent-infringement suit against Abbott for the sensors used in its Libre CGM. Subsequently, Abbott filed a suit claiming Dexcom is infringing on 12 patents. Of note, the two complaints were filed in separate courts with Dexcom filing its complaint on June 30, 2021 in US District Court for the Western District of Texas (Waco) and Abbott filing in the US District Court, District of Delaware (Wilmington) on July 1, 2021. Below, FENIX provides a summary of the filings and thoughts on the lawsuits.

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Novartis Resubmits Inclisiran NDA; Provention Bio Receives CRL for Teplizumab

Two cardiometabolic-related news items have been observed: Novartis announced the inclisiran NDA has been resubmitted to FDA and Provention Bio announced it received a CRL from FDA for the teplizumab BLA citing the need for additional data regarding PK comparability. Of note, the Provention Bio CRL did not cite any clinical deficiencies related to the efficacy and safety data packages and confirmed the acceptability of the proposed proprietary name for teplizumab, Tzield. Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights from the respective news items.

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Jardiance Positive HFpEF Topline Results (EMPEROR-Preserved)

BI/Lilly announced positive topline results from the Ph3 EMPEROR-Preserved trial, but it did not provide any information on the magnitude of effect. For context, EMPEROR-Preserved was evaluating 10mg empagliflozin in 5,988 adults with HFpEF, regardless of whether they have diabetes. Full results from EMPEROR-Preserved are scheduled to be presented as a Hot Line session at ESC 2021 on August 27. Below, FENIX provides a preliminary favors/disfavors analysis, including thoughts on how Lexicon’s sotagliflozin may still have residual value.

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Why Lilly Will Terminate GGG; Lilly ADA 2021 Investor Update

Lilly hosted an ADA investor event in which the company covered tirzepatide, tri-agonist GGG, QW basal insulin, oral incretins, and a summary slide of Lilly’s CVRM R&D portfolio. Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights from the event, including why GGG won’t progress beyond Ph2.

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ADA 2021 Key Press Releases (June 29)

On the final day of ADA 2021, six cardiometabolic-related press releases were observed from Novo/Walmart, Lilly, Lexicon, Hanmi, Dario, and Adocia. Below, FENIX provides context and analysis for the announcements, including an RAI price-ranking following the Novo/Walmart partnership for ReliOn NovoLog.

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ADA 2021 Key Press Releases (June 28)

On day four of ADA 2021, eight cardiometabolic-related news items were observed from Bigfoot, AZ, Mannkind, Medtronic, Senseonics, BI/Lilly, Sanofi, and REMD Biotherapeutics. Below, FENIX provides context and analysis for the announcements, including thoughts on how the ALT increases observed in REMD’s Ph2 volagidemab trial could spell disaster in Ph3.

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