A series of cardiometabolic-related news items have been observed from Abbott/Dexcom, Madrigal, Esperion, Mannkind, Viatris, and AstraZeneca/FibroGen. Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights for the respective news items.
Four cardiometabolic-related news items have been observed: The Wegovy US label has been updated to include 1.7mg as a second maintenance dose in addition to the 2.4mg dose (view label); BI/Lilly announced the European Commission (EC) approved Jardiance for the treatment of adults with CKD (view press release); Glucotrack announced positive results from the feasibility study for its implantable CGM (view press release); and Fibrogen announced the resignation of Enrique Conterno, with Thane Wettig taking over as interim CEO (view press release). Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights on the respective news items, including insight into Novo’s potential rationale for adding another Wegovy maintenance dose.
A series of cardiometabolic-related news items have been observed from FibroGen, Bayer, Dexcom, Teladoc, and Dario/Sanofi. Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights for the respective new items.
AstraZeneca and Fibrogen announced FDA issued a CRL regarding the roxadustat NDA for the treatment of anemia due to CKD in non-dialysis dependent (NDD) and dialysis-dependent (DD) adults. Recall, in July 2021, FDA held an advisory committee that voted 1-13 and 2-14 against the approval of roxadustat for the NDD and DD populations, respectively (previous FENIX insight). According to the press release, FDA is requesting additional clinical study be performed prior to resubmitting the roxadustat application. AZ and Fibrogen are working with FDA to evaluate next steps.
Today, FDA held an advisory committee meeting to discuss the proposed roxadustat indication for the treatment of anemia due to CKD in non-dialysis dependent (NDD) and dialysis-dependent (DD) adults. The panel voted 1-13 and 2-12 against either NDD or DD approval, respectively. Below, FENIX provides a summary of key adcom panelist commentary as well as thoughts on the vote and next steps for AZ/Fibrogen and Akebia/Otsuka’s vadadustat.
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.
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.
Yesterday, Fibrogen issued a press release and hosted a call with investors in which the company provided clarification on certain prior disclosures of US primary CV safety analyses from the roxadustat Ph3 program for the treatment of CKD anemia. According to the press release, while senior management was preparing for the roxadustat adcom (tentatively scheduled for July 15, 2021), it became clear that the “primary cardiovascular safety analyses included post-hoc changes to the stratification factors.” Below, FENIX provides thoughts from various angles that suggest the ~40% share price hit to Fibrogen is a non-contextualized Wall Street overreaction.