- Numax Showed Non-Inferiority in Primary Endpoint with 26-Percent Relative
Reduction in RSV Hospitalizations Among High-Risk Infants -
- Numax Also Showed Superiority Over Synagis for a Secondary Endpoint by
Achieving a 52-Percent Relative Reduction in Incidence of Medically Attended
Outpatient Lower Respiratory Infections Caused by RSV -
GAITHERSBURG, Md., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedImmune, Inc.
(Nasdaq: MEDI) today announced preliminary results from a Phase 3 pivotal
study showing that Numax met its primary endpoint of non-inferiority by
reducing the incidence of hospitalizations caused by respiratory syncytial
virus (RSV) in infants at high risk for serious RSV disease by 26 percent when
compared to Synagis(R) (palivizumab). The data also indicate that Numax showed
superiority over Synagis in a secondary endpoint by reducing the incidence of
RSV-specific medically attended outpatient lower respiratory infections (LRI)
by approximately 52 percent.
"We are very pleased with the outcome of this large, multi-national Phase
3 study comparing Numax to Synagis, which is the current standard of care in
the U.S. for preventing RSV in high-risk infants," said Edward M. Connor,
M.D., chief medical officer and executive vice president. "The preliminary
results of this study are highly encouraging and indicate that Numax may have
the potential to offer high-risk infants additional protection against RSV
infection over and above Synagis, which has an established safety and efficacy
profile. We intend to continue to evaluate the complete data set to more fully
understand the trial results, and then to review the data with the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration."
The pivotal Phase 3 study was designed to compare the safety and efficacy
of Numax with that of Synagis in infants at high risk for serious RSV disease
for the reduction of serious RSV disease in the inpatient and outpatient
settings. The primary endpoint was to assess the non-inferiority of Numax
compared to Synagis in the incidence of hospitalizations caused by RSV. By
design, non-inferiority was defined to have been demonstrated if the upper
bound of the two-sided 95 percent confidence interval of the relative risk
(RR) for the primary endpoint was lower than 1.265. As indicated above, Numax
showed a 26-percent reduction [RR: 0.737, 95 percent CI: (0.503, 1.083)] in
RSV hospitalizations compared to Synagis. The corresponding p-value for non-
inferiority analysis was < 0.01. In the trial, the overall RSV attack rate was
1.4 percent for infants receiving Numax compared to 1.9 percent for those who
received Synagis. The study's RSV-related secondary efficacy endpoint,
conducted in a subset of sites, was the comparative reduction of RSV-specific
medically attended outpatient LRI. Numax showed a 52-percent statistically
superior reduction in RSV-specific medically attended LRIs compared to
Synagis; the overall RSV-specific medically attended LRI rate was 1.9 percent
for infants receiving Numax compared to 3.9 percent for those who received
Synagis (p = 0.003).
"The conduct of this trial by study investigators was outstanding,"
commented Genevieve Losonsky, M.D., vice president, clinical development,
infectious disease. "The trial's success is a testimony to the quality of
their work, as well as to the commitment of their staff and to the parents .
on the part of their children who participated in the study."
In this preliminary assessment, the number and type of adverse events and
serious adverse events were balanced between the study groups. The overall
mortality rates were comparable between the two groups (0.1 percent Synagis
and 0.2 percent Numax). Study drug was discontinued due to related adverse
events in a small number of children in each group (0.1 percent Synagis and
0.3 percent Numax). Immunogenicity in the Numax arm was low, less than 1
percent, and comparable to the historical Synagis rate.
The trial was a randomized, double-blind study involving approximately
6,600 high-risk infants at more than 300 centers in 24 countries within the
Northern and Southern Hemispheres conducted over two years during multiple RSV
seasons. Study participants consisted of premature infants born at 35 weeks
gestational age or less who were six months of age or younger at
randomization, as well as children with chronic lung disease related to
prematurity (CLD) requiring medical management within the six months prior to
study entry, who were 24 months of age or less at randomization.
About RSV
Each year, an estimated 125,000 infants in the United States are
hospitalized with severe RSV infections, the leading cause of infant
hospitalization in the U.S.(1) RSV is the most common respiratory infection in
infancy or childhood. Approximately one-half of all infants are infected with
RSV during the first year of life, and nearly all children have been infected
at least once by the time they reach their second birthday. Children born
prematurely as well as those with chronic lung disease or congenital heart
disease are at highest risk for severe disease and hospitalization due to RSV.
The virus may also cause severe illness in other high-risk groups such as the
elderly, those with underlying respiratory or cardiac disease, and those with
compromised immune systems (e.g., bone marrow transplant patients).
About Numax
Numax is an investigational humanized monoclonal antibody being evaluated
for its potential to prevent serious lower respiratory tract disease caused by
RSV in pediatric patients at high risk of RSV disease. Phase 1 and Phase 2
studies have been reported showing that Numax appears to have a similar safety
and pharmacokinetic profile to Synagis in infants. Additionally, in early
phase studies children treated with Numax had reduced RSV replication in the
upper respiratory tract.
About Synagis
Synagis is the only monoclonal antibody approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration to help prevent an infectious disease. Since its licensure in
1998, Synagis has been administered to more than 800,000 infants in the U.S.
and has become the standard of care for infants at high risk for RSV. Synagis
is indicated for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract disease
caused by RSV in pediatric patients at high risk of RSV disease, which is
prominent in the Northern Hemisphere during the winter months. Synagis is a
humanized monoclonal antibody given by an intramuscular injection once a month
during the RSV season. Synagis was approved in 1998 by the FDA; in 1999, by
the European Medicines Evaluation Agency; and in 2002, by the Japanese
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. In 2003, the FDA expanded the U.S.
label for Synagis for use in young children with hemodynamically significant
congenital heart disease at risk of RSV disease. To date, Synagis has been
approved in 62 countries, including the United States. In clinical trials,
the most common adverse events occurring at least 1 percent more frequently in
Synagis-treated patients were upper respiratory infection, otitis media, fever
and rhinitis. Cynanosis and arrhythmia were seen in children with CHD. Very
rare cases of anaphylaxis (less than 1 case per 100,000 patients) and rare
hypersensitivity reactions have been reported. Synagis should not be used in
patients with a history of a severe prior reaction to Synagis or its
components. For full prescribing information for Synagis, see the company's
website at: .
About MedImmune, Inc.
MedImmune strives to provide better medicines to patients, new medical
options for physicians, rewarding careers to employees, and increased value to
shareholders. Dedicated to advancing science and medicine to help people live
better lives, the company is focused on the areas of pediatric infectious
diseases, cancer and inflammatory diseases. With more than 2,500 employees
worldwide, MedImmune is headquartered in Maryland. For more information, visit
the company's website at www.medimmune.com.
This announcement may contain, in addition to historical information,
certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such
statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain
assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from those currently
anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including risks and
uncertainties discussed in MedImmune's filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. The company is developing Numax for potential future
marketing. There can be no assurance that such development efforts will
succeed, that Numax will receive required regulatory approval or that, even if
such regulatory approval is received, that Numax would ultimately achieve
commercial success.
(1) Shay DK, Holman RC, Newman, RD et al. Bronchiolitis-associated
hospitalizations among US children, 1980-1996. JAMA. 1999; 282:1440-1446.
Contacts:
Media: Clarencia Stephen, 301-398-4073 or Jamie Lacey, 301-398-4035
Investors: Peter Vozzo, 301-398-4358
http://www.medimmune.com
SOURCE MedImmune, Inc.
CONTACT: Media: Clarencia Stephen, +1-301-398-4073, or Jamie Lacey,
+1-301-398-4035, or Investors: Peter Vozzo, +1-301-398-4358