Bayer Yakuhin seeks marketing authorization in Japan for EYLEA for treatment of wet AMD

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Bayer HealthCare announced that Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd., Osaka, Japan, has submitted an application to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) in Japan for marketing authorization for EYLEA™, also known as VEGF Trap-Eye, for the treatment of the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).  Regeneron and Bayer HealthCare are collaborating on the global development of EYLEA for the treatment of wet AMD, central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), diabetic macular edema (DME), and myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV).

"The submission of EYLEA for marketing authorization in Japan so soon after our European submission confirms Bayer's and our commitment to bringing this potentially important new therapy to wet AMD patients across the globe," said Leonard S. Schleifer, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Regeneron.

The submission to MHLW is based on the positive results from two Phase 3 trials, the VIEW 1 study conducted in North America and the VIEW 2 study conducted in Japan, Europe, and other countries.  In these trials, all regimens of EYLEA, including 2 milligrams (mg) dosed every two months (following three initial monthly doses), successfully met the primary endpoint of statistical non-inferiority compared to the current standard of care, ranibizumab 0.5 mg dosed every month, in the proportion of patients who maintained (or improved) vision over 52 weeks.  A generally favorable safety profile was observed for both EYLEA and ranibizumab. The most frequent ocular adverse events were conjunctival hemorrhage, macular degeneration, eye pain, retinal hemorrhage, and vitreous floaters, which were balanced across all treatment groups in both studies.  There were no notable differences in non-ocular adverse events among the study arms.

EYLEA was submitted for marketing approval for the treatment of wet AMD in the U.S. in February 2011 by Regeneron and in Europe in June 2011 by Bayer HealthCare.

Bayer HealthCare will market EYLEA™ outside the United States, where the companies will share equally the profits from any future sales of EYLEA.  Regeneron maintains exclusive rights to EYLEA in the United States.