Baxter seeks FDA approval of BAX 855 for treatment of people with hemophilia A

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR) reported that partner Baxter International Inc. today announced that the company has submitted a biologics license application (BLA) to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the approval of BAX 855, an investigational, extended half-life recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) treatment for hemophilia A based on ADVATE [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant)].

"The evidence from our late-stage controlled trial showcases that BAX 855 could become an important new treatment option for people with hemophilia A, expanding on more than a decade of experience with ADVATE," said John Orloff, M.D., vice president and global head of research and development for Baxter BioScience. "BAX 855 represents our continued commitment to developing valuable new options for the hemophilia community that address the needs of patients around the world."

The submission is based on positive results from a prospective, global, multi-center, open-label, two-arm Phase 3 study of 137 previously treated patients (PTP). The results demonstrated that BAX 855 met its primary endpoint in the control and prevention of bleeding episodes and routine prophylaxis for patients who were 12 years or older. Patients in a twice-weekly prophylaxis arm experienced a 95 percent reduction in median ABR as compared to those in the on-demand arm (1.9 vs. 41.5, respectively). BAX 855 was also effective in treating bleeding episodes, 96 percent of which were controlled with one or two infusions. No patients developed inhibitors to BAX 855 and no treatment-related serious adverse events, including hypersensitivity, were reported. The most common (three patients) product-related adverse reaction was headache.

Baxter expects to present additional data from the BAX 855 pivotal trial in the coming months. The continuation study remains ongoing for patients who completed the pivotal trial and the Phase 3 study among previously treated patients under the age of 12 with severe hemophilia A is progressing. Once the pediatric study is complete, Baxter expects to file for marketing authorization with the European Medicines Agency in 2016. Upon approval, BAX 855 is expected to be produced at the company's Singapore manufacturing facility, one of several sites currently approved for ADVATE production.

BAX 855 is based on ADVATE, a full-length FVIII molecule with more than 10 years of real-world experience. Through a collaboration with Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR), BAX 855 leverages proprietary PEGylation technology designed to extend the duration of activity of proteins in the body. This proprietary technology has been used for over 10 years in a number of approved medicines that treat chronic or serious conditions.

SOURCE Baxter International Inc.