First and only approved therapy in the United States for patients with PH-ILD, a serious, life-threatening disease with potentially more than 30,000 patients in need
FDA approval based on data from the INCREASE clinical trial
PH-ILD is the second FDA-approved indication for Tyvaso, which was initially approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension
SILVER SPRING, Md. and RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- United Therapeutics Corporation (Nasdaq: UTHR) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tyvaso® (treprostinil) Inhalation Solution for the treatment of patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD; WHO Group 3) to improve exercise ability. This is the second FDA-approved indication for Tyvaso, which was first approved in July 2009 for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH; WHO Group 1) to improve exercise ability.
"Adults living with both interstitial lung disease and pulmonary hypertension typically have a poor quality of life because of increased shortness of breath, poor exercise tolerance, and increased mortality. Until now, clinicians treating these patients did not have any approved treatment options," said Aaron Waxman, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the chair of the INCREASE Study Steering Committee. "The regulatory approval of Tyvaso, an inhaled treatment, is exciting news both for patients with PH-ILD and the physicians who treat adults living with this serious, life-threatening disease. This will change the way we manage these patients."
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a group of lung diseases in which marked scarring occurs within the lungs. It is often complicated by pulmonary hypertension (PH; high blood pressure in the lungs), which further symptoms and decreases survival. PH is estimated to affect at least 15% of patients with early-stage ILD (approximately 30,000 PH-ILD patients in the United States) and may affect up to 86% of patients with more severe ILD.
"The FDA approval of Tyvaso for patients with PH-ILD is a landmark treatment advancement for this vulnerable patient population," said Martine Rothblatt, Ph.D., Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of United Therapeutics. "It also underscores our commitment to driving innovation in the field of pulmonary hypertension and expanding the number of patients who can achieve a clinical benefit from Tyvaso. We plan to tap into our experience and expanded infrastructure to bring this safe and effective inhaled therapy to the many patients living with PH-ILD in the United States."
"With this approval representing such a breakthrough for PH-ILD patients, we're treating this indication launch with a sense of urgency," said Michael Benkowitz, President and Chief Operating Officer of United Therapeutics. "We've already expanded our field-based teams by 40% to educate the ILD community on the benefits of Tyvaso and how to properly diagnose PH-ILD. We expect rapid uptake of Tyvaso in this indication and expect to double the number of patients on Tyvaso therapy by the end of 2022, barring any COVID-related delays."
The FDA approval of the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Tyvaso for PH-ILD is supported by data from INCREASE, the largest and most comprehensive completed study of adult patients with PH-ILD. The multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 16-week, parallel-group study of 326 patients met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a significant improvement in six-minute walk distance (6MWD). Results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and discussed at a recent United Therapeutics investor meeting, also showed benefits across several key subgroups, including etiology of PH-ILD, disease severity, age, gender, baseline hemodynamics, and dose. Significant improvements were also observed in each of the secondary endpoints, including reduction in the cardiac biomarker NT-proBNP, time to first clinical worsening event, change in peak 6MWD at week 12, and change in trough 6MWD at week 15. Additional observations included placebo-corrected improvements in forced vital capacity (FVC) and significantly fewer exacerbations of underlying lung disease in patients receiving Tyvaso. Treatment with Tyvaso of up to 12 breaths per session, four times daily, in the INCREASE study was well tolerated and the safety profile was consistent with previous Tyvaso studies and known prostacyclin-related adverse events (see the Important Safety Information below under "About TYVASO® (treprostinil) Inhalation Solution").
About PH-ILD
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a group of lung diseases that are characterized by marked scarring or fibrosis of the bronchioles and alveolar sacs within the lungs. Increased fibrotic tissue in ILD prevents oxygenation and free gas exchange between the pulmonary capillaries and alveolar sacs, and the condition can present with a wide range of symptoms, including shortness of breath with activity, labored breathing, and fatigue.
WHO Group 3 Pulmonary hypertension (PH) frequently complicates the course of patients with interstitial lung disease and is associated with worse functional status measured by exercise capacity, greater supplemental oxygen needs, decreased quality of life, and worse outcomes. PH is estimated to affect at least 15% of patients with early-stage ILD (approximately 30,000 PH-ILD patients in the United States) and may affect up to 86% of patients with more severe ILD.
For Further Information Contact:
Dewey Steadman at (202) 919-4097
Email: ir@unither.com
