Sandoz announces EGALITY trial results

The EGALITY study met its primary endpoint demonstrating equivalent efficacy of Sandoz biosimilar etanercept candidate to the originator product at week 12

Sandoz, a Novartis division, has announced results from the EGALITY trial in which the primary endpoint of achieving equivalence in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75 response rates at week 12 was met. The study compared the safety and efficacy of its biosimilar etanercept candidate with the originator product, Enbrel in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque-type psoriasis and was presented at Psoriasis 2016, the 5th Congress of the Psoriasis International Network (PIN), Paris, France.

“The EGALITY data, showing our biosimilar etanercept to be bioequivalent to the originator product, is part of the comprehensive data package submitted to the EMA and FDA,” said Malte Peters, Head Global Clinical Development, Biopharmaceuticals, Sandoz. “If our biosimilar etanercept is approved for the same indications as the originator product, more patients with chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis will have access to life-changing biologic treatment options,” Peters continued.

Additional data from the study confirms similarity between the biosimilar etanercept candidate and the originator product in terms of safety and immunogenicity; the incidence of adverse events at week 12 was comparable.

“The EGALITY study is a landmark in clinical trial design. Data has been collected from over 500 patients in one year with multiple treatment switches where a patient receives either the biosimilar etanercept candidate or the originator product on a number of alternate occasions,” said Professor Diamant Thaçi, Comprehensive Center for Inflammation Medicine, University Medical School Schleswig-Holstein, Lubeck.

“Data from this study, in addition to analytical, functional and pre-clinical studies, provides confidence in the comprehensive data package that is the basis for biosimilar medicine approval and use by healthcare practitioners,” Thaçi continued.

Sandoz announced that its biosimilar etanercept candidate was accepted by the EMA and FDA for regulatory review in the second half of 2015. Sandoz is seeking approval for all indications included in the label of the originator product, which is used to treat various inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

EP News Bureau – Mumbai