FDA Approves Kineret (anakinra) for the Treatment of Deficiency of IL-1 Receptor Antagonist (DIRA)

WALTHAM, Mass., Dec. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sobi™, an international biopharmaceutical company dedicated to rare diseases, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Kineret (anakinra) for the treatment of deficiency of IL-1 receptor antagonist (DIRA).

DIRA is an ultra-rare, autoinflammatory disease caused by a genetic mutation in the IL1RN gene, which encodes the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) protein.2 In patients with DIRA, the deficiency of IL-1Ra leads to unopposed action of IL-1 signaling, resulting in life-threatening systemic inflammation with skin and bone involvement.2

“DIRA signs and symptoms, which can occur in the first weeks of life and may be fatal, require urgent diagnosis and management. The approval of Kineret for DIRA will allow Sobi to bring a new treatment option to this patient community,” said John Yee, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, Sobi North America. “We are grateful to the patients, families, researchers and clinicians whose participation helped make this approval possible.”

The safety and efficacy of Kineret were evaluated in a long-term natural history study, including nine patients with DIRA (ages 1 month to 9 years at start of Kineret treatment) treated with Kineret for up to 10 years. All patients had genetically confirmed DIRA. The starting dose of Kineret was 1 to 2 mg/kg/day in the six patients for which the dose was reported (the remaining 3 patients’ starting dose was not reported). The dose was then individually adjusted to reach a stable efficacious dose to control active inflammation. The highest Kineret dose studied was 7.5 mg/kg/day. At the last visit during the first Kineret treatment period, the dose ranged from 2.2 and 6.1 mg/kg/day. Inflammatory remission was defined as achievement of all of the following criteria: CRP ≤ 5 mg/L, no pustulosis, no inflammatory bone disease and no concomitant glucocorticosteroids use. All nine patients achieved inflammatory remission while on Kineret treatment. This clinical research was conducted by investigators at the National Institutes of Health.

The most common adverse events in patients with DIRA were upper respiratory tract infections, rash, pyrexia, influenza-like illness and gastroenteritis. The safety profile observed in patients with DIRA treated with Kineret was consistent with the safety profile of Kineret use in patients with Neonatal-Onset Multisystem Inflammatory Disease (NOMID), a previously approved indication. There were no permanent discontinuations of Kineret due to adverse events. All nine patients achieved inflammatory remission, which was defined by normalization of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels to ≤ 5mg/L, no evidence of pustulosis (skin rash) or inflammatory bone disease and discontinuation of glucocorticosteroids on Kineret.

Karen Durrant, RN, BSN, President, the Autoinflammatory Alliance said, “We are excited about this approval and what it means for people living with DIRA. We hope that the approval will spark greater awareness about this ultra-rare disease and, in turn, bring patients one step closer to finding the treatment they need.”

Kineret was originally approved by FDA in November 2001 for moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis and in January 2013 for a severe form of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), known as NOMID.

For more information about Kineret, please visit KineretRX.com.

INDICATION

Kineret® (anakinra) is a prescription medicine called an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) used to:

• Reduce the signs and symptoms and slow the damage of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in people aged 18 years and older when 1 or more other drugs for RA have not worked
• Treat people with a form of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS) called Neonatal-Onset Multisystem Inflammatory Disease (NOMID)
• Treat people with Deficiency of Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist (DIRA)

KINERET is not for children with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

 

About Deficiency of IL-1 Receptor Antagonist (DIRA)

DIRA is an ultra-rare, autoinflammatory disease caused by a genetic mutation in the IL1RN gene.

The IL1RN gene produces the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) protein which plays a critical role in helping regulate the interleukin-1 (IL-1) signaling pathway.2 IL-1 is a powerful driver of inflammation and plays an important role in the body’s immune response. IL-1 proinflammatory signaling primarily occurs through IL-1α and IL-1β. IL-Ra competes with IL-1α and IL-1β, inhibiting proinflammatory signaling.3 In patients with DIRA, the deficiency of the IL-1Ra leads to unopposed action of IL-1α and IL-1β, resulting in life-threatening systemic inflammation with skin and bone involvement.2

About Kineret (anakinra)

Kineret is an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) that is indicated for reduction in signs and symptoms and slowing the progression of structural damage in moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis, in patients 18 years of age or older who have failed 1 or more disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), for the treatment of Neonatal-Onset Multisystem Inflammatory Disease (NOMID), a form of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS) and for the treatment of patients with Deficiency of Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist (DIRA).

About Sobi™ in North America

As the North American affiliate of international biopharmaceutical company Sobi™, our team is committed to Sobi’s vision of providing access to innovative treatments that make a significant difference in the lives of individuals with rare diseases. Our product portfolio includes multiple approved treatments, focused on inflammation/immunology and genetics/metabolism. With U.S. headquarters in the Boston area, Canadian headquarters in the Toronto area, and field sales, medical and market access representatives spanning North America, our growing team has a proven track record of commercial excellence. More information is available at www.sobi-northamerica.com or at www.sobi.com. 

Source: Sobi North America

Posted: December 2020

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• FDA approves Kineret for the treatment of NOMID – January 8, 2013

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