Ipsen and GENFIT announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) for investigational elafibranor. An oral, once-daily dual peroxisome activated receptor alpha/delta (PPAR α,δ) agonist, investigational elafibranor could potentially be the first novel second-line treatment for the rare, cholestatic liver disease, PBC, in nearly a decade. The target FDA PDUFA date under priority review is June 10, 2024.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has also validated Ipsen’s Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for elafibranor and the review of the submission to the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) began on 26 October 2023. Furthermore, a third simultaneous regulatory filing of elafibranor has been validated for review by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
“We are delighted to have achieved simultaneous filings for elafibranor, which is in line with our ambition to be able to bring a new and much needed medicine to as many people living with PBC as rapidly as possible,” said Christelle Huguet, EVP and Head of Research & Development, Ipsen. “This is a condition where many patients are living with worsening disease and debilitating symptoms despite being on treatment. Elafibranor, if approved, has the potential to change the management of this challenging condition for people living with PBC, offering a new second line treatment choice, where the number of effective options are currently limited.”
PBC is a rare, progressive, autoimmune cholestatic liver disease in which bile ducts in the liver are gradually destroyed. The damage to bile ducts can inhibit the liver’s ability to rid the body of toxins, and can lead to scarring of liver tissue, known as cirrhosis. Common symptoms of PBC include fatigue and pruritus (itch), which can be severely debilitating. Untreated, PBC can lead to liver failure, or in some cases death.1 It primarily affects women, with nine women diagnosed for every man. A significant proportion of people living with PBC do not benefit from existing therapies.
“These simultaneous regulatory submission acceptances are another important step in the elafibranor journey. We are pleased to be partnering with Ipsen, who we know has a good understanding of the rare-disease regulatory process,” said Pascal Prigent, Chief Executive Officer of GENFIT. “We know they share the same goal as GENFIT, to bring a new, much needed treatment option to people living with PBC as fast as possible; we look forward to elafibranor’s progress through the regulatory review processes.”