EMA accepts regulatory submission for olipudase alfa, the first potential therapy for ASMD

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted for review under an accelerated assessment procedure the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for olipudase alfa, Sanofi’s investigational enzyme replacement therapy which is being evaluated for the treatment of acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD). Historically referred to as Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) type A and type B, ASMD is a rare, progressive, and potentially life-threatening disease for which no treatments are currently approved. The estimated prevalence of ASMD is approximately 2,000 patients in the U.S., Europe (EU5 Countries) and Japan. If approved, olipudase alfa will become the first and only therapy for the treatment of ASMD.

“Today’s milestone has been decades in the making and our gratitude goes to the ASMD community who has stood by us with endless patience while olipudase alfa advanced through clinical development,” said Alaa Hamed, MD, MPH, MBA, Global Head of Medical Affairs, Rare Diseases, Sanofi. “Olipudase alfa represents the kind of potentially life-changing innovation that is possible when industry, medical professionals and the patient community work together toward a common goal.”

The MAA is based on positive results from two separate clinical trials (ASCEND and ASCEND-Peds) evaluating olipudase alfa in adult and pediatric patients with non-central nervous system (CNS) manifestations of ASMD type A/B and ASMD type B.

Olipudase alfa has received special designations from regulatory agencies worldwide, recognizing the innovation potential of the investigational therapy.

“Scientific innovation is the greatest source of hope for people living with diseases like ASMD where there are no approved treatments and is a critical component for ensuring a viable healthcare ecosystem,” said Bill Sibold, Executive Vice President of Sanofi Genzyme. “At Sanofi, we have a long history of pioneering scientific innovation, and we remain committed to finding solutions to address unmet medical needs, including those of the rare disease community.”

The EMA awarded olipudase alfa the PRIority MEdicines designation, also known as PRIME, intended to aid and expedite the regulatory process for investigational medicines that may offer a major therapeutic advantage over existing treatments, or benefit patients without treatment options.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to olipudase alfa. This designation is intended to expedite the development and review of drugs intended to treat serious or life-threatening diseases and conditions. The criteria for granting Breakthrough Therapy designation include preliminary clinical evidence indicating that the molecule may demonstrate substantial improvement on a clinically significant endpoint over available therapies.

In Japan, olipudase alfa was awarded the SAKIGAKE designation, which is intended to promote research and development in Japan for innovative new medical products that satisfy certain criteria, such as the severity of the intended indication. In September, Sanofi filed the J-NDA submission for olipudase alfa.