Sunovion announces acceptance by FDA of NDA for Dasotraline to treat Binge Eating Disorder

Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Sunovion) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its New Drug Application (NDA) for dasotraline, a novel dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (DNRI), for the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe binge eating disorder (BED). Dasotraline’s pharmacokinetic profile, characterized by an extended half-life, supports its potential for sustained control of moderate-to-severe BED symptoms.

The action date by the FDA under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) is May 14, 2020.

Dasotraline is an investigational, once-daily medication that demonstrated significant efficacy for the treatment of moderate-to-severe BED in two 12-week, randomized, placebo-controlled studies, SEP360-221 and SEP360-321. Dasotraline was found to be generally well tolerated in clinical studies, including a long-term safety study, SEP360-322, that assessed patients with moderate-to-severe BED for up to one year.

“Binge eating disorder is a serious mental health condition for which limited treatment options exist. The disorder is often seen in association with other behavioral conditions such as depression, substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder, and it is often under-diagnosed and under-treated,” said Antony Loebel, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer at Sunovion. “We are confident in the value dasotraline has shown in clinical trials to people living with BED and look forward to working with the FDA to advance this novel treatment option.”

According to the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, (DSM-5),2,3 BED is characterized by recurrent and persistent episodes of binge eating, defined as consuming large quantities of food in a short period of time, perception of loss of control during the episode, and intense feelings of shame, guilt and embarrassment afterwards. Many individuals also suffer from depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as a number of medical complications, leading to impaired functioning and quality of life.