Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PHAT), a biopharmaceutical
company focused on developing and commercializing novel treatments
for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, announced today the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved VOQUEZNA® (vonoprazan)
10 mg tablets for the relief of heartburn associated with
Non-Erosive Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (Non-Erosive GERD) in
adults. Non-Erosive GERD represents a substantial segment of the
U.S. GERD population, affecting millions of individuals suffering
from frequent heartburn. This is the third FDA approval for
VOQUEZNA, which is also approved to treat all severities of Erosive
Esophagitis (EE), also referred to as Erosive GERD, and in
combination with antibiotics for the eradication of Helicobacter
pylori (H. pylori) infection.
“Today marks a significant milestone for millions of GERD
patients as we proudly announce the approval of VOQUEZNA for the
treatment of Non-Erosive GERD,” said Terrie Curran, President, and
Chief Executive Officer at Phathom. “For decades GERD sufferers had
no new class of treatment to turn to in the U.S. This approval
provides patients and healthcare providers with immediate access to
the first and only FDA-approved treatment of its kind, from a new
class of acid suppression therapy, and the power to help provide
complete 24-hour heartburn-free days and nights. We are very
excited to introduce VOQUEZNA to the broader GERD community and
look forward to its potential to help change the way this disease
is treated.”
Non-Erosive GERD is the largest category of GERD and is
characterized by reflux-related symptoms in the absence of
esophageal mucosal erosions. An estimated 45 million U.S. adults
living with Non-Erosive GERD, and approximately 15 million are
treated with a prescription medicine annually. Despite longstanding
treatment options, many patients remain dissatisfied with such
therapies and continue to suffer from heartburn symptoms which may
impact overall quality of life with episodic heartburn, occurring
during the day and at night.
“Millions of patients with Non-Erosive GERD continue to suffer
from heartburn despite current treatment options,” said Colin W.
Howden, M.D., Professor Emeritus, University of Tennessee College
of Medicine. “The pivotal study that led to this approval showed
that VOQUEZNA significantly reduced heartburn episodes in patients
with Non-Erosive GERD along with an established safety profile.
Today’s approval of VOQUEZNA provides physicians with a novel,
first-in-class treatment that can quickly and significantly reduce
heartburn for many adult patients.”
This approval is supported by the positive results from the
PHALCON-NERD-301 study (NCT05195528), a Phase 3 randomized,
placebo-controlled, double-blind, multi-site U.S. study evaluating
the efficacy and safety of VOQUEZNA for the daily treatment of
adults with Non-Erosive GERD. The trial enrolled 772 adult patients
with Non-Erosive GERD who experienced four or more days of
heartburn per week, with the majority having six to seven days of
heartburn per week, and compared patients treated with VOQUEZNA 10
mg to placebo in the relief of heartburn over four weeks. The trial
also included a 20-week extension period where all patients
received VOQUEZNA to evaluate long-term treatment.
In the pivotal trial, VOQUEZNA quickly and significantly reduced
heartburn with daily treatment through week 4. VOQUEZNA
demonstrated the power of more complete all-day and all-night
heartburn-free days with significantly more 24-hour heartburn-free
days through week 4 versus placebo, the primary endpoint. The mean
percentage of heartburn-free days for patients taking VOQUEZNA was
45% versus 28% for placebo (p<0.001), and the median percentage
of 24-hour heartburn-free days was 48% versus 17%, respectively.
Improvements for those taking VOQUEZNA were also seen in the
percentage of each of heartburn-free days and nights, in addition
to the percentage of days without rescue antacid use. Results from
the pivotal study were previously presented at Digestive Disease
Week® (DDW) 2024 and also published in Clinical Gastroenterology
and Hepatology.
The most common adverse reactions (≥2%) reported in patients
treated with VOQUEZNA during the four-week placebo-controlled trial
include abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and urinary
tract infection. Upper respiratory tract infection and sinusitis
were also reported in patients who received VOQUEZNA in the 20-week
extension phase of the trial.
Phathom offers savings programs for eligible patients who face
coverage or affordability issues, including co-pay assistance for
patients with commercial insurance. For more information, please
visit www.voquezna.com/savings.
VOQUEZNA is marketed exclusively by Phathom Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. and is currently available via prescription. Please visit
www.voquezna.com to learn more about VOQUEZNA.
A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is
available by clicking on this link.
About PHALCON-NERD-301 StudyPHALCON-NERD-301
was a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, 4-week study
conducted in U.S. patients with heartburn related to Non-Erosive
GERD. The primary endpoint was the percentage of days without
daytime or nighttime heartburn (24-hour heartburn-free days) over
the 4-week placebo-controlled treatment period. The trial also
included a 20-week long-term extension period to further evaluate
the treatment of VOQUEZNA. A total of 776 patients with Non-Erosive
GERD who experienced four or more days of heartburn per week, with
the majority having six to seven days of heartburn per week, were
enrolled and randomized in the multisite U.S. trial.
About Non-Erosive Gastroesophageal Reflux
DiseaseNon-Erosive GERD is the largest category of GERD
and is characterized by reflux-related symptoms in the absence of
esophageal mucosal erosions. There are over 65 million U.S.
patients living with GERD, and it is estimated that approximately
70% of this population have Non-Erosive GERD. Symptoms of
Non-Erosive GERD may impact overall quality of life and can include
episodic heartburn, especially at night, regurgitation, problems
swallowing, and chest pain.
About VOQUEZNA®VOQUEZNA® (vonoprazan) tablets
contain vonoprazan, an oral small
molecule potassium-competitive acid blocker (PCAB). PCABs are
a novel class of medicines that block acid secretion in the
stomach. VOQUEZNA is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of
adults with Erosive Esophagitis, also known as Erosive GERD, the
relief of heartburn associated with Erosive GERD, the relief of
heartburn associated with Non-Erosive GERD, and for the treatment
of H. pylori infection in combination with either amoxicillin or
amoxicillin and clarithromycin. Phathom in-licensed the U.S. rights
to vonoprazan from Takeda, which markets the product in Japan and
numerous other countries in Asia and Latin America.
About Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Phathom
Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the
development and commercialization of novel treatments for
gastrointestinal diseases. Phathom has in-licensed the exclusive
rights to vonoprazan, a first-in-class potassium-competitive acid
blocker (PCAB) that is currently marketed in the United States as
VOQUEZNA® (vonoprazan) tablets for the treatment of heartburn
associated with Non-Erosive GERD in adults, the healing and
maintenance of healing of Erosive GERD in adults and associated
heartburn, in addition to VOQUEZNA® TRIPLE PAK® (vonoprazan
tablets, amoxicillin capsules, clarithromycin tablets) and
VOQUEZNA® DUAL PAK® (vonoprazan tablets, amoxicillin capsules) for
the treatment of H. pylori infection in adults. For more
information about Phathom, visit the company’s website at
www.phathompharma.com and follow on LinkedIn and X.
INDICATION AND IMPORTANT SAFETY
INFORMATION
What is VOQUEZNA?
- VOQUEZNA® (vonoprazan) is a prescription medicine used in
adults:
- for 8 weeks to heal acid-related damage to the lining of the
esophagus (called Erosive Esophagitis) and for relief of heartburn
related to Erosive Esophagitis.
- for up to 6 months to maintain healing of Erosive Esophagitis
and for relief of heartburn related to Erosive Esophagitis.
- for 4 weeks for relief of heartburn related to gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD).
- for 14 days with the antibiotics amoxicillin and clarithromycin
to treat an infection caused by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori
(H. pylori).
- for 14 days with the antibiotic amoxicillin to treat an
infection caused by bacteria called H. pylori.
It is not known if VOQUEZNA
is safe and effective in children.
Do not take VOQUEZNA if you:
- are allergic to vonoprazan or any of the other ingredients in
VOQUEZNA. Allergic reaction symptoms may include trouble breathing,
rash, itching, and swelling of your face, lips, tongue or
throat.
- are taking a medicine that contains rilpivirine (EDURANT,
COMPLERA, JULUCA, ODEFSEY) used to treat HIV-1 (Human
Immunodeficiency Virus).
Before taking VOQUEZNA, tell your healthcare provider
about all your medical conditions, including if you:
- have low magnesium, calcium, or potassium in your blood, or you
are taking a medicine to increase urine (diuretic).
- have kidney or liver problems.
- are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become
pregnant. It is not known if VOQUEZNA will harm your unborn
baby.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if
VOQUEZNA passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare
provider should decide if you will take VOQUEZNA or breastfeed. You
should not do both.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines
you take, including prescription and over-the-counter
medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Keep a list of them to
show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new
medicine.
VOQUEZNA may affect how other medicines work, and other
medicines may affect how VOQUEZNA works. Especially tell your
healthcare provider if you take medicine that contains rilpivirine
(EDURANT, COMPLERA, JULUCA, ODEFSEY).
What are the possible side effects of
VOQUEZNA?
VOQUEZNA may cause serious side effects
including:
- A type of kidney problem (acute tubulointerstitial
nephritis): Some people who take VOQUEZNA may develop a
kidney problem called acute tubulointerstitial nephritis. Call your
healthcare provider right away if you have a decrease in the amount
that you urinate or if you notice blood in your urine.
- Diarrhea caused by an infection (Clostridioides
difficile) in your intestines: Call your healthcare
provider right away if you have watery stools, stomach pain, and
fever that does not go away.
- Bone fractures (hip, wrist, or spine): Bone
fractures in the hip, wrist, or spine may happen in people who take
multiple daily doses of another type of medicine that reduces acid
in your stomach known as proton pump inhibitors (PPI medicines) for
a long period of time (a year or longer). Tell your healthcare
provider if you have a bone fracture, especially in the hip, wrist,
or spine.
- Severe skin reactions: VOQUEZNA can cause
rare, but severe skin reactions that may affect any part of your
body. These serious skin reactions may need to be treated in a
hospital and may be life threatening:
- Skin rash which may have blistering, peeling, or bleeding on
any part of your skin.
- You may also have fever, chills, body aches, shortness of
breath, or enlarged lymph nodes.
If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking VOQUEZNA
and call your healthcare provider right away. These symptoms may be
the first sign of a severe skin reaction.
- Low vitamin B-12 levels: VOQUEZNA lowers the
amount of acid in your stomach. Stomach acid is needed to absorb
Vitamin B12 properly. Tell your healthcare provider if you have
symptoms of low vitamin B12 levels, including irregular heartbeat,
shortness of breath, lightheadedness, tingling or numbness in the
arms or legs, muscle weakness, pale skin, feeling tired, or mood
changes. Talk with your healthcare provider about the risk of low
vitamin B12 levels if you have been on VOQUEZNA for a long
time.
- Low magnesium levels in the body can happen in
people who take VOQUEZNA. Tell your healthcare provider right away
if you have symptoms of low magnesium levels, including seizures,
dizziness, irregular heartbeat, jitteriness, muscle aches or
weakness, or spasms of the hands, feet, or voice.
- Stomach growths (fundic gland polyps): A
certain type of stomach growth called fundic gland polyps may
happen in people who take another type of medicine that reduces
acid in your stomach known as proton pump inhibitors (PPI
medicines) for a long time. Talk with your healthcare provider
about the possibility of fundic gland polyps if you have been on
VOQUEZNA for a long time.
The most common side effects of VOQUEZNA for treatment
of Erosive Esophagitis and/or relief of
heartburnrelated to gastroesophageal reflux
disease include:
- stomach inflammation
- diarrhea
- stomach bloating
- stomach pain
- nausea
|
- indigestion
- constipation
- high blood pressure
- urinary tract infection
|
The most common side effects of VOQUEZNA when used with
antibiotics for treatment of H. pylori infection
include:
- diarrhea
- temporary changes in sense of taste
- vaginal yeast infection
- stomach pain
|
- headache
- high blood pressure
- cold-like symptoms
|
These are not all the possible side effects of VOQUEZNA. For
more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call
your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.
You are encouraged to report suspected adverse reactions
by contacting Phathom Pharmaceuticals at 1-888-775-PHAT (7428) or
FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Please see Patient Information
and full Prescribing Information
for VOQUEZNA.
Forward-Looking StatementsPhathom cautions you
that statements contained in this press release regarding matters
that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These
statements are based on the Company’s current beliefs and
expectations. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to patient access and continued expansion in commercial
coverage with other payers; and the Company’s estimates of the
number of patients with Non-Erosive GERD. The inclusion of
forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a
representation by Phathom that any of its plans will be achieved.
Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press
release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Phathom’s
business, including, without limitation: Phathom’s estimates
regarding patient population and commercial coverage could prove to
be inaccurate; we may not be able to successfully commercialize
VOQUEZNA, which will depend on a number of factors including
coverage and reimbursement levels from governmental authorities and
health insurers as well as market acceptance by healthcare
providers; the inherent risks of clinical development of
vonoprazan; Phathom’s dependence on third parties in connection
with product manufacturing, research and preclinical and clinical
testing; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign
countries; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate efficacy
of vonoprazan that may limit its development, regulatory approval
and/or commercialization, or may result in recalls or product
liability claims; Phathom’s ability to access additional capital
under its term loan facility and royalty interest finance
agreements is subject to certain conditions; Phathom’s ability to
obtain and maintain intellectual property protection and non-patent
regulatory exclusivity for vonoprazan; Phathom’s ability to comply
with its license agreement with Takeda; and other risks described
in the Company’s prior press releases and the Company’s filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under
the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings with the SEC. You
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and Phathom
undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect
events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date
hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their
entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995.
MEDIA CONTACTNick
Benedetto1-877-742-8466media@phathompharma.com
INVESTOR CONTACTEric
Sciorilli1-877-742-8466ir@phathompharma.com
© 2024 Phathom Pharmaceuticals. All rights reserved.VOQUEZNA,
VOQUEZNA DUAL PAK, VOQUEZNA TRIPLE PAK, Phathom Pharmaceuticals,
and their respective logos are registered trademarks of Phathom
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
7/24
US-VPZ-24-0190
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