Press Release
HUTCHMED Announces Launch by Takeda of
FRUZAQLA® (fruquintinib) in Japan
- Launch follows approval by Japanese Ministry
of Health, Labour and Welfare in September 2024 -
- Milestone payment to be made to HUTCHMED from
Takeda -
- Fruquintinib already launched in several
regions including the United States, Europe and China -
Hong Kong, Shanghai
& Florham Park, NJ - Friday, November 22, 2024: HUTCHMED (China) Limited
("HUTCHMED")
(Nasdaq/AIM:HCM; HKEX:13) today announces that it will receive a
milestone payment following the pricing approval and launch of
FRUZAQLA® (fruquintinib) 1mg/5mg capsules in Japan by
its partner Takeda
(TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) for patients with previously treated metastatic
colorectal cancer ("CRC"). This follows approval for the
manufacturing and marketing of FRUZAQLA® by the Japanese
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
FRUZAQLA® is the first novel oral targeted
therapy in Japan to be approved for metastatic CRC, regardless of
biomarker status, in over a decade. FRUZAQLA® is
indicated for the treatment of advanced or recurrent colorectal
cancer that is neither curable nor resectable, and that has
progressed after chemotherapy. CRC is the most prevalent type of
cancer in Japan, with an estimated 161,000 new cases and 54,000
deaths in 2023, according to statistics from the National Cancer
Center.[1]
On the launch of FRUZAQLA® in Japan by
Takeda, Dr Weiguo Su, Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer of HUTCHMED,
said: "The launch of FRUZAQLA® in Japan highlights the
continued progress of our partnership with Takeda across the globe.
Takeda is well positioned to build on more than a decade of
leadership in the treatment of metastatic CRC in Japan and bring a
differentiated treatment option in FRUZAQLA® to
patients."
The launch of FRUZAQLA® in Japan follows
its approval in September 2024, primarily based on results from the
Phase III FRESCO-2 trial conducted in the US, Europe, Japan and
Australia. Data from FRESCO-2 were
published in The
Lancet in June 2023.
Takeda has the exclusive worldwide license to further develop,
commercialize, and manufacture fruquintinib outside of mainland
China, Hong Kong and Macau, and markets under the
FRUZAQLA® brand name. It received approval
in the US in November 2023,
in the EU in June 2024, in Switzerland in August 2024, in
Canada,
Japan and the United Kingdom in September 2024 and in
Argentina, Australia and Singapore in October 2024. Regulatory
applications are progressing in many other jurisdictions.
About CRC
CRC is a cancer that starts in either the colon or
rectum. According to the International Agency for Research on
Cancer/World Health Organization, CRC is the third most prevalent
cancer worldwide, associated with more than 1.9 million new cases
and 900,000 deaths in 2022. In Japan, CRC was the most common
cancer, with an estimated 146,000 new cases and 60,000 deaths, in
2022. In Europe, CRC was the second most common cancer in 2022,
with approximately 538,000 new cases and 248,000
deaths.[2],[3] In the US, it is estimated that 153,000
patients will be diagnosed with CRC and 53,000 deaths from the
disease will occur in 2024.[4] Although
early-stage CRC can be surgically resected, metastatic CRC remains
an area of high unmet need with poor outcomes and limited treatment
options. Some patients with metastatic CRC may benefit from
personalized therapeutic strategies based on molecular
characteristics; however, most patients have tumors that do not
harbor actionable mutations.[5],[6],[7],[8],[9]
About Fruquintinib
Fruquintinib is a selective oral inhibitor of all
three VEGF receptors (VEGFR-1, -2 and -3). VEGFR inhibitors play a
pivotal role in inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. Fruquintinib was
designed to have enhanced selectivity that limits off-target kinase
activity, allowing for drug exposure that achieves sustained target
inhibition and flexibility for potential use as part of a
combination therapy.
About Fruquintinib Approvals
Global regulatory submissions are based on data from
two large, randomized, controlled Phase III trials, the global,
multi-regional FRESCO-2 trial and the FRESCO trial conducted in
China, showing consistent benefit among a total of 734 patients
treated with fruquintinib. Safety profiles were consistent across
trials. Results from the FRESCO-2 trial were
published in The Lancet in June
2023,[10] while results from the FRESCO
trial were published
in The Journal of the American Medical Association, JAMA.[11]
In mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, fruquintinib
is co-marketed by HUTCHMED and Eli Lilly and Company under the
brand name ELUNATE®. It was included in the China
National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) in January 2020. Since its
launch in China, over 100,000 patients with colorectal cancer have
been treated with fruquintinib.
About HUTCHMED
HUTCHMED (Nasdaq/AIM:HCM; HKEX:13) is an innovative,
commercial-stage, biopharmaceutical company. It is committed to the
discovery and global development and commercialization of targeted
therapies and immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and
immunological diseases. It has approximately 5,000 personnel across
all its companies, at the center of which is a team of about 1,800
in oncology/immunology. Since inception it has focused on bringing
cancer drug candidates from in‑house discovery to patients around
the world, with its first three medicines marketed in China, the
first of which is also approved in the US, Europe and Japan. For
more information, please visit www.hutch-med.com or follow us on
LinkedIn.
JAPAN IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Please consult the FRUZAQLA (fruquintinib) Japan
package insert (J-PI) before prescribing.
WARNING:
FRUZAQLA should be administered only to patients for whom the use
of FRUZAQLA is considered appropriate under the supervision of a
physician with sufficient knowledge of and experience in cancer
chemotherapy at a medical institution where adequate emergency care
can be provided. Prior to treatment initiation, the efficacy and
risks should be fully explained to the patient and/or his/her
family and informed consent should be obtained; Severe
gastrointestinal hemorrhage, including fatal cases, has been
reported. Patients should be carefully monitored, and if any
abnormalities are observed, administration of FRUZAQLA should be
withheld and appropriate measures should be taken. If severe
hemorrhage occurs, FRUZAQLA should not be re-administered;
Gastrointestinal perforation has been reported with some fatal
cases. Patients should be carefully monitored, and if any
abnormalities are observed, administration of FRUZAQLA should be
withheld and appropriate measures should be taken. If
gastrointestinal perforation occurs, FRUZAQLA should not be
re-administered.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Patients with a
history of hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients of
FRUZAQLA.
IMPORTANT
PRECAUTIONS: Hypertension, including hypertensive crisis,
may occur. Blood pressure should be measured prior to the
initiation of FRUZAQLA treatment and periodically during this
treatment; Proteinuria may occur. Urinary protein should be
monitored prior to the initiation of FRUZAQLA treatment and
periodically during this treatment; If a surgical procedure is to
be performed, patients are recommended to withhold FRUZAQLA before
the surgery because wound healing may be delayed. Treatment
resumption after the surgical procedure should be determined
depending on the patient's condition upon confirmation of adequate
wound healing.
PRECAUTIONS
CONCERNING PATIENTS WITH SPECIFIC BACKGROUNDS: Patients with
hyper-ten-sion: Hypertension may worsen; Patients with bleeding diathesis or abnormal
coagulation system: Hemorrhagic events may occur;
Patients with hemorrhage such as
gastrointestinal hemorrhage: Hemorrhage may be enhanced;
Patients with a complication of
intra-abdominal inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract,
etc.: Gastrointestinal perforation may occur; Patients with current or a history of
thromboembolism: Transient ischaemic attack, thrombotic
microangiopathy, pulmonary embolism, portal vein thrombosis, deep
vein thrombosis, etc. may occur; Patients with severe hepatic impairment
(Child-Pugh Class C): Since FRUZAQLA is metabolized mainly
in the liver, blood concentrations may be increased. There have
been no clinical studies conducted in patients with severe hepatic
impairment; Patients with
Reproductive Potential: Women of childbearing potential
should be advised to use adequate contraception during treatment
with FRUZAQLA and for 2 weeks after the last dose; Pregnant Women: FRUZAQLA can be
administered to women who are or may be pregnant only if the
expected therapeutic benefits outweigh the possible risks
associated with this treatment. In a rat embryo-fetal toxicity
study, fetal abnormalities and teratogenic effects consisting of
fetal external, visceral, and skeletal malformations and visceral
and skeletal variations were observed at exposure levels
approximately 0.05 times the exposure level (AUC) of FRUZAQLA at
the maximum clinical dose (5 mg/day); Breast-feeding Women: It is advisable
not to breastfeed. FRUZAQLA may pass into breast milk, and infants
may experience serious adverse reactions if they are ingested
through breast milk; Pediatric
Use: There have been no clinical studies conducted in
pediatric patients.
ADVERSE
REACTIONS:
Any of the adverse reactions listed below may occur.
Patients should be closely monitored, and if any such abnormalities
are observed, appropriate measures should be taken, including
treatment discontinuation. Clinically Significant Adverse Reactions
are as follows.
Hypertension:
Hypertension or hypertensive crisis may occur. If an increase in
blood pressure is observed, appropriate treatment such as
antihypertensive drug administration should be given as necessary,
and if necessary, the dose of fruquintinib should be reduced, or
fruquintinib administration should be interrupted. If severe or
persistent hypertension, or hypertension that cannot be controlled
by routine antihypertensive therapy occurs or if a hypertensive
crisis occurs, fruquintinib administration should be discontinued;
Skin disorder: Skin
disorder including palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome and
rash may occur; Hemorrhage:
Hemorrhage including epistaxis, hematuria, gastrointestinal
hemorrhage and hemoptysis may occur. Fatal outcomes have been
reported; Gastrointestinal
perforation: Fatal outcomes have been reported; Arterial thromboembolic events:
Arterial thromboembolic events including transient ischemic attack
and thrombotic microangiopathy may occur; Venous thromboembolism events: Venous
thromboembolism such as pulmonary embolism, portal vein thrombosis,
and deep vein thrombosis may occur; Posterior reversible encephalopathy
syndrome: If headaches, convulsions, lethargy, confusion,
changes in mental function, blindness or other visual disturbances,
or neurological impairment are observed, fruquintinib
administration should be discontinued, and appropriate measures
should be taken, including blood pressure control; Arterial dissection: Arterial
dissection including aortic dissection may occur.
For US Prescribing
Information:
https://www.fruzaqla.com/sites/default/files/resources/fruzaqla-prescribing-information.pdf
For European Union
Summary of Product Characteristics:
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/fruzaqla
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward‑looking
statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of
the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements reflect HUTCHMED's current expectations
regarding future events, including but not limited to, its
expectations regarding the receipt of the milestone payment, the
therapeutic potential of fruquintinib for the treatment of such
patients with CRC and the further clinical development of
fruquintinib in this and other indications. Forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties. Such risks and
uncertainties include, among other things, assumptions regarding
the sufficiency of clinical data to support approval of
fruquintinib for the treatment of patients with CRC or other
indications in other jurisdictions such as Japan, its potential to
gain approvals from regulatory authorities, the safety profile of
fruquintinib, HUTCHMED and/or Takeda's ability to fund, implement
and complete its further clinical development and commercialization
plans for fruquintinib, the timing of these events, each party's
ability to satisfy the terms and conditions under the license
agreement; actions of regulatory agencies, which may affect the
initiation, timing and progress of clinical trials or the
regulatory pathway for fruquintinib; and Takeda's ability to
successfully develop and commercialize fruquintinib. In addition,
as certain studies rely on the use of other drug products as
combination therapeutics with fruquintinib, such risks and
uncertainties include assumptions regarding the safety, efficacy,
supply and continued regulatory approval of these therapeutics.
Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward‑looking statements, which speak only as
of the date hereof. For further discussion of these and other
risks, see HUTCHMED's filings with the US Securities and Exchange
Commission, on AIM and on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.
HUTCHMED undertakes no obligation to update or revise the
information contained in this press release, whether as a result of
new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
Medical Information
This press release contains information about
products that may not be available in all countries, or may be
available under different trademarks, for different indications, in
different dosages, or in different strengths. Nothing contained
herein should be considered a solicitation, promotion or
advertisement for any prescription drugs including the ones under
development.
CONTACTS
Investor Enquiries
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+852 2121 8200 / ir@hutch-med.com
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Media Enquiries
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Ben Atwell / Alex Shaw,
FTI Consulting
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+44 20 3727 1030 /
+44 7771 913 902 (Mobile) /
+44 7779 545 055 (Mobile) / HUTCHMED@fticonsulting.com
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Zhou Yi, Brunswick
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+852 9783 6894 (Mobile) / HUTCHMED@brunswickgroup.com
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Nominated Advisor
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Atholl Tweedie / Freddy
Crossley / Rupert Dearden,
Panmure Liberum
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+44 (20) 7886 2500
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