Press Release
HUTCHMED to Receive First Commercial Milestone
Payment Following Over US$200 Million in
FRUZAQLA® (fruquintinib) Sales by Takeda
- US$20 million payment based on sales of
FRUZAQLA® in metastatic colorectal cancer -
Hong Kong, Shanghai
& Florham Park, NJ - Thursday, October 31, 2024: HUTCHMED (China) Limited
("HUTCHMED")
(Nasdaq/AIM:HCM; HKEX:13) today announces that it will
receive a US$20 million milestone payment from its
partner Takeda
(TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK), triggered by reaching over
US$200 million in sales of FRUZAQLA® (fruquintinib)
for metastatic colorectal cancer ("CRC"). CRC is the second most
common cause of cancer-related deaths in the US. There are
approximately 840,000 new cases of CRC each year across the US,
Europe and Japan.
Takeda delivered US$203 million in net sales of
FRUZAQLA® in the nine months ended September 2024. This
US$20 million payment will be the first ever commercial
milestone payment received by HUTCHMED. 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.
"The achievement of US$200 million in sales is a
testament to Takeda's commercial strength in launching global
brands, the clinical benefit of fruquintinib and the success of our
partnership strategy for commercializing our medicines outside of
China," said Dr Weiguo Su, Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer of HUTCHMED.
"Receiving the US$20 million milestone payment will strengthen
our balance sheet as we look to expand the use of fruquintinib into
new indications, and highlights our strategy of global partnerships
across our broad pipeline."
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 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.[1] In Europe, CRC
was the second most common cancer in 2022, with approximately
538,000 new cases and 248,000 deaths. In Japan, CRC was the most
common cancer, with an estimated 146,000 new cases and 60,000
deaths, in 2022.[2],[3] 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.[4],[5],[6],[7],[8]
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,[9] while results from the FRESCO
trial were published
in The Journal of the American Medical Association, JAMA.[10]
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 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 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.
E.U. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Please consult the FRUZAQLA (fruquintinib) Summary of
Product Characteristics (SmPC) before prescribing.
Guidance for
use: FRUZAQLA should be initiated by a physician experienced
in the administration of anticancer therapy. Patients should be
given the package leaflet.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Hypersensitivity to
the active substance or to any of the excipients.
SPECIAL
POPULATIONS: Renal
impairment: No dose adjustment is required for patients with
mild, moderate, or severe renal impairment; Hepatic impairment: No dose adjustment
is required for patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment.
FRUZAQLA is not recommended for use in patients with severe hepatic
impairment as FRUZAQLA has not been studied in this population;
Elderly: No dose adjustment
is required in patients aged 65 years or above; Pediatric population: There is no
relevant use of FRUZAQLA in the pediatric population for the
indication of metastatic colorectal cancer; Women of childbearing potential /
Contraception in females:
Women of childbearing potential should be advised to use highly
effective contraception during treatment and for at least 2 weeks
following the last dose of FRUZAQLA; Pregnancy: There are no clinical data
available on the use of FRUZAQLA in pregnant women. Based on its
mechanism of action, FRUZAQLA has the potential to cause fetal
harm. Animal studies have shown reproductive toxicity, including
fetal malformations. FRUZAQLA should not be used during pregnancy
unless the clinical condition of the woman requires treatment with
FRUZAQLA. If FRUZAQLA is used during pregnancy or if the patient
becomes pregnant while on treatment, the patient must be informed
of the potential hazard to the fetus; Breast-feeding: The safe use of
FRUZAQLA during breast-feeding has not been established. It is not
known whether FRUZAQLA or its metabolites are excreted in human
milk. There are no animal data on the excretion of FRUZAQLA in
animal milk. A risk to the breastfeeding newborns/infants cannot be
excluded. Breastfeeding should be discontinued during treatment and
for 2 weeks after the last dose; Fertility: There are no data on the
effects of FRUZAQLA on human fertility. Results from animal studies
indicate that FRUZAQLA may impair male and female fertility.
SPECIAL WARNINGS AND
PRECAUTIONS FOR USE
· Hypertension: Hypertension, including
hypertensive crisis, has been reported in patients treated with
FRUZAQLA. Pre-existing hypertension should be monitored and
adequately controlled in accordance with standard medical practices
before starting FRUZAQLA treatment.
Hypertension should be
medically managed with antihypertensive medicinal products and
adjustment of the FRUZAQLA dose, if necessary. FRUZAQLA should be
permanently discontinued for hypertension that cannot be controlled
with antihypertensive therapy or in patients with hypertensive
crisis.
· Hemorrhagic
events: Hemorrhagic events have been reported in patients
treated with FRUZAQLA, including gastrointestinal (GI) tract
events. Serious and sometimes fatal bleeding events have been
reported in patients after treatment with FRUZAQLA.
Hematologic and coagulation
profiles should be monitored in accordance with standard medical
practices in patients at risk for bleeding, including those treated
with anticoagulants or other concomitant medicinal products that
increase the risk of bleeding. In the event of severe bleeding
requiring immediate medical intervention, FRUZAQLA should be
permanently discontinued.
· Gastrointestinal perforation: GI
perforation events, including fatal events, have been reported in
patients treated with FRUZAQLA.
Symptoms of GI perforation
should be periodically monitored during treatment with
FRUZAQLA.
FRUZAQLA should be
permanently discontinued in patients developing GI perforation.
· Proteinuria: Proteinuria events have
occurred in patients treated with FRUZAQLA.
Proteinuria should be
monitored before initiation and during treatment with FRUZAQLA in
accordance with standard medical practices. If urine dipstick
proteinuria ≥ 2 g / 24 hours is detected, dose interruptions,
adjustments, or discontinuation may be necessary. FRUZAQLA should
be permanently discontinued in patients developing nephrotic
syndrome.
· Palmar-plantar
erythrodysesthesia syndrome (PPES): PPES is the most
frequently reported dermato-logical adverse reaction.
If Grade ≥2 skin reactions
are detected, dose interruptions, adjustments, or discontinuation
may be necessary.
· Posterior
reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES): PRES has been
reported in 1 patient (0.1%) treated with FRUZAQLA in clinical
studies. PRES is a rare neurologic disorder that can present with
headache, seizure, lethargy, confusion, altered mental function,
blindness, and other visual or neurological disturbances, with or
without associated hypertension. A diagnosis of PRES requires
confirmation by brain imaging, preferably magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI). In patients developing PRES, discontinuation of
FRUZAQLA, along with control of hypertension and supportive medical
management of other symptoms, are recommended.
· Impaired wound
healing: Impaired wound healing has been reported in 1
patient (0.1%) treated with FRUZAQLA in clinical studies.
Patients are recommended to
withhold FRUZAQLA for at least 2 weeks prior to surgery. FRUZAQLA
should not be resumed for at least 2 weeks after surgery, as
clinically indicated when there is evidence of adequate wound
healing.
· Arterial and
venous thromboembolic events: It is recommended to avoid
starting treatment with FRUZAQLA in patients with a history of
thromboembolic events (including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary
embolism) within the past 6 months or if they have a history of
stroke and/or transient ischemic attack within the last 12 months.
If arterial thrombosis is suspected, FRUZAQLA should be
discontinued immediately.
INTERACTIONS
Effects of other medicinal products
on the pharmacokinetics of FRUZAQLA
CYP3A
inducers
Co-administration of FRUZAQLA with rifampicin (a
strong CYP3A inducer) 600 mg once daily decreased FRUZAQLA
AUCinf by 65% and decreased Cmax by 12%. The
concomitant use of FRUZAQLA with strong and moderate CYP3A inducers
should be avoided.
CYP3A
inhibitors
Co-administration of FRUZAQLA with itraconazole (a
strong CYP3A inhibitor) 200 mg twice daily did not result in
clinically meaningful changes in the area under the
concentration-time curve (AUC) and Cmax of FRUZAQLA. No
dose adjustment of FRUZAQLA is needed during concomitant use with
CYP3A inhibitors.
Gastric acid
lowering agents
Co-administration of FRUZAQLA with rabeprazole (a
proton pump inhibitor) 40 mg once daily did not result in
clinically meaningful changes in the AUC of FRUZAQLA. No dose
adjustment of FRUZAQLA is needed during concomitant use with
gastric acid lowering agents.
Effect of FRUZAQLA on the
pharmacokinetics of other medicinal products
Medicinal products
that are substrates of P-glycoprotein (P-gp)
Co-administration of a single dose of dabigatran
etexilate 150 mg (a P-gp substrate) with a single dose of FRUZAQLA
5 mg decreased AUC of dabigatran by 9%. No dose adjustment is
recommended for P-gp substrates during concomitant use with
FRUZAQLA.
Medicinal products
that are substrates of breast cancer resistance protein
(BCRP)
Co-administration of a single 10 mg dose of
rosuvastatin (a BCRP substrate) with a single 5 mg dose of
FRUZAQLA decreased AUC of rosuvastatin by 19%. No dose adjustment
is recommended for BCRP substrates during concomitant use with
FRUZAQLA.
UNDESIRABLE
EFFECTS: The most commonly
reported adverse reactions with FRUZAQLA are:
Very
common
(frequency
≥1/10)
|
Thrombocytopenia, hypothyroidism, anorexia,
hypertension, dysphonia, diarrhoea, stomatitis, aspartate
aminotransferase increased, total bilirubin increased, alanine
aminotransferase increased, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia
syndrome, musculoskeletal discomfort, arthralgia, proteinuria,
asthenia, and fatigue
|
Common
(≥1/100 to
<1/10)
|
Pneumonia, upper respiratory tract infection,
bacterial infections, leukopenia, neutropenia, hypokalemia,
epistaxis, throat pain, gastrointestinal hemorrhage,
gastrointestinal perforation, pancreatic enzymes increased, oral
pain, rash, and mucosal inflammation
|
For US Prescribing
Information:
https://www.fruzaqla.com/sites/default/files/resources/fruzaqla-prescribing-information.pdf
For Japan
Prescribing Information:
https://www.pmda.go.jp/PmdaSearch/iyakuDetail/ResultDataSetPDF/400256_42910H0M1028_1_01
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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