Retinal Vein Occlusion

Pictured: Sign above the entrance of a U.S. courthouse/iStock, Mariakray The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Monday overturned a lower court’s decision on the antitrust case between Regeneron and Novartis regarding their respective anti-VEGF eye treatments Eylea (aflibercept) and Lucentis (ranibizumab). The appellate court sided with Regeneron, agreeing with the pharma that a district court had wrongly dismissed its antitrust claims against Novartis because anti-VEGF therapies sold in pre-filled syringes (PFS) constitute their own and distinct market versus therapies sold in vials. The lower court approached the case believing that vials and PFSs operated in the same market and therefore applied the wrong legal standard, Circuit Judge Barrington Parker wrote in Monday’s decision. “The district court focused on the functional similarities between the PFS and vial versions of Regeneron’s and Novartis’s respective anti-VEGF treatments and concluded that, because of those similarities, both versions compete in the same relevant market,” Barrington wrote. “The pivotal issue in this appeal is whether anti-VEGF medications in vials and PFSs compete in the same or different product market,” Barrington wrote, adding that the court agrees with Regeneron’s assertion that anti-VEGF therapies administered through PSFs “constitute their own product market—distinct from the market for vials.” A Regeneron spokesperson in a statement to Reuters said that the company is “encouraged by the Second Circuit’s decision.” Novartis, meanwhile, said it was “disappointed with the court’s ruling,” adding that it continues “to believe Regeneron’s claims lack merit.” Regeneron’s Eylea and Novartis’ Lucentis are anti-VEGF therapies that work by slowing the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye, targeting several ophthalmic diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration and retinal vein occlusion. Originally, anti-VEGF therapies were dispensed in vials and would be administered via an injection. According to Monday’s court document, this process was “cumbersome” and could aggravate the risk of complications when done incorrectly. Regeneron in 2005 collaborated with contract manufacturing company Vetter to develop a PFS syringe of Eylea, which would make administration safer and more convenient. However, the pharma alleges that Vetter “confidentially entered into a similar agreement with Novartis” in 2009, which eventually culminated in a patent covering a PFS product containing an anti-VEGF therapy. Novartis and Vetter then allegedly engaged in other “anti-competitive steps” to “keep Regeneron out of the anti-VEGF PFS market,” which pushed back the launch of Eylea’s PFS product to 2019. Regeneron sued Novartis in July 2020 based on these allegations, according to the court document on Monday. Tristan Manalac is an independent science writer based in Metro Manila, Philippines. Reach out to him on LinkedIn or email him at tristan@tristanmanalac.com or tristan.manalac@biospace.com.

Published results show EYLEA HD with extended 12- or 16-week dosing regimens demonstrated non-inferior vision gains to standard of care EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection 2 mg with fixed 8-week dosing in patients with wAMD and DME in the first year EYLEA HD has shown impressive durable visual improvements and rapid and resilient fluid control with a safety profile comparable to EYLEA Extended dosing intervals with EYLEA HD have the potential to substantially reduce treatment burden for patients EYLEA HD has been approved in multiple countries including the U.S., EU and Japan TARRYTOWN, N.Y., March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) today announced The Lancet published one-year results from the pivotal PULSAR and PHOTON trials for EYLEA® HD (aflibercept) Injection 8 mg. Specifically, the publications detailed data demonstrating that EYLEA HD extended dosing regimens were non-inferior to EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection 2 mg for both the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). “The publication of 48-week results from PULSAR and PHOTON in The Lancet are a recognition of the important advancement EYLEA HD has made in retinal care,” said David M. Brown, M.D., FACS, Director of Research at Retina Consultants of Texas and a trial investigator. “Less than a year after its approval, EYLEA HD has already made an impact in the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. EYLEA HD has provided disease control for my tough-to-treat cases of diabetic eye disease and allowed both my diabetic and wet age-related macular degeneration patients to enjoy less frequent dosing with a similar safety profile to EYLEA.” PULSAR and PHOTON are two double-masked, active-controlled pivotal trials evaluating EYLEA HD compared to EYLEA. As published in The Lancet, both PULSAR in wAMD (N=1,009) and PHOTON in DME (N=658) met their primary endpoints, with EYLEA HD demonstrating non-inferior and clinically equivalent vision gains at 48 weeks with both 12- and 16-week dosing regimens after only 3 initial monthly doses, compared to an EYLEA 8-week dosing regimen after initial monthly doses (3 in PULSAR and 5 in PHOTON). Furthermore, 79% and 77% of wAMD patients and 91% and 89% of DME patients, who were respectively randomized to 12- and 16-week dosing, maintained these extended dosing intervals through 48 weeks. The most common adverse reactions (≥3%) reported in patients treated with EYLEA HD were cataract, conjunctival hemorrhage, intraocular pressure increased, ocular discomfort/eye pain/eye irritation, vision blurred, vitreous floaters, vitreous detachment, corneal epithelium defect, and retinal hemorrhage. In August 2023, EYLEA HD was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with wAMD, DME and diabetic retinopathy (DR) based on the one-year data. Two-year data were presented in 2023 for PULSAR at the EURETINA Congress and for PHOTON at the American Society of Retina Specialists annual meeting. EYLEA HD is being jointly developed by Regeneron and Bayer AG. In the U.S., Regeneron maintains exclusive rights to EYLEA and EYLEA HD. Bayer has licensed the exclusive marketing rights outside of the U.S., where the companies share equally the profits from sales of EYLEA and EYLEA HD (known as Eylea 8 mg outside the U.S.). Eylea 8 mg is approved in the European Union, Japan and other countries. Submissions to other regulatory authorities in additional countries have been made. About the EYLEA HD Clinical Trial Program PULSAR in wAMD and PHOTON in DME are double-masked, active-controlled pivotal trials that are being conducted in multiple centers globally. In both trials, patients were randomized into 3 treatment groups to receive either: EYLEA HD every 12 weeks, EYLEA HD every 16 weeks, or EYLEA every 8 weeks. The lead sponsors of the trials were Bayer for PULSAR and Regeneron for PHOTON. Patients treated with EYLEA HD in both trials had 3 initial monthly doses, and patients treated with EYLEA received 3 initial doses in PULSAR and 5 in PHOTON. In the first year, patients in the EYLEA HD groups could have their dosing intervals shortened down to an every 8-week interval if protocol-defined criteria for disease progression were observed. Intervals could not be extended until the second year of the study. Patients in all EYLEA groups maintained a fixed 8-week dosing regimen throughout their participation in the trials. About wAMD and Diabetic Eye DiseasewAMD is a retinal disease that may affect people as they age. It occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow and leak fluid under the macula, the part of the eye responsible for sharp central vision and seeing fine detail. This fluid can damage and scar the macula, which can cause vision loss. An estimated 1.4 million Americans have wAMD. DR is an eye disease characterized by microvascular damage to the blood vessels in the retina often caused by poor blood sugar control in people with diabetes. The disease generally starts as nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and often has no warning signs or symptoms. NPDR may progress to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), a stage of the disease in which abnormal blood vessels grow onto the surface of the retina and into the vitreous cavity, potentially causing severe vision loss. DME can occur at any stage of DR as the blood vessels in the retina become increasingly fragile and leak fluid, potentially causing visual impairment. In the U.S., approximately 1.5 million adults are diagnosed with DME, while approximately 6 million people have DR without DME. About Ophthalmology at RegeneronAt Regeneron, we relentlessly pursue groundbreaking innovations in eye care science to help maintain the eye health of the millions of Americans impacted by vision-threatening conditions. Over a decade ago, our breakthrough scientific research resulted in the development of EYLEA, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor designed to block the growth of new blood vessels and decrease the ability of fluid to pass through blood vessels in the eye. EYLEA has since brought fundamental change to the retinal disease treatment landscape and is supported by a robust body of research that includes eight pivotal Phase 3 trials, 11 years of real-world experience, and more than 70 million EYLEA injections globally. Regeneron continues to advance our anti-angiogenesis expertise with new solutions with the aim of offering optimal flexibility for a broad group of patients and eye care professionals. This includes EYLEA HD, which has been developed with the aim of extending the time between injections, while maintaining the vision gains, anatomic benefits and safety previously observed with EYLEA. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND INDICATIONS INDICATIONSEYLEA® HD (aflibercept) Injection 8 mg is a prescription medicine approved for the treatment of patients with Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), and Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection 2 mg is a prescription medicine approved for the treatment of patients with Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Macular Edema following Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO), Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), and Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) (0.4 mg). IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION EYLEA HD and EYLEA are administered by injection into the eye. You should not use EYLEA HD or EYLEA if you have an infection in or around the eye, eye pain or redness, or known allergies to any of the ingredients in EYLEA HD or EYLEA, including aflibercept.Injections into the eye with EYLEA HD or EYLEA can result in an infection in the eye, retinal detachment (separation of retina from back of the eye) and, more rarely, serious inflammation of blood vessels in the retina that may include blockage. Call your doctor right away if you or your baby (if being treated with EYLEA for Retinopathy of Prematurity) experience eye pain or redness, light sensitivity, or a change in vision after an injection.In some patients, injections with EYLEA HD or EYLEA may cause a temporary increase in eye pressure within 1 hour of the injection. Sustained increases in eye pressure have been reported with repeated injections, and your doctor may monitor this after each injection.In infants with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), treatment with EYLEA will need extended periods of ROP monitoring.There is a potential but rare risk of serious and sometimes fatal side effects, related to blood clots, leading to heart attack or stroke in patients receiving EYLEA HD or EYLEA.The most common side effects reported in patients receiving EYLEA HD were cataract, increased redness in the eye, increased pressure in the eye, eye discomfort, pain, or irritation, blurred vision, vitreous (gel-like substance) floaters, vitreous detachment, injury to the outer layer of the eye, and bleeding in the back of the eye.The most common side effects reported in patients receiving EYLEA were increased redness in the eye, eye pain, cataract, vitreous detachment, vitreous floaters, moving spots in the field of vision, and increased pressure in the eye.The most common side effects reported in pre-term infants with ROP receiving EYLEA were separation of the retina from the back of the eye, increased redness in the eye, and increased pressure in the eye. Side effects that occurred in adults are considered applicable to pre-term infants with ROP, though not all were seen in clinical studies.You may experience temporary visual changes after an EYLEA HD or EYLEA injection and associated eye exams; do not drive or use machinery until your vision recovers sufficiently.For additional safety information, please talk to your doctor and see the full Prescribing Information for EYLEA HD and EYLEA. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please click here for full Prescribing Information for EYLEA HD and EYLEA. About RegeneronRegeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading biotechnology company that invents, develops and commercializes life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led for over 35 years by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to numerous FDA-approved treatments and product candidates in development, almost all of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Our medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, hematologic conditions, infectious diseases and rare diseases. Regeneron is accelerating and improving the traditional drug development process through our proprietary VelociSuite® technologies, such as VelocImmune®, which uses unique genetically humanized mice to produce optimized fully human antibodies and bispecific antibodies, and through ambitious research initiatives such as the Regeneron Genetics Center, which is conducting one of the largest genetics sequencing efforts in the world. For more information, please visit www.Regeneron.com or follow Regeneron on LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements and Use of Digital MediaThis press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties relating to future events and the future performance of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Regeneron” or the “Company”), and actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements concern, and these risks and uncertainties include, among others, the nature, timing, and possible success and therapeutic applications of products marketed or otherwise commercialized by Regeneron and/or its collaborators or licensees (collectively, “Regeneron’s Products”) and product candidates being developed by Regeneron and/or its collaborators or licensees (collectively, “Regeneron’s Product Candidates”) and research and clinical programs now underway or planned, including without limitation EYLEA® HD (aflibercept) Injection 8 mg for the treatment of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema; uncertainty of the utilization, market acceptance, and commercial success of Regeneron’s Products (such as EYLEA HD) and Regeneron’s Product Candidates and the impact of studies (whether conducted by Regeneron or others and whether mandated or voluntary), including the studies discussed or referenced in this press release, on any of the foregoing; the likelihood, timing, and scope of possible regulatory approval and commercial launch of Regeneron’s Product Candidates and new indications for Regeneron’s Products; the ability of Regeneron’s collaborators, licensees, suppliers, or other third parties (as applicable) to perform manufacturing, filling, finishing, packaging, labeling, distribution, and other steps related to Regeneron’s Products and Regeneron’s Product Candidates; the ability of Regeneron to manage supply chains for multiple products and product candidates; safety issues resulting from the administration of Regeneron’s Products and Regeneron’s Product Candidates in patients, including serious complications or side effects in connection with the use of Regeneron’s Products and Regeneron’s Product Candidates in clinical trials; determinations by regulatory and administrative governmental authorities which may delay or restrict Regeneron’s ability to continue to develop or commercialize Regeneron’s Products and Regeneron’s Product Candidates; ongoing regulatory obligations and oversight impacting Regeneron’s Products, research and clinical programs, and business, including those relating to patient privacy; the availability and extent of reimbursement of Regeneron’s Products (such as EYLEA HD) from third-party payers, including private payer healthcare and insurance programs, health maintenance organizations, pharmacy benefit management companies, and government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid; coverage and reimbursement determinations by such payers and new policies and procedures adopted by such payers; competing drugs and product candidates that may be superior to, or more cost effective than, Regeneron’s Products and Regeneron’s Product Candidates; the extent to which the results from the research and development programs conducted by Regeneron and/or its collaborators or licensees may be replicated in other studies and/or lead to advancement of product candidates to clinical trials, therapeutic applications, or regulatory approval; unanticipated expenses; the costs of developing, producing, and selling products; the ability of Regeneron to meet any of its financial projections or guidance and changes to the assumptions underlying those projections or guidance; the potential for any license, collaboration, or supply agreement, including Regeneron’s agreements with Sanofi and Bayer (or their respective affiliated companies, as applicable) to be cancelled or terminated; the impact of public health outbreaks, epidemics, or pandemics (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) on Regeneron's business; and risks associated with intellectual property of other parties and pending or future litigation relating thereto (including without limitation the patent litigation and other related proceedings relating to EYLEA® (aflibercept) 2 mg Injection), other litigation and other proceedings and government investigations relating to the Company and/or its operations, the ultimate outcome of any such proceedings and investigations, and the impact any of the foregoing may have on Regeneron’s business, prospects, operating results, and financial condition. A more complete description of these and other material risks can be found in Regeneron’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Any forward-looking statements are made based on management’s current beliefs and judgment, and the reader is cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements made by Regeneron. Regeneron does not undertake any obligation to update (publicly or otherwise) any forward-looking statement, including without limitation any financial projection or guidance, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Regeneron uses its media and investor relations website and social media outlets to publish important information about the Company, including information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other information about Regeneron is routinely posted and is accessible on Regeneron's media and investor relations website (https://investor.regeneron.com) and its LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/company/regeneron-pharmaceuticals). Contacts:Media RelationsMary HeatherTel: +1 914-847-8650mary.heather@regeneron.comInvestor RelationsMark HudsonTel: +1 914-847-3482mark.hudson@regeneron.com

CIMERLI®*, a ranibizumab biosimilar, is interchangeable with LUCENTIS®** (ranibizumab injection) for all approved indications Dedicated retina sales and field reimbursement team integrated into Sandoz, ensuring seamless experience for providers and patients March 4, 2024 – Sandoz, the global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, has completed the acquisition of the US biosimilar CIMERLI®* (ranibizumab-eqrn) from Coherus BioSciences, Inc, ahead of anticipated timelines. The acquisition builds on the leading Sandoz ophthalmic platform in the US and lays an even stronger foundation for future product launches. Keren Haruvi, President Sandoz North America said: “Today we further expand the Sandoz biosimilar portfolio, while advancing our mission in the US of pioneering patient access to more affordable and much-needed medicines. With the addition of CIMERLI® to our existing ophthalmology franchise, we can now offer even more treatment options for US patients with vision impairment and loss.” CIMERLI® is indicated for the treatment of certain retinal diseases that, if left untreated, can cause vision loss, which ranks among the top 10 causes of disability in the United States.1 It is an anti-VEGF therapy within a class of biologics that helps retinal patients maintain or gain vision.2 Sandoz and Coherus entered into an agreement in January 2024 through which Sandoz agreed to acquire the full CIMERLI® business for an upfront cash purchase price of USD 170 million. The transaction includes a biologics license application, product inventory, ophthalmology sales and field reimbursement talent, as well as access to proprietary commercial software. CIMERLI®* solution for injection (6 mg/mL and 10 mg/mL) is an FDA-approved biosimilar to reference product LUCENTIS®** (ranibizumab injection) indicated for the treatment of multiple retinal diseases, including neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO), diabetic macular edema (DME), diabetic retinopathy (DR) and myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV).3 CIMERLI®* is an anti-VEGF therapy within a class of biologics that helps retinal patients maintain or gain vision.2 CIMERLI®* was approved by the FDA in August 2022, having met FDA’s rigorous standards of biosimilarity to the reference product, including safety, efficacy and quality. Launched in October 2022, it is the first and only FDA-approved biosimilar interchangeable with LUCENTIS®** for all indications. References Centers for Disease Control and Preventon. Vision Loss: A Public Health Problem. December 19, 2022. Accessed February 22, 2024. Vision Loss: A Public Health Problem | CDC American Academy of Ophthalmology. Anti-VEGF Treatments. July 26, 2023. Accessed February 22, 2024. Anti-VEGF Treatments - American Academy of Ophthalmology (aao.org). Sandoz (SIX: SDZ; OTCQX: SDZNY) is the global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, with a growth strategy driven by its Purpose: pioneering access for patients. 22,000 people of more than 100 nationalities work together to bring Sandoz medicines to some 500 million patients worldwide, generating substantial global healthcare savings and an even larger total social impact. Its leading portfolio of more than 1,500 products addresses diseases from the common cold to cancer. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Sandoz traces its heritage back to the year 1886. Its history of breakthroughs includes Calcium Sandoz in 1929, the world’s first oral penicillin in 1951, and the first biosimilar in 2006. In 2022, Sandoz achieved sales of USD 9.1 billion and core EBITDA of USD 1.9 billion. The content above comes from the network. if any infringement, please contact us to modify.