FDA approves Zokinvy for Progeria.- Eiger BioPharmaceuticals

The FDA has approved Zokinvy (lonafarnib), from Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, for the treatment of Progeria and processing-deficient Progeroid Laminopathies (PL). Zokinvy is a farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI) that has shown survival benefit in children with Progeria. Data based on information from the PRF International Patient Registry and clinical trials co-coordinated by PRF and Boston Children's Hospital demonstrated that in patients with Progeria, Zokinvy reduced the incidence of mortality by 60% (p=0.0064) and increased average survival time by 2.5 years. Without Zokinvy treatment, children with Progeria die of heart disease at an average age of 14.5 years. Eiger BioPharmaceuticals began supplying Zokinvy for the Progeria clinical trials in 2015, with the objective of leading Zokinvy through the FDA approval process.