FDA accepts BLA for valoctocogene roxaparvovec, for adults with hemophilia A. PDUFA action date is August 21, 2020.- BioMarin

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. announced that the FDA has accepted for Priority Review the Biologics License Application (BLA) to the FDA for its investigational AAV5 gene therapy, valoctocogene roxaparvovec, for adults with hemophilia A. This acceptance by the FDA marks the first marketing application accepted for a gene therapy product for any type of hemophilia in the United States. The FDA has granted priority review designation to valoctocogene roxaparvovec, which is granted to drugs that treat a serious condition and, if approved, would provide a significant improvement in safety or effectiveness of the treatment, prevention, or diagnosis of a serious condition. The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date is August 21, 2020. . The FDA has informed the company that they are not currently planning to hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss the application. The application is based on a Phase III interim analysis of study participants treated with investigational product manufactured by the to-be-commercialized process and three-year Phase 1/II data. BioMarin has constructed, commissioned, and validated one of the first gene therapy manufacturing facilities of its kind in the world. This award-winning facility is located in Novato, California. Marketing authorization documentation has been included in the applications, and the facility is ready for inspection to support approval. In addition, the FDA has accepted the premarket approval (PMA) application for an AAV5 total antibody assay intended as a companion diagnostic test for valoctocogene roxaparvovec. With a low prevalence of pre-existing immunity to AAV5, BioMarin estimates that approximately 80% of people with hemophilia A in the US do not have preexisting immunity to AAV5 that would make them ineligible for AAV5-mediated gene therapy treatment. The assay is produced by ARUP Laboratories, a leading national reference laboratory and a nonprofit enterprise of the University of Utah and its Department of Pathology. ent, Global Research and Development at BioMarin. a Regulatory Status in the U.S. and Europe: The FDA has granted valoctocogene roxaparvovec Breakthrough Therapy designation. Valoctocogene roxaparvovec has Orphan Drug designation from the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The EMA validated the Company's Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for its investigational gene therapy, valoctocogene roxaparvovec, for adults with severe hemophilia A. The MAA review commenced in January 2020 under accelerated assessment. Recognizing valoctocogene roxaparvovec for its potential to benefit patients with unmet medical needs, EMA granted access to its Priority Medicines (PRIME) regulatory initiative in 2017 and recently granted BioMarin's request for accelerated assessment of this MAA, potentially shortening the review period. This submission marks the first marketing application under review in Europe for a gene therapy product for any type of hemophilia. Companion Diagnostic: The companion diagnostic is an AAV5 total antibody assay, which consists of a simple blood test to help identify patients most likely to respond to AAV5-based gene therapy. BioMarin implemented the test in multiple clinical studies evaluating valoctocogene roxaparvovec treatment of hemophilia A patients without antibodies to AAV5. BioMarin partnered with ARUP, a laboratory with 35 years of experience supporting hospitals, physicians, and patients with unparalleled quality and service including two prior FDA companion diagnostic approvals, to develop this test. ARUP's experience in developing FDA-approved, single-source companion diagnostic tests is unique among reference laboratories.