Vertex executives said in a briefing that they will begin shipping Kalydeco to pharmacies in the United States this week. The company said it plans to charge $294,000 a year for the twice-daily pill and will provide assistance to those without insurance and will help subsidize the cost of copayments for some insured patients.
Cystic fibrosis occurs from a genetic defect that leads to the formation of thick mucus in the lungs, digestive tract, and other parts of the body, causing breathing difficulties, nutritional deficiencies that result in a lack of weight gain, and other complications such as infections and diabetes. More than half of those with the condition die before age 18 and few live past 40.
“Kalydeco is an excellent example of the promise of personalized medicine – targeted drugs that treat patients with a specific genetic makeup,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg said in a statement.
The agency based its expedited approval -- which took just three months -- on two clinical studies involving 213 patients aged 11 and over that lasted nearly a year. In both studies, those treated with Kalydeco had improved lung function, increased weight gain, and fewer acute problems that often require hospital visits and treatment with antibiotics, compared with those who took a placebo, according to Vertex.
Still unknown is whether the drug will increase their lifespans.
Nevertheless, patient advocacy groups hailed today’s approval as a major advance. “Kalydeco addresses the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis, and the science behind the drug has opened exciting new doors that may eventually lead to a cure for all people living with this disease,” said Cystic Fibrosis Foundation president Robert Beall in a statement. The Foundation provided Vertex with $75 million in funding to develop the orphan drug.
The most common side effects of Kalydeco include upper respiratory tract infection, headache, stomach ache, rash, diarrhea, and dizziness. The drug may also increase liver enzymes, so the FDA recommends patients have their levels monitored regularly.
Vertex has six other drugs in clinical trials, including ones to treat epilepsy and rheumatoid arthritis.
