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FDA Approves Gazyva® (Obinutuzumab) Supplemental Biologics License Application with New Data in Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic LeukemiaGenentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for Gazyva in combination with chlorambucil chemotherapy in people with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The sBLA adds to the label data from Stage 2 of the CLL11 study showing significant improvements with Gazyva plus chlorambucil across multiple clinical endpoints when compared head-to-head with Rituxan® (rituximab) plus chlorambucil. The approval includes complete response (CR) and minimal residual disease (MRD) data from Stage 2 of the study. Additionally, overall survival (OS) data was added from Stage 1 of the study comparing Gazyva plus chlorambucil to chlorambucil alone. "Gazyva is the first and only medicine to significantly help people live without their disease worsening when combined with chlorambucil compared to Rituxan and chlorambucil in people with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia," said Sandra Horning, M.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "These new data enhance our understanding of the disease and its treatment, and this approval affirms an important treatment option for people with this difficult-to-treat disease." The sBLA approval updated the Gazyva prescribing information with the following data:
Gazyva can cause serious or life-threatening side effects including: Hepatitis B reactivation, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), infusion reactions, tumor lysis syndrome, infections, and low white blood cell counts. The most common side effects of Gazyva are infusion reactions, low white blood cell counts, low platelet counts, low red blood cell counts, fever, cough, nausea, and diarrhea. Gazyva, the first medicine approved with the FDA's Breakthrough Therapy Designation, was approved for use in combination with chlorambucil in people with previously untreated CLL on November 1, 2013. Gazyva, known as Gazyvaro in Europe, was approved by the European Commission for the same indication in July 2014. Gazyva is also being investigated in a broad development program across various types of blood cancers, including multiple Phase III studies in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). About the CLL11 Study CLL11 is a Phase III, multicenter, open-label, randomized three-arm study, conducted in cooperation with the German CLL Study Group, in 781 previously untreated people with CLL and co-existing medical conditions. Stage 1 (n=589) compared Gazyva plus chlorambucil to chlorambucil alone and Rituxan plus chlorambucil to chlorambucil alone. Stage 2 (n=663) compared Gazyva plus chlorambucil directly with Rituxan plus chlorambucil. The primary endpoint of the study was PFS with secondary endpoints including overall response rate (ORR), OS, CR, median duration of response, MRD and safety profile. Results from Stage 2 and updated data from Stage 1 were presented in 2013 during the Plenary Scientific Session of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting and published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2014. About Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) CLL is one of the most common forms of blood cancer and in 2014, it is expected that there will be nearly 5,000 deaths from CLL in the United States. Most cases of CLL (95 percent) start in white blood cells called B-cells that have a protein called CD20 on their surface. About Genentech Access Solutions Access Solutions is part of Genentech's commitment to helping people access the Genentech medicines they are prescribed, regardless of their ability to pay. The team of 350 in-house specialists at Access Solutions is dedicated to helping people navigate the access and reimbursement process, and to providing assistance to eligible patients in the United States who are uninsured or cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs for their medicine. To date, the team has helped more than 1 million patients access the medicines they need. Please contact Access Solutions (866) 4ACCESS/(866) 422-2377 or visit http://www.Genentech-Access.com for more information. About Gazyva Gazyva is an engineered monoclonal antibody designed to attach to CD20, a protein found only on B-cells. It attacks targeted cells both directly and together with the body's immune system. Gazyva is thought to have an increased ability to induce direct cell death and induces greater activity in how it recruits the body's immune system to attack B-cells (antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity; ADCC) when compared to Rituxan. Gazyva was discovered by Roche Glycart AG, a wholly owned, independent research unit of Roche. In the United States, Gazyva is part of a collaboration between Genentech and Biogen Idec. Gazyva Indication Gazyva is a prescription medicine used with the chemotherapy chlorambucil, to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in adults who have not had previous CLL treatment.
Patients must tell their doctor right away about any side effects they experience. Gazyva can cause side effects that can become serious or life threatening, including: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV): Hepatitis B can cause liver failure and death. If a patient has had history of hepatitis B infection, Gazyva could cause it to return. Patients should not receive Gazyva if they have active hepatitis B liver disease. The patient's doctor or healthcare team will need to screen for hepatitis B before, and monitor the patient for hepatitis during and after, treatment with Gazyva. Sometimes this will require treatment for hepatitis B. Symptoms of hepatitis include: worsening of fatigue and yellow discoloration of skin or eyes. Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML): PML is a rare and serious brain infection caused by a virus. PML can be fatal. A patient's weakened immune system could put the patient at risk. The patient's doctor will watch for symptoms. Symptoms of PML include: confusion, difficulty talking or walking, dizziness or loss of balance, and vision problems. Additional possible serious side effects of Gazyva: Patients must tell their doctor right away about any side effects they experience. Gazyva can cause side effects that may become severe or life threatening, including:
Most common side effects of Gazyva The most common side effects of Gazyva are infusion reactions, low white blood cell counts, low platelet counts, low red blood cell counts, fever, cough, nausea, and diarrhea. Before receiving Gazyva, patients should talk to their doctor about: Immunizations: Before receiving Gazyva therapy, the patient should tell the patient's healthcare provider if the patient has recently received or is scheduled to receive a vaccine. Patients who are treated with Gazyva should not receive live vaccines. Pregnancy: A patient should tell the doctor if the patient is pregnant, plans to become pregnant, or is breastfeeding. It is not known if Gazyva may harm the patient's unborn baby or pass into the patient's breast milk. The patient should use birth control while using Gazyva and for 12 months after treatment. Mothers who have been exposed to Gazyva during pregnancy should discuss the safety and timing of live virus vaccinations for their infants with their child's healthcare providers. The patient should speak to the doctor about discontinuing Gazyva if the patient is breastfeeding. Patients must tell their doctor about any side effect that bothers them or that does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of Gazyva. For more information, patients should ask their doctor or pharmacist. Gazyva is available by prescription only. Report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088, or http://www.fda.gov/medwatch. Report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555. Please visit http://www.Gazyva.com for the full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS, for additional Important Safety Information. Rituxan Indications Rituxan (rituximab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with:
Rituxan is not recommended for use in patients with severe, active infections. Important Safety Information: Rituxan can cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including:
What are the additional possible serious side effects of Rituxan? Patients must tell their doctor right away about any side effects they experience. Rituxan can cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including:
The most common side effects of Rituxan are infusion reactions, chills, infections, body aches, tiredness and low white blood cells. Patients must tell their doctor if they are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. It is not known if Rituxan may harm the patient's unborn baby or pass into the patient's breast milk. Women should use birth control while using Rituxan and for 12 months after treatment. Patients must tell their doctor about any side effect that bothers them or that does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of Rituxan. For more information, patients should ask their doctor or pharmacist. Report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or http://www.fda.gov/medwatch. Report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555. Please see the Rituxan full Prescribing Information, including Most Serious Side Effects, for additional important safety information at http://www.Rituxan.com. About Genentech In Hematology For more than 20 years, Genentech has been developing medicines with the goal to redefine treatment in hematology. Today, we're investing more than ever in our effort to bring innovative treatment options to people with cancers of the blood. Genentech's pipeline of potential hematology medicines includes an antibody-drug conjugate (anti-CD79b; polatuzumab vedotin), a small molecule antagonist of MDM2 (RG7388) and in collaboration with AbbVie, a small molecule BCL-2 inhibitor (GDC-0199/ABT-199; venetoclax). About Genentech Founded more than 35 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious or life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com.
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