Alofisel, Crohn’s Stem Cell Therapy Approved by the EU
Complex perianal fistulas in Crohn’s disease are challenging to treat. Now, the first allogeneic stem cell therapy that uses donor stem cells has been approved for use and commercialisation in the Europe by the European Commission.
Previously known as Cx601, the therapy is designed to aid milder and non-active forms of Crohn’s disease by treating complex perianal fistulas. It will be used where one or more conventional treatments are shown to be ineffective.
As part of Takeda and TiGenix’s marketing partnership to develop and commercialise Alofisel outside the US, Takeda will make a payment of €15 million to TiGenix for securing authorisation for the treatment.
The European approval follows a positive opinion by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), in conjunction with the Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT), in December 2017.
The recommendation was based on results from TiGenix’s Phase III ADMIRE-CD pivotal trial, which showed that Alofisel achieved statistically significant superiority versus the control group in the primary efficacy endpoint of combined remission at 24 weeks, as well as further follow-up data that indicated Alofisel maintained long-term remission of treatment refractory complex perianal fistulas in patients
with Crohn’s disease over 52 weeks.“I am extremely excited about this approval, which brings allogeneic stem cell therapy one step closer to patients in Europe,” said Professor Julian Panés, Head of the Gastroenterology Department at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (Spain) and President of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO). “Alofisel offers a novel, minimally invasive and well tolerated alternative treatment option for patients with Crohn’s disease who do not respond to currently available therapies, and who have until now had limited treatment options available.”
“This approval of Alofisel reflects our deep understanding and recognized leadership in the development of allogeneic stem cells and our firm commitment to developing innovative therapies for medical needs,” said Dr. María Pascual, VP Regulatory Affairs and Corporate Quality at TiGenix. “We are pleased to offer the medical community an important new treatment option for patients with Crohn’s disease who do not respond to currently available therapies.”
“Today’s marketing authorization, the first for an allogeneic stem cell therapy, represents a positive advancement in the treatment of patients with complex perianal fistulas in Crohn’s disease,” said Dr. Asit Parikh, Head of Takeda’s Gastroenterology Therapeutic Area Unit. “We look forward to bringing this much needed treatment option to patients across Europe in the coming months.”
