AstraZeneca plc (LON:AZN) Voydeya (danicopan) has been approved in the US as add-on therapy to ravulizumab or eculizumab for the treatment of extravascular haemolysis (EVH) in adults with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH).1 Voydeya is a first-in-class, oral, Factor D inhibitor developed as an add-on to standard-of-care Ultomiris (ravulizumab) or Soliris (eculizumab) to address the needs of the approximately 10-20% of patients with PNH who experience clinically significant EVH while treated with a C5 inhibitor.2,3
The approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was based on positive results from the pivotal ALPHA Phase III trial. Results from the 12-week primary evaluation period of the trial were published in The Lancet Haematology.2
Bart Scott, MD, Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Washington Medical Center, and Professor, Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, said: “The approval of Voydeya offers this small subset of PNH patients an add-on therapy designed to address EVH, while maintaining disease control with Ultomiris or Soliris. Terminal complement inhibition with Ultomiris can address the life-threatening complications of PNH, building on the efficacy and safety of Soliris established over nearly 20 years.”
Marc Dunoyer, Chief Executive Officer, Alexion, said: “The approval of first-in-class, Factor D inhibitor Voydeya marks an important advancement in the treatment of PNH and builds on our leadership and commitment to bring forward innovation in complement science. As the ALPHA trial suggests, dual complement pathway inhibition at Factor D and C5 may be an optimal treatment approach for this subset of patients with EVH, enabling them to continue with proven standard-of-care therapy.”
The ALPHA Phase III trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of Voydeya as add-on to Ultomiris or Soliris in patients with PNH who experienced clinically significant EVH. Results showed that Voydeya met the primary endpoint of change in haemoglobin from baseline to week 12 and all key secondary endpoints, including transfusion avoidance and change in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue) score.2
Results from the ALPHA Phase III trial showed Voydeya was generally well tolerated, and no new safety concerns were identified. In the trial, the most common treatment-emergent adverse events were headache, nausea, arthralgia and diarrhoea.2
Voydeya has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the US FDA and PRIority MEdicines (PRIME) status by the European Medicines Agency. Voydeya has also been granted Orphan Drug Designation in the US, European Union (EU) and Japan for the treatment of PNH. Voydeya has been approved in Japan and recommended for approval in the EU. Regulatory reviews are ongoing in additional countries.
Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, is the group within AstraZeneca focused on rare diseases, created following the 2021 acquisition of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. As a leader in rare diseases for more than 30 years, Alexion is focused on serving patients and families affected by rare diseases and devastating conditions through the discovery, development and commercialisation of life-changing medicines.
Voydeya (danicopan)
Voydeya (danicopan) is a first-in-class oral Factor D inhibitor. The medication works by selectively inhibiting Factor D, a complement system protein that plays a key role in the amplification of the complement system response. When activated in an uncontrolled manner, the complement cascade over-responds, leading the body to attack its own healthy cells. Voydeya has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the US Food and Drug Administration and PRIority MEdicines (PRIME) status by the European Medicines Agency. Voydeya has also been granted Orphan Drug Designation in the US, EU and Japan for the treatment of PNH.
Voydeya is approved in the US as add-on therapy to ravulizumab or eculizumab for the treatment of EVH in adults with PNH.
Voydeya is also approved in Japan for certain adults with PNH in combination with C5 inhibitor therapy.
Alexion is also evaluating Voydeya as a potential monotherapy for geographic atrophy in a Phase II clinical trial.
