Repatha is an investigational fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a protein that reduces the liver’s ability to remove low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or "bad" cholesterol, from the blood.
"There is a critical need for additional treatment options for high-risk patients who are unable to control their high cholesterol with currently available therapies," said Sean E. Harper, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen.
"We look forward to discussing the efficacy and safety data from our clinical program with the members of the Committee."
The EMDAC will review results from clinical trials in support of the BLA for Repatha, which is based on data from approximately 6,800 patients, including more than 4,500 patients with high cholesterol in 10 Phase 3 trials.
The Phase 3 studies evaluated the safety and efficacy of Repatha in patients with elevated cholesterol, including patients on statins with or without other lipid-lowering therapies; patients who cannot tolerate statins; patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) and patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), a rare and serious genetic disorder.
The FDA has set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of Aug. 27, 2015, for the Repatha BLA.
Repatha (evolocumab) is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9).
PCSK9 is a protein that targets LDL receptors for degradation and thereby reduces the liver’s ability to remove LDL-C, or "bad" cholesterol, from the blood.
Repatha, being developed by Amgen scientists, is designed to bind to PCSK9 and inhibit PCSK9 from binding to LDL receptors on the liver surface. In the absence of PCSK9, there are more LDL receptors on the surface of the liver to remove LDL-C from the blood.