Full Press Release Details
Protalix BioTherapeutics and Chiesi Farmaceutici
"Agreement Letter" for Initial Pediatric Study Plan for PRX-102 for the Treatment of Fabry Disease
CARMIEL, Israel, February 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Protalix
BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American:PLX) (TASE:PLX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, production and commercialization
of recombinant therapeutic proteins produced by its proprietary ProCellEx plant cell-based protein expression system,
and its development and commercialization partner, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. (Chiesi), an international research-focused healthcare
group, today announced an agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Initial Pediatric Study Plan
(iPSP) for pegunigalsidase alpha, or PRX-102. The companies reported the news after completing discussions with the FDA and receiving
confirmation in an official "Agreement Letter" which outlines an agreed approach to address the needs of pediatric
patients with Fabry disease.
PRX-102 is the Company's plant
cell-expressed recombinant, PEGylated, cross-linked -galactosidase-A candidate for the treatment of Fabry disease. PRX-102
has the potential to be approved for adult patients with Fabry disease under the FDA's Accelerated Approval pathway.
"Proceeding with the pediatric
study plan for PRX-102 marks an important milestone in our goal of bringing an alternative to the Fabry patient community which
is in need of better treatment options other than those currently available," said Dror Bashan, Protalix BioTherapeutics'
President and Chief Executive Officer.
Together with our partner Chiesi, we value this pediatric study
as a new opportunity to potentially bring a new treatment option to the entire Fabry community." said Dr. Raul Chertkoff,
Protalix BioTherapeutics' Vice President, Medical Affairs.
The Company and Chiesi have previously reported that they expect
to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the FDA under an Accelerated Approval pathway. Based on prior discussions with
the FDA, the companies believe that the nonclinical data, the clinical data, the safety database and manufacturing data are sufficient
to support the BLA submission.
Fabry disease is an X-linked inherited disease that results
from deficient activity of the lysosomal enzyme -galactosidase-A resulting in progressive accumulation of abnormal deposits
of a fatty substance called globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in blood vessel walls throughout a person's body. Fabry disease occurs
in one person per 40,000. Fabry patients inherit a deficiency of the enzyme alpha-galactosidase-A, which is normally responsible
for the breakdown of Gb3. The abnormal storage of Gb3 increases with time and, accordingly, Gb3 accumulates, primarily
in the blood and in the blood vessel walls. The ultimate consequences of Gb3 deposition range from episodes of pain and impaired
peripheral sensation to end-organ failure - particularly of the kidneys, but also of the heart and the cerebrovascular system.
About Pegunigalsidase Alfa
Pegunigalsidase alfa (PRX-102) is an
investigational, plant cell culture-expressed, and chemically modified stabilized version of the recombinant -Galactosidase-A
enzyme. Protein sub-units are covalently bound via chemical cross-linking using short PEG moieties, resulting in a molecule with
unique pharmacokinetic parameters. In clinical studies, PRX-102 has been observed to have a circulatory half-life of approximately
80 hours. The Company designed PRX-102 to potentially address the continued unmet clinical need in Fabry patients of continuous
disease progression, infusion reactions and immunogenicity.
About the Chiesi Group
Based in Parma, Italy, Chiesi
Farmaceutici is an international research-oriented group with over 80 years' experience in the pharmaceutical sector and
is present in 28 countries. The Group researches, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in respiratory disease, special
care and rare disease therapeutic areas. The Group's Research & Development center is integrated with six other important
research and development groups in France, the USA, the UK and Sweden, to promote its pre-clinical, clinical
and registration programs. The Group employs around 5,700 people. Chiesi Group is a certified B Corp. For more
information, please visit www.chiesi.com.
About Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
Protalix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development
and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed through its proprietary plant cell-based expression system,
ProCellEx . Protalix was the first company to gain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a protein
produced through plant cell-based in suspension expression system.
Protalix's unique expression system represents a new method
for developing recombinant proteins in an industrial-scale manner. Protalix's first product manufactured by ProCellEx, taliglucerase
alfa, was approved for marketing by the FDA in May 2012 and, subsequently, by the regulatory authorities of other countries. Protalix
has licensed to Pfizer Inc. the worldwide development and commercialization rights for taliglucerase alfa, excluding Brazil, where
Protalix retains full rights.
Protalix's development pipeline consists of proprietary,
potentially clinically superior versions of recombinant therapeutic proteins that target established pharmaceutical markets, including
the following product candidates: pegunigalsidase alfa, a modified version of the recombinant human -galactosidase-A protein
for the proposed treatment of Fabry disease; OPRX-106, an orally-delivered anti-inflammatory treatment; alidornase alfa for the
treatment of Cystic Fibrosis; and others. Protalix has partnered with Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., both in the United States and
outside the United States, for the development and commercialization of pegunigalsidase alfa.
Forward-Looking Statements
To the extent that statements in this press release are not
strictly historical, all such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The terms "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate,"
"project," "plan," "should" and "intend," and other words or phrases of similar
import are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks
and uncertainties that may cause actual future experience and results to differ materially from the statements made. These statements
are based on our current beliefs and expectations as to such future outcomes. Drug discovery and development involve a high degree
of risk and the final results of a clinical trial may be different than the preliminary findings for the clinical trial. Factors
that might cause material differences include, among others: failure or delay in the commencement or completion of our preclinical
and clinical trials which may be caused by several factors, including: risks that the FDA will not accept an application for accelerated
approval of PRX-102 with the data generated to date or will request additional data or other conditions of our submission of any
application for accelerated approval of PRX-102; slower than expected rates of patient recruitment; unforeseen safety issues; determination
of dosing issues; lack of effectiveness during clinical trials; inability to monitor patients adequately during or after treatment;
and inability or unwillingness of medical investigators and institutional review boards to follow our clinical protocols; the risk
that the results of the clinical trials of our product candidates will not support our claims of safety or efficacy, that our product
candidates will not have the desired effects or will be associated with undesirable side effects or other unexpected characteristics;
risks related to our ability to maintain and manage our relationship with Chiesi Farmaceutici and any other collaborator, distributor
or partner; risks related to the amount of our future revenues and expenditures; the risk that despite the FDA's grant of
fast track designation for PRX-102, we may not experience a faster development process, review or approval compared to applications
considered for approval under conventional FDA procedures; risks related to the FDA's ability to withdraw the fast track
designation at any time; our dependence on performance by third party providers of services and supplies, including without limitation,
clinical trial services; delays in our preparation and filing of applications for regulatory approval; delays in the approval or
potential rejection of any applications we file with the FDA or other health regulatory authorities, and other risks relating to
the review process; the inherent risks and uncertainties in developing drug platforms and products of the type we are developing;
the impact of development of competing therapies and/or technologies by other companies and institutions; potential product liability
risks, and risks of securing adequate levels of product liability and other necessary insurance coverage; and other factors described
in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The statements in this press release are valid only as of the
date hereof and we disclaim any obligation to update this information, except as may be required by law.
Chuck Padala, Managing Director