Full Press Release Details
European Medicines Agency Accepts HETLIOZTM (tasimelteon) Marketing Authorization
Application for Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder in the Totally Blind
WASHINGTON, June 3, 2014/PRNEWSWIRE/ Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(Vanda) (NASDAQ: VNDA) announced today that its Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for oral HETLIOZTM (tasimelteon) capsules has been accepted for evaluation by the European Medicines
Agency (EMA) for the treatment of Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24).
The EMA submission is an important milestone towards providing a
treatment option for people living with Non-24 in the European Union, said Mihael H. Polymeropoulos, M.D., Vanda s President and CEO. This continues our efforts to expand the availability of HETLIOZ to markets outside the U.S.
HETLIOZ has been granted orphan drug designation for the treatment of Non-24 in blind people with no light perception from the European Commission.
HETLIOZ was approved by the FDA in January 2014 and is available through specialty pharmacies in the U.S.
About Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake
Non-24 was first described more than 60 years ago, and is a chronic, circadian rhythm disorder resulting from the misalignment of the
endogenous master body clock to the 24-hour day, disrupting the sleep-wake cycle. The sleep disturbance causes significant distress or impairment in social, occupational and other important areas of functioning. Non-24 affects the majority of
totally blind individuals and it is estimated that approximately 130,000 people in the European Union have the disorder.
HETLIOZ is a melatonin receptor agonist. HETLIOZ has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of
Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24). For full U.S. prescribing information, please visit www.hetlioz.com.
Important Safety Information About HETLIOZ
HETLIOZ is indicated for the treatment of Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24).
Important Safety Information
somnolence: After taking HETLIOZ , patients should limit their activity to preparing for going to bed, because HETLIOZ can impair the performance of activities requiring complete mental alertness.
The most common adverse reactions (incidence >5% and at least twice as high on HETLIOZ than on placebo) were headache, increased alanine
aminotransferase, nightmares or unusual dreams, upper respiratory or urinary tract infection. The risk of adverse reactions may be greater in elderly (>65 years) patients than younger patients because exposure to HETLIOZ is increased
by approximately 2-fold compared with younger patients.
Use of HETLIOZ should be avoided in combination with fluvoxamine or other strong CYP1A2 inhibitors, because
of a potentially large increase in exposure of HETLIOZ , and a greater risk of adverse reactions. HETLIOZ should be avoided in combination with rifampin or other CYP3A4 inducers, because of a potentially large decrease in exposure of
HETLIOZ , with reduced efficacy.
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of HETLIOZ in pregnant women. Based on animal data,
HETLIOZ may cause fetal harm. HETLIOZ should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risks. Caution should be exercised when HETLIOZ is administered to a nursing woman.
HETLIOZ has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment and is not recommended in these patients.
Safety and effectiveness of HETLIOZ in pediatric patients have not been established.
Full HETLIOZ Prescribing Information can be found at: www.hetlioz.com.
About Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of products for the treatment of central nervous system disorders. For more on Vanda, please visit www.vandapharma.com.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Various statements in this release are forward-looking statements under the securities laws. Forward-looking statements are based upon current
expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in Vanda s forward-looking statements include, among others:
the regulatory status of tasimelteon in Europe, the prevalence of Non-24 in the European Union, and other factors that are described in the Risk Factors and Management s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations sections of Vanda s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, which are on file with the SEC and
available on the SEC s website at www.sec.gov. In addition to the risks described above and in Vanda s annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, other unknown or unpredictable factors also could affect
Vanda s results. There can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by Vanda will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Vanda. Therefore, no
assurance can be given that the outcomes stated in such forward-looking statements and estimates will be achieved.
All written and verbal forward-looking
statements attributable to Vanda or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Vanda cautions investors not to rely too heavily on the forward-looking
statements Vanda makes or that are made on its behalf. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Vanda undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, to update or revise publicly any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
U.S. full prescribing information for HETLIOZ is available at www.HETLIOZ.com.
HETLIOZ is a registered trademark of Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Assistant Vice President