- Patients with high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer now have greater access to the first and only FDA-approved intravesical gene therapy
- With full supply of ADSTILADRIN ahead of schedule, Ferring ends the temporary ADSTILADRIN Early Experience Program
- Enrollment in ABLE-41 U.S. Real-World Evidence Study is ongoing
Ferring Pharmaceuticals today announced that ADSTILADRIN® (nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg) is now fully available across the U.S. for healthcare providers to prescribe for their adult patients with high-risk Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors. Approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2022, ADSTILADRIN is the first and only FDA-approved intravesical gene therapy for adults with NMIBC who no longer respond to standard therapy.
“From the day we received FDA approval, Ferring has been committed to making ADSTILADRIN available to every appropriate high-risk NMIBC patient quickly and responsibly, working collaboratively with the bladder cancer community to inform our approach,” said Bipin Dalmia, Senior Vice President, Global Head, Uro-Oncology Franchise at Ferring Pharmaceuticals. “With our significant manufacturing investments, we have achieved full product supply ahead of schedule. We are therefore ending our ADSTILADRIN Early Experience Program and look forward to bringing this novel therapy to every patient who needs it.”
In September 2023, Ferring initiated the ADSTILADRIN Early Experience Program to a mix of clinical trial sites that participated in the ADSTILADRIN Phase 3 study and community clinics with the highest number of appropriate patients with NMIBC. This temporary program represented Ferring’s commitment to treat as many patients as possible in the short term while ensuring every patient who started on ADSTILADRIN had the ability to continue therapy for the duration of their treatment. Now that full product supply is available ahead of schedule, Ferring can end the temporary ADSTILADRIN Early Experience Program and dramatically increase patient access.
“ADSTILADRIN represents an effective alternative therapy for patients with NMIBC who, historically, had very few options once they no longer responded to standard BCG therapy,” said Andrea Maddox-Smith, CEO of the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, BCAN. “Increasing access to this innovative therapy offers the potential of what patients need most – safe, effective treatment options that bring hope.”
Ferring also initiated a non-interventional study, known as the “ADSTILADRIN in BLadder CancEr” (ABLE-41) U.S. Real World Evidence (RWE) Study (NCT06026332). This ongoing study is exploring early utilization, experiences, and outcomes of ADSTILADRIN in the routine care setting.
About ADSTILADRIN
ADSTILADRIN® (nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg) is the first and only FDA-approved intravesical gene-therapy for the treatment of adult patients with high-risk Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors. It is a non-replicating adenovirus vector-based therapy containing the gene interferon alfa-2b, administered by catheter directly into the bladder once every three months. The vector enters the cells of the bladder wall, releasing the active gene and causing the bladder’s cell walls to secrete high quantities of interferon alfa-2b protein, a naturally-occurring protein the body uses to fight cancer. This approach essentially turns the bladder wall cells into interferon microfactories, enhancing the body’s own natural defenses against the cancer.
ADSTILADRIN has been studied in a clinical trial program that includes 157 patients with high-grade, BCG-unresponsive NMIBC who had been treated with adequate BCG previously and did not see benefit from additional BCG treatment (full inclusion criteria published on clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02773849).1
About Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC)
NMIBC is a form of bladder cancer which is present in the superficial layer of the bladder and has not invaded deeper into the bladder or spread to other parts of the body.2 Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the U.S., and it is estimated that there were approximately 81,180 new cases of bladder cancer in the U.S. in 2022,3 75% of which present as NMIBC.4 In patients with high-risk NMIBC, intravesical BCG remains the first-line standard of care. However, more than 50% of patients who receive initial treatment with BCG will experience disease recurrence and progression within one year, with many developing BCG-unresponsive disease.3 Current treatment options for BCG-unresponsive patients are very limited, and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommend cystectomy (partial or complete removal of the bladder).5
INDICATION
ADSTILADRIN is a non-replicating adenoviral vector-based gene therapy indicated for the treatment of adult patients with high-risk Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
CONTRAINDICATIONS: ADSTILADRIN is contraindicated in patients with prior hypersensitivity reactions to interferon alfa or to any component of the product.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS:
- Risk with delayed cystectomy: Delaying cystectomy in patients with BCG-unresponsive CIS could lead to development of muscle invasive or metastatic bladder cancer, which can be lethal. If patients with CIS do not have a complete response to treatment after 3 months or if CIS recurs, consider cystectomy.
- Risk of disseminated adenovirus infection: Persons who are immunocompromised or immunodeficient may be at risk for disseminated infection from ADSTILADRIN due to low levels of replication-competent adenovirus. Avoid ADSTILADRIN exposure to immunocompromised or immunodeficient individuals.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Administer ADSTILADRIN by intravesical instillation only. ADSTILADRIN is not for intravenous use, topical use, or oral administration.
USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS: Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during ADSTILADRIN treatment and for 6 months after the last dose. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during ADSTILADRIN treatment and for 3 months after the last dose.
ADVERSE REACTIONS: The most common (>10%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities (>15%), were glucose increased, instillation site discharge, triglycerides increased, fatigue, bladder spasm, micturition (urination urgency), creatinine increased, hematuria (blood in urine), phosphate decreased, chills, pyrexia (fever), and dysuria (painful urination).
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-332-1088. You may also contact Ferring Pharmaceuticals at 1-888-FERRING.
Please click to see the full Prescribing Information.
About Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a research-driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group committed to helping people around the world build families and live better lives. In the United States, Ferring is a leader in reproductive medicine and maternal health, uro-oncology and in specialty areas within gastroenterology, including microbiome therapeutics, and orthopaedics. For more information, call 1-888-FERRING (1-888-337-7464) or visit http://www.ferringusa.com/.
References:
- ADSTILADRIN in Patients With High Grade, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Unresponsive Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC). Gov Identifier: NCT02773849. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02773849.
- Boorjian SA, Alemozaffar M, Konety BR, et al. Intravesical nadofaragene firadenovec gene therapy for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a single-arm, open-label, repeat-dose clinical trial. Lancet Oncol 2021; 22: 107–17.
- American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Bladder Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer/about/key-statistics.html. Updated January 13,2023. Accessed October 15, 2023.
- Burger M, Catto JW, Dalbagni G, et al. Epidemiology and risk factors of urothelial bladder cancer. Eur Urol. 2013;63(2):234-41.
- NCCN Guideline Insights. Bladder Cancer, Version 3.2023. www.nccn.org/patients/guidelines/content/PDF/bladder-patient.pdf. Accessed November 7, 2023.
More information is available at the following:
- Health Care Providers: If you are interested in ordering ADSTILADRIN, please sign up for information and updates at ADSTILADRINHCP.com.
- Patients and Consumers: For more information about ADSTILADRIN, please call 1-888-FERRING (888-337-7464), and select option number one.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116546395/en/
Contacts
- Media: Members of the press can contact Carol Ready, Director, Brand Communications by phone at (973) 765-7307, or email at carol.ready@ferring.com.
