US FDA Approves New Easy-to-Use, Once-Weekly BYDUREON® BCise™ Injectable Medicine for Patients with Type-2 Diabetes

AstraZeneca today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BYDUREON® BCise™ (exenatide extended-release) injectable suspension, a new formulation of BYDUREON® (exenatide extended-release) injectable suspension in an improved once-weekly, single-dose autoinjector device for adults with type-2 diabetes whose blood sugar remains uncontrolled on one or more oral medicines in addition to diet and exercise, to improve glycemic control.

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Unlike other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, BYDUREON BCise has a unique, continuous-release microsphere delivery system designed to provide consistent therapeutic levels of the active ingredient, exenatide, to help patients reach and maintain steady state. The new formulation in the innovative BYDUREON BCise device is proven to reduce blood sugar levels, with the added benefit of weight loss, although not a weight loss medicine.

Across two clinical trials, average HbA1c reductions of up to 1.4% and average weight loss of up to 3.1 pounds were achieved when used as monotherapy or as an add-on to metformin, a sulfonylurea, a thiazolidinedione, or any combination of two of these oral anti-diabetic medicines at 28 weeks. The most common adverse reactions reported in ≥5% of patients in clinical trials were nausea (8.2%) and adverse events associated with injection-site nodules (10.5%).

BYDUREON BCise is designed for ease and patient convenience in a once-weekly, pre-filled device with a pre-attached hidden needle. The medication is administered in three simple steps – mix, unlock, inject.

Ruud Dobber, President, AstraZeneca US and Executive Vice President, North America, said: “We know that physicians have established longstanding confidence in the significant HbA1c reduction BYDUREON provides their patients to help achieve consistent control, with the added benefit of weight loss. With the approval of BYDUREON BCise, we’re now introducing a new formulation in an improved, easy-to-use device, that will help enhance the patient experience.”

BYDUREON BCise will be available for patients in the US in the first quarter of 2018. BYDUREON Pen will also remain available for patients. A regulatory application for the new autoinjector device has also been accepted by the European Medicines Agency.

INDICATION AND LIMITATIONS OF USE

BYDUREON and BYDUREON BCise are both indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

• Not recommended as first-line therapy for patients inadequately controlled on diet and exercise
• Not a substitute for insulin. Should not be used to treat type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis
• Not recommended for use with insulin
• Do not coadminister with other exenatide-containing products
• Not studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis. Consider other antidiabetic therapies in patients with a history of pancreatitis

Important Safety Information about BYDUREON and BYDUREON BCise, including Boxed WARNING

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS

• Exenatide extended-release causes an increased incidence in thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in rats compared to controls. It is unknown whether BYDUREON or BYDUREON BCise cause thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans, as the human relevance of exenatide extended-release-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined
• BYDUREON and BYDUREON BCise are contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC with the use of BYDUREON or BYDUREON BCise and inform them of symptoms of thyroid tumors (eg, mass in the neck, dysphagia, dyspnea, persistent hoarseness). Routine monitoring of serum calcitonin or using thyroid ultrasound is of uncertain value for detection of MTC in patients treated with BYDUREON or BYDUREON BCise

CONTRAINDICATIONS

• Personal or family history of MTC, patients with MEN 2
• Prior serious hypersensitivity reactions to exenatide or product components

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

• Acute Pancreatitis including fatal and non-fatal hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis has been reported. After initiation, observe patients carefully for symptoms of pancreatitis. If suspected, discontinue promptly and do not restart if confirmed. Consider other antidiabetic therapies in patients with a history of pancreatitis
• Hypoglycemia Risk of hypoglycemia is increased when exenatide is coadministered with insulin or insulin secretagogues. Consider lowering the dose of these agents when coadministered with BYDUREON or BYDUREON BCise
• Acute Kidney Injury and Impairment of Renal Function Altered renal function, including increased serum creatinine, renal impairment, worsened chronic renal failure, and acute renal failure, sometimes requiring hemodialysis and kidney transplantation have been reported. Not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease. Use caution in patients with renal transplantation or moderate renal impairment
• Gastrointestinal Disease Because exenatide is commonly associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions, not recommended in patients with severe gastrointestinal disease (eg, gastroparesis)
• Immunogenicity Patients may develop antibodies to exenatide. Patients with higher titer antibodies may have an attenuated HbA1c response. In clinical trials, attenuated glycemic response was associated with BYDUREON- or BYDUREON BCise-treated patients. If worsening of or failure to achieve adequate glycemic control occurs, consider alternative antidiabetic therapy
• Hypersensitivity Reports of serious hypersensitivity reactions (eg, anaphylaxis and angioedema). If this occurs, patients should discontinue BYDUREON or BYDUREON BCise and promptly seek medical advice
• Injection-Site Reactions Serious reactions (eg, abscess, cellulitis, and necrosis), with or without subcutaneous nodules, have been reported
• Macrovascular Outcomes No clinical studies establishing conclusive evidence of macrovascular risk reduction with exenatide

ADVERSE REACTIONS

• Most common (≥5%) and occurring more frequently than comparator in BYDUREON clinical trials: nausea (16.9%), diarrhea (12.7%), headache (8.0%), vomiting (6.8%), constipation (5.9%), injection-site pruritus (5.9%), injection-site nodule (5.3%), dyspepsia (5.1%)
• Most common (≥5%) in BYDUREON BCise clinical trials: injection-site nodule (10.5%), nausea (8.2%)

DRUG INTERACTIONS

• Oral Medications BYDUREON and BYDUREON BCise slow gastric emptying and may reduce the rate of absorption of orally administered drugs
• Warfarin Increased international normalized ratio (INR) sometimes associated with bleeding has been reported with concomitant use of exenatide with warfarin. Monitor INR frequently until stable upon initiation of BYDUREON or BYDUREON BCise

PREGNANCY

Use during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus

Please see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for BYDUREON BCISE and full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for BYDUREON.

– ENDS –

NOTES TO EDITORS

About AstraZeneca in Diabetes

AstraZeneca is pushing the boundaries of science with the goal of developing life-changing medicines that aim to reduce the global burden and complications of diabetes. As a main therapy area for the company, we are focusing our research and development efforts on diverse populations and patients with significant co-morbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and chronic kidney disease.

Our commitment to diabetes is exemplified by the depth and breadth of our global clinical research programme. This commitment is advancing understanding of the treatment effects of our diabetes medicines in broad patient populations, as well as exploring combination products to help more patients achieve treatment success earlier in their disease.

About AstraZeneca in Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolic Diseases (CVMD)

Cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases together form one of AstraZeneca’s main therapy areas and platforms for future growth. By following the science to understand more clearly the underlying links between the heart, kidney and pancreas, AstraZeneca is investing in a portfolio of medicines to protect organs and improve outcomes by slowing disease progression, reducing risks and tackling co-morbidities. Our ambition is to modify or halt the natural course of CVMDs and even regenerate organs and restore function, by continuing to deliver transformative science that improves treatment practices and CVMD health for millions of patients worldwide.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three main therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases and Respiratory. The Company also is selectively active in the areas of Autoimmunity, Neuroscience and Infection. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com and follow us on Twitter @AstraZenecaUS.

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