FDA Panel Votes on Novel Osteoporosis Treatment Evenity

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Bone, Reproductive and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee has voted in favor of the approval of Evenity (romosozumab; Amgen and UCB) for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture.

Evenity is a bone-forming monoclonal antibody designed to inhibit the activity of sclerostin, which allows the drug to rapidly increase bone formation and reduce bone resorption simultaneously. Following a review of data from the clinical development program, which included 19 studies involving nearly 14,000 patients, the panel voted 18 to 1 in favor of the treatment. Specifically, 16 members voted that the benefits/risk profile supported approval with the proposed indication, while 2 said yes to approval but thought the indication should be changed. According to the briefing documents, the “FDA agrees that the applicant has established the effectiveness of romosozumab for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.”

This is the second time romosozumab has been under FDA review. Following an initial application submission in 2017, Amgen and UCB received a complete response letter from the Agency requiring the Companies to investigate the incidence of cardiovascular adverse events that were noted in the ARCH and BRIDGE studies.

In the Biologics License Application (BLA) resubmission, Amgen and UCB proposed to narrow the indication to treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk of fracture, defined as: history of osteoporotic fracture, or multiple risk factors for fracture; or failed or intolerant to other osteoporosis therapy.  

In addition, warnings (including a Boxed Warning) related to potential cardiovascular risk were proposed for the drug labeling. These included that romosozumab may increase the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke during treatment and that clinicians should consider the benefit/risk in patients with a history of MI or stroke. Moreover, Committee members expressed the need for post-marketing follow-up to further evaluate the cardiovascular signal.

“Despite available therapies, these women who are at high risk for fracture could benefit from an additional treatment option that has the potential to both build new bone and slow existing bone loss,“ said David M. Reese, MD, executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. “We are committed to working with the FDA to help make Evenity available to appropriate patients.”

The FDA takes the advice of the panel into consideration when making decisions, however it is not bound by their recommendations.

For more information visit FDA.gov.