CHAPLE syndrome

This year we’re taking the branded drug names that were officially approved by the FDA in 2022 and 2023 - now it's your turn to vote for your winner. LAUNCHED: Wednesday, March 20, 7:00 a.m. ET It’s March, so it’s time for some #FierceMadness. Last year, we channeled the NCAA tournament for the best pharma ad campaigns, but, this year, we’re looking for the best of the best in drug names. Here’s how it works. We’ve chosen 64 of the most distinctive drug names to come out of the FDA’s 2022 and 2023 crop of new approvals. Whittling down to 64 from the 92 drug names available was our staff challenge, but now it’s up to you, readers, to deliberate and vote down to the final winner. Remember, this isn’t about the drugs themselves—neither how well they may work (or not) nor any controversies in how they may have been approved. Our goal is to assess their marketing suitability, considering how well they perform in their respective field and against competitors. Ready to play? Check out the bracket here (PDF) and see the full Madness 64 list below. Then vote is via our poll here. You can vote from now until Friday, March 22, at 6 p.m. ET. Check back here Monday, March 25, for your results, and the chance to vote in the next round.   After that, we’ll be back with a new round each Wednesday and Monday through Monday, April 8, when you can vote for your championship winner. Any remote robo-voting will be noted, and those votes will be discarded. Please play fair. Don’t forget to tell us why you picked what you picked in the voting poll comments section—and what you think each drug name really sounds like. We’ll include the funniest and most out-of-the-box comments in our recaps every round, so make 'em good! New this year: Our sister publication Fierce Biotech is also running its own Madness tournament for the best of the best in biotech company names. Check out and vote in its championship here.  Good luck, and happy Madness! #FierceMadness 2024: The full bracket of 64   Jesduvroq vs. Lamzede Jesduvroq Maker: GSK Indication: Anemia due to chronic kidney disease Sounds like: When you hit your finger with a hammer, but it’s in front of your children so you’re trying not to swear   Lamzede Maker: Chiesi Indication: Non-central nervous system manifestations of alpha-mannosidosis Sounds like: A vegan meal   Pluvicto vs. Lunsumio Pluvicto Maker: Novartis Indication: Prostate-specific membrane antigen-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer following other therapies Sounds like: A new planet   Lunsumio Maker: Roche Indication: Relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma Sounds like: A Japanese wrestler   Briumvi vs. Camzyos Briumvi Maker: TG Therapeutics Indication: Relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis Sounds like: A sixth-generation cheese    Camzyos Maker: Bristol Myers Squibb Indication: Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Sounds like: A Spanish holiday resort   Voquezna vs. Mounjaro Voquezna Maker: Phathom Pharmaceuticals Indication: Helicobacter pylori infection Sounds like: A sports drink with a kick   Mounjaro Maker: Eli Lilly Indication: Lowering blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetes Sounds like: A legendary medieval sword fighter    Vtama vs. Amvuttra Vtama Maker: Dermavant Indication: Plaque psoriasis Sounds like: A mouthful   Amvuttra Maker: Alnylam Indication: Polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis Sounds like: A pope’s gift    Xenpozyme vs. Daxxify Xenpozyme Maker: Sanofi Indication: Acid sphingomyelinase deficiency Sounds like: An alien protein   Daxxify  Maker: Revance Indication: The treatment of cervical dystonia and for the temporary improvement of frown lines  Sounds like: A ray gun to make you sassy    Fruzaqla vs. Sotyktu Fruzaqla Maker: Takeda Pharmaceuticals Indication: Refractory, metastatic colorectal cancer Sounds like: A European swear word   Sotyktu Maker: Bristol Myers Squibb Indication: Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis Sounds like: Gesundheit!   Terlivaz vs. Imjudo Terlivaz Maker: Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Indication: Improve kidney function in adults with hepatorenal syndrome with rapid reduction in kidney function Sounds like: A Hungarian dance   Imjudo Maker: AstraZeneca Indication: Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma Sounds like: A self-confident martial artist   Elahere vs. Vabysmo Elahere Maker: ImmunoGen Indication: Recurrent ovarian cancer that is resistant to platinum therapy Sounds like: An inebriated attempt at Hawaiian   Vabysmo Maker: Roche Indication: Neovascular (wet) aged-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema Sounds like: A new way of saying fantastic   Pyrukynd vs. Rystiggo Pyrukynd Maker: Agios Indication: Hemolytic anemia in pyruvate kinase deficiency Sounds like: A drunk Scrabble game   Rystiggo Maker: UCB Indication: Generalized myasthenia gravis in adults who are anti-acetylcholine receptor- or anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase antibody-positive Sounds like: An Italian village     Beyfortus vs. Xdemvy Beyfortus Maker: AstraZeneca Indication: To prevent respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract disease Sounds like: A medieval stronghold   Xdemvy Maker: Tarsus Pharmaceuticals Indication: Demodex blepharitis Sounds like: Elon Musk’s drunk attempt at renaming his business   Tzield vs. Rezlidhia Tzield Maker: Provention Bio Indication: Delay the onset of stage 3 Type 1 diabetes Sounds like: An electronic barrier   Rezlidhia Maker: Rigel Pharmaceuticals  Indication: Relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia with a susceptible isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) mutation Sounds like: A new Disney princess     Krazati vs. Leqembi Krazati Maker: Mirati Therapeutics Indication: KRAS G12C-mutated locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in adults who have received at least one prior systemic therapy Sounds like: A crazy party   Leqembi Maker: Eisai Indication: Alzheimer’s disease Sounds like: An inspirational French aphorism   Cibinqo vs. Brenzavvy Cibinqo Maker: Pfizer Indication: Refractory, moderate to severe atopic dermatitis Sounds like: A game of cheeky bingo   Brenzavvy Maker: TheracosBio Indication: Glycemic control in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise Sounds like: Heard in a copy of "Pirates of the Caribbean"   Jaypirca vs. Skyclarys Jaypirca Maker: Eli Lilly Indication: Relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma in adults who have had at least two lines of systemic therapy, including a BTK inhibitor Sounds like: A strong coffee   Skyclarys Maker: Biogen Indication: Friedreich’s ataxia Sounds like: A high-rise building   Zavzpret vs. Paxlovid Zavzpret Maker: Pfizer Indication: Migraine treatment Sounds like: A Turkish fast-food restaurant   Paxlovid Maker: Pfizer Indication: Mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19 Sounds like: A bizarre Pac-Man sequel   Inpefa vs. Columvi Inpefa Maker: Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Indication: Heart failure Sounds like: An anti-fascist offshoot group   Columvi Maker: Roche Indication: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified, or large B-cell lymphoma arising from follicular lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy Sounds like: An ancient Roman detective   Daybue vs. Zynyz Daybue Maker: Acadia Indication: Rett syndrome Sounds like: How my five-year-old insists debut is spelled    Zynyz Maker: Incyte Indication: Metastatic or recurrent locally advanced Merkel cell carcinoma Sounds like: Drug naming companies may be running out of ideas   Rezzayo vs. Qalsody Rezzayo Maker: Melinta Therapeutics Indication: Candidemia and invasive candidiasis Sounds like: A phrase used when you’ve had a great nap in the day   Qalsody Maker: Biogen Indication: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in adults who have a SOD1 gene mutation Sounds like: From the makers of “Better Call Saul” comes “better Qalsody”   Elfabrio vs. Veozah Elfabrio Maker: Chiesi Indication: Fabry disease Sounds like: The lost Spanish Mario brother   Veozah Maker: Astellas Indication: Moderate to severe hot flashes caused by menopause Sounds like: A Broadway play     Epkinly vs. Zurzuvae Epkinly Makers: AbbVie/Genmab Indication: Relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and high-grade B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy Sounds like: Someone who watches too many streaming episodes   Zurzuvae Makers: Sage/Biogen Indication: Postpartum depression Sounds like: A mouthful   Izervay vs. Talvey Izervay Maker: Iveric Bio Indication: Geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration Sounds like: A new app for scanning the land   Talvey Maker: Johnson & Johnson Indication: Relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least four prior therapies Sounds like: A little too close to talc…   Elrexfio vs. Veopoz Elrexfio Maker: Pfizer Indication: Relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least four prior lines of therapy Sounds like: A new dinosaur found in Mexico   Veopoz Maker: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Indication: Patients 1 year old and older with CD55-deficient protein-losing enteropathy Sounds like: Double-plus good!   Zilbrysq vs. Ojjaara Zilbrysq Maker: UCB Indication: Generalized myasthenia gravis in adults who are anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody positive Sounds like: Absolute zero   Ojjaara Maker: GSK Indication: Intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis in adults with anemia Sounds like: “What’s my name?”     Exxua vs. Pombiliti Exxua Maker: Fabre-Kramer Pharmaceuticals Indication: Major depressive disorder Sounds like: Someone who’s always leaving   Pombiliti Maker: Amicus Indication: Late-onset Pompe disease Sounds like: The ability to treat Pompe disease (this feels a little on the nose)    Rivfloza vs. Velsipity Rivfloza Maker: Novo Nordisk Indication: Urinary oxalate levels in patients 9 years and older with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 and relatively preserved kidney function Sounds like: An exuberant DJ   Velsipity Maker: Pfizer Indication: Moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adults Sounds like: A deodorant brand you wouldn’t want to buy   Bimzelx vs. Omvoh Bimzelx Maker: UCB Indication: Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy Sounds like: Throwing away unwanted antacids   Omvoh Maker: Eli Lilly Indication: Ulcerative colitis Sounds like: A new age prayer   Loqtorzi vs. Defencath Loqtorzi Maker: Coherus Biosciences Indication: Recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma when used together with or following other therapies Sounds like: How you close the door in a magical kingdom   Defencath Maker: CorMedix Indication: Reduce the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections in adults with kidney failure receiving chronic hemodialysis Sounds like: A Dungeons and Dragons character   Augtyro vs. Ryzneuta Augtyro Maker: Bristol Myers Squibb Indication: ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer Sounds like: A virtual reality game where you’re the bad guy   Ryzneuta Maker: Acrotech Biopharma Indication: Neutropenia Sounds like: Getting rid of someone’s charisma   Truqap vs. Ogsiveo Truqap Maker: AstraZeneca Indication: Breast cancer that meets certain disease criteria Sounds like: A limit on truth   Ogsiveo Maker: SpringWorks Indication: Progressing desmoid tumors who require systemic treatment Sounds like: Oh, give us a go!     Quviviq vs. Ztalmy Quviviq Maker: Idorsia Indication: Insomnia Sounds like: A producer asking a biotech founder turned politician to get ready for his TV appearance   Ztalmy Maker: Marinus Indication: Seizures in cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 deficiency disorder Sounds like: A nefarious Yevgeny Zamyatin character   Opdualag vs. Wainua Opdualag Maker: Bristol Myers Squibb Indication: Unresectable or metastatic melanoma Sounds like: A Russian prison   Wainua Maker: AstraZeneca Indication: Polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis Sounds like: A Premier League footballer

CHAPLE is an ultra-rare hereditary disease that can cause potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal and cardiovascular symptoms Approval represents 10th FDA-approved medicine invented by Regeneron With the approval of Veopoz, the pre-approval inspection issues related to the aflibercept 8 mg biologics license application (BLA) have been addressed FDA action on the aflibercept 8 mg BLA is expected in the next few weeks Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Veopoz™ (pozelimab-bbfg) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 1 year of age and older with CHAPLE disease, also known as CD55-deficient protein-losing enteropathy. Veopoz is the first and only treatment indicated specifically for CHAPLE. With the approval of Veopoz, the pre-approval inspection issues related to the aflibercept 8 mg BLA have been addressed. FDA action on the aflibercept 8 mg BLA is expected in the next few weeks. “Most patients with CHAPLE disease are children who face severely debilitating symptoms and often life-threatening complications that begin in infancy,” said Michael Lenardo, M.D., Chief, Molecular Development of the Immune System Section; Co-Director, Clinical Genomics Program, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH). “As an investigator in this pivotal trial and one of the discoverers of this disease, I saw first-hand the transformational clinical improvement that pozelimab achieves in those suffering from CHAPLE. The approval of pozelimab is a milestone to celebrate, providing a new medicine that can help these long-suffering patients.” CHAPLE is an ultra-rare and life-threatening hereditary immune disease driven by an overactivation of the complement system. In healthy individuals, the complement system is a mechanism for destroying microbes. However, those living with CHAPLE are unable to regulate complement activity due to mutations in their CD55 gene. Without proper CD55 regulation, the complement system may attack normal cells, causing damage to blood and lymph vessels along the upper digestive tract and leading to the loss of circulating proteins. There are fewer than 10 patients with CHAPLE disease identified in the U.S. Veopoz, a fully human monoclonal antibody, is designed to target complement factor C5, a protein involved in complement system activation. “As the first-ever treatment for CHAPLE, Veopoz is a testament to our commitment to uncovering genetic insights and applying them to the development of effective treatments for patients in need – regardless of the prevalence of their disease,” said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., Board co-Chair, President and Chief Scientific Officer at Regeneron. “Beyond CHAPLE, we believe Veopoz has promise in a variety of complement-mediated diseases and are driving forward several clinical programs to explore its broader potential.” Life-threatening and fatal meningococcal infections have occurred in patients treated with complement inhibitors. Meningococcal infections may become rapidly life-threatening or fatal if not recognized and treated early. Complete or update meningococcal vaccination at least two weeks prior to administering the first dose of Veopoz, unless the risks of delaying therapy outweigh the risks of developing meningococcal infection. If urgent therapy is indicated in a patient who is not up-to-date with both meningococcal vaccines according to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations, administer meningococcal vaccines as soon as possible and provide the patient with antibacterial drug prophylaxis. Vaccination reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of meningococcal infections. Regeneron is committed to helping people with rare diseases access their medications. Assistance for eligible CHAPLE patients, including information on treatment, insurance coverage, and financial support, will be available through Regeneron’s myRARE™ patient support program. Patients can call 1-833-4my-RARE (1-833-469-7273) for more information. Healthcare providers with questions regarding Veopoz access outside the United States can contact Clinigen at medicineaccess@clinigengroup.com and register for an account to request access at https://www.clinigengroup.com/direct/en/invitation-form/. Veopoz was reviewed under Priority Review, and the Company received a Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review voucher upon approval. Veopoz was previously granted Rare Pediatric Disease designation, Orphan Disease designation and Fast Track designation. About the Pivotal CHAPLE Trial The FDA approval is based on results from a Phase 2/3 open-label trial that investigated the efficacy and safety of pozelimab in 10 patients aged 3 to 19 (median of 8.5 years). Patients were given a single loading dose of pozelimab 30 mg/kg intravenously on day 1, followed by subcutaneous weekly weight-based doses of pozelimab. All ten patients achieved normalization of serum albumin and serum IgG concentrations by week 12 and maintained these concentrations through at least 72 weeks of treatment. Five of the 10 patients received a total of 60 albumin transfusions in the 48 weeks prior to treatment. In the 48 weeks after starting treatment, one patient received one albumin transfusion. Nine of the 10 patients were hospitalized for a total of 268 days in the 48 weeks prior to treatment. In the 48 weeks after starting treatment, two patients were hospitalized for a total of 7 days. The most common adverse reactions occurring in two or more patients included upper respiratory tract infection, fracture, urticaria, and alopecia. About Veopoz Veopoz was invented using Regeneron’s proprietary VelocImmune® technology and is a fully human, monoclonal antibody designed to block the activity of complement factor C5 and prevent diseases mediated by the complement pathway. It is an IgG4 antibody that binds with high affinity to wild-type and variant human C5. As part of its ongoing development program, Veopoz is also being evaluated in combination with Alnylam’s cemdisiran (siRNAi C5 inhibitor) as an investigational combination therapy for the treatment of other complement-mediated disorders including paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and myasthenia gravis (MG). This combination is currently under clinical development, and its safety and efficacy have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority. About Regeneron's VelocImmune® Technology Regeneron's VelocImmune technology utilizes a proprietary genetically engineered mouse platform endowed with a genetically humanized immune system to produce optimized fully human antibodies. When Regeneron's co-Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer George D. Yancopoulos was a graduate student with his mentor Frederick W. Alt in 1985, they were the first to envision making such a genetically humanized mouse, and Regeneron has spent decades inventing and developing VelocImmune and related VelociSuite® technologies. Dr. Yancopoulos and his team have used VelocImmune technology to create a substantial proportion of all original, FDA-approved fully human monoclonal antibodies currently available. This includes REGEN-COV® (casirivimab and imdevimab), Dupixent® (dupilumab), Libtayo® (cemiplimab-rwlc), Praluent® (alirocumab), Kevzara® (sarilumab), Evkeeza® (evinacumab-dgnb) and Inmazeb® (atoltivimab, maftivimab and odesivimab-ebgn). About Regeneron Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading biotechnology company that invents, develops and commercializes life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led for 35 years by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to numerous FDA-approved treatments and product candidates in development, almost all of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Our medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, hematologic conditions, infectious diseases and rare diseases. Regeneron is accelerating and improving the traditional drug development process through our proprietary VelociSuite® technologies, such as VelocImmune®, which uses unique genetically humanized mice to produce optimized fully human antibodies and bispecific antibodies, and through ambitious research initiatives such as the Regeneron Genetics Center®, which is conducting one of the largest genetics sequencing efforts in the world. The content above comes from the network. if any infringement, please contact us to modify.

The FDA has signed off on Regeneron and Bayer's high dose version of eye disease drug Eylea, setting up a market battle with Roche's fast-rising Vabysmo. Regeneron pulled off a rare double play on Friday afternoon as it scored two FDA approvals—one under the radar and the other highly anticipated. After the FDA signed off on Veopoz to treat ultra-rare Chaple disease, the United States regulator followed up with a nod for Regeneron’s high-dose version of blockbuster eye disease drug Eylea. The company revealed the approvals in a span of fewer than five hours. While the endorsement for Veopoz opens the treatment up to an extremely small patient population of around 100 people globally, the green light for HD Eylea covers millions who have wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). It also kicks off a much anticipated market clash with Roche. The Eylea thumbs up comes after the FDA’s surprise rejection of the treatment in June because of an issue at the Bloomington, Indiana, plant of Regeneron’s contract manufacturer Catalent. Earlier this month, when Regeneron reported its second quarter earnings, the company said that Catalent would deliver information in the middle of August that could lead to approval by the end of the third quarter. With the news, Regeneron’s share price increased from $794 on Friday afternoon to $826 by mid-morning on Monday, a 4% gain. Regeneron and its Eylea partner Bayer are now set to take on Roche and its surging high-dose treatment Vabysmo, which has already gained blockbuster status this year despite being on the market for just 19 months. Regeneron will charge $2,625 per dose of HD Eylea. This compares to a $2,190 price for a vial of Vabysmo, which is a 6 mg dose. Regeneron will launch high-dose Eylea immediately, with customers able to order it "early this week," a company spokesperson wrote in an email. The approval "is a significant step for Regeneron to solidify its ophthalmology franchise and could allow for transitioning of new patient starts to Eylea HD ahead of new Eylea biosimilar entrants and increasing competition from Roche's Vabysmo,” Evan Seigerman, analyst with BMO Capital Markets, wrote in a note to clients. With its ability to extend injection intervals for many patients to once every four months, Vabysmo hit the market with much fanfare as an alternative to Eylea, which requires a shot every two months. But now Regeneron has answered with its 8 mg version of Eylea, which trials suggest has superior staying power.   Earlier this month, results of a phase 3 study showed that 88% of patients receiving 8 mg injections of Eylea over a two-year period were able to extend their dosage to at least 12-week intervals. The PULSAR study, which was conducted by Bayer, also showed that 71% of patients met the extension criteria for longer dosing intervals, with 47% of patients reaching 20 or more weeks and 28% reaching the criteria for 24-week intervals. As Regeneron has touted the staying power of Eylea, Roche has countered with results of trials that show that Vabysmo provides better drying of the retina than Eylea. Last month, at the American Society of Retina Specialists conference, Roche subsidiary Genentech presented a post-hoc analysis of pooled data from two trials which showed Vabysmo led to less fibrosis than Eylea in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). Post-hoc data from these and other trials also showed that more than half of AMD and DME patients who were treated every 16 weeks with Vabysmo met criteria to extend their dosing intervals to every 20 weeks. As Vabysmo has gained steam—registering sales of 957 million Swiss francs ($1.1 billion) in the first half of this year—Eylea’s sales have stagnated. Its $1.5 billion generated in the second quarter matched the figure from the previous quarter and was a 7% decline from the same period in 2022.