TiGenix NV (Euronext Brussels and NASDAQ: TIG) (“TiGenix”) and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) (“Takeda”) today announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved Alofisel (darvadstrocel), previously Cx601, for the treatment of complex perianal fistulas in adult patients with nonactive/mildly active luminal Crohn’s disease, when fistulas have shown an inadequate response to at least one conventional or biologic therapy. Alofisel should be used after conditioning of fistula.1This marks the first allogeneic stem cell therapy to receive central marketing authorization (MA) approval in Europe.
The European approval follows a positive opinion by the European Medicines Agency（EMA） Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), in conjunction with the Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT), in December 2017. The recommendation was based on results from TiGenix’s Phase III ADMIRE-CD pivotal trial, which showed that Alofisel achieved statistically significant superiority versus the control group in the primary efficacy endpoint of combined remission at 24 weeks,*1as well as further follow-up data that indicated Alofisel maintained long-term remission of treatment refractory complex perianal fistulas in patients with Crohn’s disease over 52 weeks.2
“I am extremely excited about this approval, which brings allogeneic stem cell therapy one step closer to patients in Europe,” said Professor Julian Panés, Head of the Gastroenterology Department at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (Spain) and President of the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO). “Alofisel offers a novel, minimally invasive and well tolerated alternative treatment option for patients with Crohn’s disease who do not respond to currently available therapies, and who have until now had limited treatment options available.”
“This approval of Alofisel reflects our deep understanding and recognized leadership in the development of allogeneic stem cells and our firm commitment to developing innovative therapies for medical needs," said Dr. María Pascual, VP Regulatory Affairs and Corporate Quality at TiGenix. "We are pleased to offer the medical community an important new treatment option for patients with Crohn’s disease who do not respond to currently available therapies.”
Alofisel has been licensed to Takeda for the exclusive development and commercialization outside of the US. Receipt of the MA will trigger a milestone payment from Takeda to TiGenix of €15 million, and initiation of the process of transferring MA from TiGenix to Takeda.
“Today’s marketing authorization, the first for an allogeneic stem cell therapy, represents a positive advancement in the treatment of patients with complex perianal fistulas in Crohn’s disease,” said Dr. Asit Parikh, Head of Takeda’s Gastroenterology Therapeutic Area Unit. “We look forward to bringing this much needed treatment option to patients across Europe in the coming months.”
The receipt of MA from the EC is one of the conditions to completion of the tender offer announced by Takeda on January 5, 2018.
The consummation of the tender offer remains subject to other conditions, including the tender into the offer (in Belgium and the US), in aggregate, of a number of shares, warrants and American Depositary Shares that, together with all shares, warrants and American Depositary Shares owned by Takeda and its affiliates, represents or gives access to 85% or more of the voting rights represented or given access to by all of the outstanding shares, warrants and American Depositary Shares of TiGenix on a fully diluted basis as of the end of the initial acceptance period.
* Combined remission defined as clinical assessment of closure of all treated external openings draining at baseline, despite gentle finger compression, and absence of collections >2cm confirmed by pelvic MRI
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