Novartis today announced positive top-line results from the pre-specified interim analysis of the Phase III APPLAUSE-IgAN study (NCT04578834) at 9 months1. Iptacopan, an investigational factor B inhibitor targeting the alternative complement pathway, demonstrated superiority versus placebo in proteinuria (protein in urine) reduction and provided a clinically meaningful and highly statistically significant proteinuria reduction on top of supportive care in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), a complement-mediated disease1–4. In the study, the safety profile of iptacopan (200 mg twice daily) was consistent with previously reported data1,3,4. The study continues in a double-blind fashion to evaluate iptacopan’s ability to slow IgAN progression by measuring estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slope over 24 months – the primary endpoint at the study end with topline results expected in 20254.
“These positive data from the Phase III APPLAUSE study reinforce the potential of iptacopan to provide clinically meaningful benefit to patients with IgAN, a debilitating disease that affects mostly young adults,” said Shreeram Aradhye, M.D., President, Development and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis. “We are excited about this milestone in the development of our factor B inhibitor of the alternative complement pathway and remain focused on further advancing our portfolio of renal programs through pivotal trials.”
It is estimated that approximately 25 people per million worldwide are newly diagnosed with IgAN each year8. Up to 30% of people who have IgAN with persistent higher levels of proteinuria (≥1 g/day) may progress to kidney failure within 10 years12.
There is a need for effective, targeted therapies for IgAN that slow or prevent progression to kidney failure6,13–15. Although current supportive care and treatment can help, they don’t address a key pathogenic step in the progression of IgAN: activation of the complement system16.
Discovered and developed by Novartis, iptacopan aims to address IgAN and other complement-mediated diseases by inhibiting factor B, a protease essential to the alternative complement pathway2.
Iptacopan is under review by regulators following positive Phase III results in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (APPLY-PNH [NCT04558918] and APPOINT-PNH [NCT04558918])10,11. Iptacopan is also being investigated in Phase III studies for C3 glomerulopathy (APPEAR-C3G [NCT04817618]), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (APPELHUS [NCT04889430]) and immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (APPARENT [NCT05755386]). With the recent acquisition of Chinook Therapeutics, the Novartis renal portfolio expands with two additional late-stage medicines in development for IgAN, complementing the existing pipeline17.
Novartis intends to submit for possible accelerated approval with the FDA in 2024.
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