Sobi® and Apellis Pharmaceuticals announced a significant regulatory milestone as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) validated their indication extension application for Aspaveli® (pegcetacoplan) targeting two rare kidney conditions. The application seeks approval for treating C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and primary immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN), devastating diseases that currently have no approved treatments.
Strong Phase 3 Trial Results Support Application
The application is backed by compelling data from the Phase 3 VALIANT study, which enrolled 124 patients aged 12 and older. The trial achieved its primary endpoint with pegcetacoplan-treated patients showing a statistically significant 68% reduction in proteinuria compared to placebo (p<0.0001). The results remained consistent across various subgroups, including disease type, age, and transplant status.
Key secondary endpoints also showed promising results. Patients receiving pegcetacoplan demonstrated stabilization of kidney function, measured by estimated glomerular filtration rate (nominal p=0.03). Additionally, a substantial number of treated patients exhibited reduced C3c staining intensity (nominal p<0.0001), a crucial marker of disease activity.
Addressing Critical Unmet Medical Needs
"C3G and IC-MPGN are severe and life-threatening kidney conditions, often leading to kidney failure and requiring a kidney transplant or dialysis for life," explained Dr. Lydia Abad-Franch, Head of R&D and Medical Affairs, and Chief Medical Officer at Sobi.
The diseases affect approximately 8,000 people in Europe and 5,000 in the United States. Without effective treatment, about 50% of patients progress to kidney failure within five to ten years of diagnosis. Even after kidney transplantation, 90% of patients experience disease recurrence, highlighting the urgent need for targeted therapies.
Safety Profile and Regulatory Timeline
The VALIANT study, the largest single trial conducted in these populations, demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile for pegcetacoplan, consistent with its established safety record. The drug is already approved in the European Union for treating paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria, having received marketing authorization in 2021.
Jeffrey Eisele, Ph.D., Chief Development Officer at Apellis, noted that regulatory processes are advancing in both Europe and the United States, with a potential US launch for C3G and IC-MPGN indications anticipated in the second half of 2025, pending approval.
Treatment Mechanism and Study Design
Pegcetacoplan functions as a targeted C3 and C3b therapy, designed to regulate excessive activation of the complement cascade. The VALIANT study employed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded design, with patients receiving either pegcetacoplan or placebo twice weekly for 26 weeks, followed by an optional 26-week open-label phase where all participants could receive the treatment.
The validation of this application marks a crucial step toward potentially providing the first targeted treatment option for patients with C3G and IC-MPGN, addressing a significant unmet need in rare kidney diseases.
