Pharming Group provides update on ongoing regulatory review of leniolisib for the treatment of APDS in the European Union

    Pharming Group provides update on ongoing regulatory review of leniolisib for the treatment of APDS in the European Union 

Leiden, the Netherlands, May 30, 2024: Pharming Group N.V. (“Pharming” or “the Company”) (EURONEXT Amsterdam: PHARM/Nasdaq: PHAR) announces today an update on the ongoing review of its Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for leniolisib for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta syndrome (APDS) by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Following the May 27-30 CHMP meeting, Pharming received an updated List of Outstanding Issues (LoOI) from the CHMP. The LoOI affirmed the positive clinical benefit and safety of leniolisib, in agreement with the assessment by the Ad Hoc Expert Group (AEG), and included one remaining chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) request.

The CMC request relates to the definition of regulatory starting materials used in the manufacturing process for leniolisib. As Pharming is committed to meeting all of the CHMP’s specific requirements, additional data and quality controls were provided and Pharming proposed implementation of the CMC request post-approval. The CHMP requested that this work be completed pre-approval and has granted Pharming an extension to January 2026 to submit a response. Pharming has already initiated the manufacturing activities requested by the CHMP, which it plans to complete prior to this deadline.

Sijmen de Vries, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Pharming, commented:“While we are understandably disappointed by the delay to the European license, we are pleased that the CHMP determined the clinical benefit of leniolisib to be positive. The efficacy and safety demonstrated in clinical trials and ongoing real-world experience, with over 300 patient-years of treatment, support that leniolisib fills an unmet medical need. We will continue to work closely with the EMA and CHMP to obtain approval for leniolisib in Europe for people living with APDS. In the meantime, all our clinical development and early access programs will continue.”

The MAA for leniolisib was based on findings from a multinational, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized Phase II/III clinical trial, which met both its co-primary endpoints. The trial evaluated efficacy and safety in 31 patients diagnosed with APDS aged 12 years and older. Also submitted as part of the application were data from a long-term, open-label extension clinical trial in which 37 patients received leniolisib for a median of three years.

Leniolisib is currently available commercially in the United States. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved leniolisib in March 2023, based on its assessment that leniolisib met clinical and manufacturing standards.

Pharming is maintaining its previously provided 2024 total revenue guidance.

About Activated Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase δ Syndrome (APDS) APDS is a rare primary immunodeficiency that was first characterized in 2013. APDS is caused by variants in either one of two identified genes known as PIK3CD or PIK3R1, which are vital to the development and function of immune cells in the body. Variants of these genes lead to hyperactivity of the PI3Kδ (phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta) pathway, which causes immune cells to fail to mature and function properly, leading to immunodeficiency and dysregulation1,2,3 APDS is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including severe, recurrent sinopulmonary infections, lymphoproliferation, autoimmunity, and enteropathy.4,5 Because these symptoms can be associated with a variety of conditions, including other primary immunodeficiencies, it has been reported that people with APDS are frequently misdiagnosed and suffer a median 7-year diagnostic delay.6 As APDS is a progressive disease, this delay may lead to an accumulation of damage over time, including permanent lung damage and lymphoma.4-7 A definitive diagnosis can be made through genetic testing. APDS affects approximately 1 to 2 people per million worldwide.

About leniolisibLeniolisib is an oral small molecule phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kẟ) inhibitor approved in the US and Israel as the first and only targeted treatment of activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) syndrome (APDS) in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older. Leniolisib inhibits the production of phosphatidylinositol-3-4-5-trisphosphate, which serves as an important cellular messenger and regulates a multitude of cell functions such as proliferation, differentiation, cytokine production, cell survival, angiogenesis, and metabolism. Results from a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase II/III clinical trial demonstrated clinical efficacy of leniolisib in the coprimary endpoints; demonstrating statistically significant impact on immune dysregulation and normalization of immunophenotype within these patients, and interim open label extension data has supported the safety and tolerability of long-term leniolisib administration.8,9 Leniolisib is currently under regulatory review in the European Economic Area, the U.K., Canada and Australia, with plans to pursue further regulatory approvals in Japan and South Korea. Leniolisib is also being evaluated in two Phase III clinical trials in children with APDS.

About Pharming Group N.V.  Pharming Group N.V. (EURONEXT Amsterdam: PHARM/Nasdaq: PHAR) is a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with rare, debilitating, and life-threatening diseases. Pharming is commercializing and developing an innovative portfolio of protein replacement therapies and precision medicines, including small molecules and biologics. Pharming is headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands, and has employees around the globe who serve patients in over 30 markets in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

For more information, visit www.pharming.com and find us on LinkedIn.  

Forward-Looking Statements   This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”, “ambition”, ‘‘anticipate’’, ‘‘believe’’, ‘‘could’’, ‘‘estimate’’, ‘‘expect’’, ‘‘goals’’, ‘‘intend’’, ‘‘may’’, “milestones”, ‘‘objectives’’, ‘‘outlook’’, ‘‘plan’’, ‘‘probably’’, ‘‘project’’, ‘‘risks’’, “schedule”, ‘‘seek’’, ‘‘should’’, ‘‘target’’, ‘‘will’’ and similar terms and phrases. Examples of forward-looking statements may include statements with respect to timing and progress of Pharming's preclinical studies and clinical trials of its product candidates, Pharming's clinical and commercial prospects, and Pharming's expectations regarding its projected working capital requirements and cash resources, which statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to the scope, progress and expansion of Pharming's clinical trials and ramifications for the cost thereof; and clinical, scientific, regulatory, commercial, competitive and technical developments. In light of these risks and uncertainties, and other risks and uncertainties that are described in Pharming's 2023 Annual Report and the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the events and circumstances discussed in such forward-looking statements may not occur, and Pharming's actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied thereby. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to Pharming as of the date of this release. Pharming does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any.

Inside Information  This press release relates to the disclosure of information that qualifies, or may have qualified, as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation. 

References

1. Lucas CL, et al. Nat Immunol. 2014;15(1):88-97.
2. Elkaim E, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;138(1):210-218.
3. Nunes-Santos C, Uzel G, Rosenzweig SD. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2019;143(5):1676-1687.
4. Coulter TI, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017;139(2):597-606.
5. Maccari ME, et al. Front Immunol. 2018;9:543.
6. Jamee M, et al. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2020 Dec;59(3):323-333.
7. Condliffe AM, Chandra A. Front Immunol. 2018;9:338.
8. Rao VK, et al Blood. 2023 Mar 2;141(9):971-983.
9. Rao VK, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024;153:265-74.

For further public information, contact:Pharming Group, Leiden, The NetherlandsMichael Levitan, VP Investor Relations & Corporate CommunicationsT: [phone]E: [e-mail]

FTI Consulting, London, UKVictoria Foster Mitchell/Alex Shaw/Amy ByrneT: [phone]

LifeSpring Life Sciences Communication, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsLeon MelensT: [phone]E: [e-mail]

US PRChristina RenfroeE: [e-mail] T: [phone]