Kedrion Biopharma Inc., and Kamada Ltd. (NASDAQ and TASE: KMDA), collaborators on the development and commercialization of KEDRAB™ [Rabies Immune Globulin (Human)], a plasma-derived human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on August 23, 2017, presented two sets of data at the International Rabies in the Americas (RITA) XXVIII Conference, held recently in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The RITA meeting, an annual event, provides an opportunity for researchers, health professionals, international, national and local managers of rabies programs, and other people interested in advancing knowledge of rabies surveillance, prevention and control, to meet and share their successes and to discuss the challenges to be met.
Garrett E. Bergman, MD, MBA, Senior Director, US Medical Affairs at Kedrion Biopharma, presented data from the KEDRAB pivotal phase 2/3 clinical trial, which demonstrated that KEDRAB met the trial’s primary endpoint of non-inferiority when compared to a human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) reference product.
Dr. Roberto Meidler, Director, Research and Development, Kamada, Ltd., presented a poster, “Comparison of Impurities in Three HRIG Products”, highlighting preliminary data that demonstrated the purity of KEDRAB when compared with two competing HRIGs. The data showed that KEDRAB had a fundamentally lower content of Activated Coagulation Factor XI (0.36 mU/ml for KEDRAB, vs. >100 mU/ml for both competitors).
Further, the data demonstrated that KEDRAB had undetectably low levels of IgA (<0.03 mg/ml vs. 0.23 mg/ml for competitor A). The percentage of IgG aggregates of KEDRAB was lower than that of competitor A (0.6 percent vs. 1.6 percent). The reported results were the average of two batches tested of each product.
According to the study authors, the purity profile of KEDRAB may be attributed to its unique production process, which differs from the Cohn fractionation-based processes used by other manufacturers.
“Removal of impurities is paramount for the reduction of certain risks which may be associated with the use of HRIG, such as thromboembolic events, hypersensitivity reactions and immunogenicity,” according to Dr. Meidler.
Peter J. Costa, MPH, MCHES, AVES (Hon), KEDRAB Brand Director at Kedrion Biopharma, was named an Ex-Officio Member of the RITA International Steering Committee, a prestigious volunteer position among rabies experts from around the world.
During the RITA conference, Kedrion Biopharma sponsored an online educational symposium titled, "RITA Webinar – Wildlife Rabies,” a four-hour online review of the most relevant issues associated with wildlife rabies in the Americas and its impact on human rabies prevention. The global webinar was attended by participants in 18 countries and featured some of the most prominent rabies experts in the world today.
About KEDRAB™
KEDRAB [Rabies Immune Globulin (Human)] is a human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) indicated for passive, transient post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) of rabies infection, when given promptly after contact with a rabid or possibly rabid animal. KEDRAB should be administered concurrently with a full course of rabies vaccine.
Important Safety Information:
- Patients who can document previous complete rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis or complete post-exposure prophylaxis should only receive a booster rabies vaccine without KEDRAB, because KEDRAB may interfere with the anamnestic response to the vaccine.
- KEDRAB should not be injected into a blood vessel because of the risk of severe allergic or hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic shock.
- Patients with a history of prior systemic allergic reactions following administration of human immune globulin preparations should be monitored for hypersensitivity.
- KEDRAB contains a small quantity of IgA. Patients who are deficient in IgA have the potential to develop IgA antibodies and may have anaphylactic reactions following administration of blood components containing IgA.
- Patients at increased risk of thrombosis or thrombotic complications should be monitored for at least 24 hours after KEDRAB administration.
- Hemolysis may occur in patients receiving immune globulin products, particularly those who are determined to be at increased risk.
- KEDRAB administration may interfere with the development of an immune response to live attenuated virus vaccines.
- A transient rise of the various passively transferred antibodies in the patient’s blood may result in misleading positive results of serologic tests after KEDRAB administration.
- KEDRAB is derived from human plasma; therefore, the potential exists that KEDRAB administration may transmit infectious agents.
- In clinical trials, the most common adverse reactions in subjects treated with KEDRAB were injection site pain, headache, muscle pain, and upper respiratory tract infection.
- Please see KEDRAB full prescribing Information for complete prescribing details.
About the Phase II/III KEDRAB™ Clinical Study
The efficacy of KEDRAB administered concurrently with rabies vaccine was studied in a single-center, randomized, comparator HRIG-controlled clinical study. Study subjects were healthy adults 18 to 72 years of age who were without significant acute or chronic illness. A total of 118 subjects (59 per treatment group) received KEDRAB or comparator HRIG at a dose of 20 IU/kg intramuscularly on Day 0, and rabies vaccine on Days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28. The mean age of study subjects was 45 years. The efficacy variable was rabies virus neutralizing antibody (RVNA) titer, as assessed by rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT), on Day 14. Efficacy analyses were performed on the As-Treated Population, which comprised the 116 study subjects who received KEDRAB or comparator HRIG and at least 3 of the 5 doses of rabies vaccine before Day 14.
About Rabies
Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. It is a serious, and nearly always fatal, infection. In the U.S., rabies in wild animals, especially raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats, accounts for most cases of rabies passed on to humans, pets, and other domestic animals. An acute, progressive viral encephalomyelitis, rabies carries the highest case fatality rate of any conventional etiological agent. Rabies is one of the oldest described infectious diseases, known for over 5,000 years.
About Kedrion Biopharma
Kedrion Biopharma is an international company that collects and fractionates blood plasma to produce and distribute plasma-derived therapeutic products for use in treating and preventing serious diseases, disorders and conditions such as hemophilia, primary immune system deficiencies and Rh-sensitization. Kedrion Biopharma Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Kedrion Biopharma, is headquartered in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Kedrion Biopharma launched U.S. operations in 2011, but the company’s international roots stretch back several decades in the production of blood and plasma-derived products. Kedrion Biopharma places a high value on the welfare of those who benefit from its products, as well as on the people and the communities it serves. Additional information about Kedrion Biopharma can be found at www.kedrion.com and www.kedrion.us.
About Kamada, Ltd.
Kamada Ltd. is focused on plasma-derived protein therapeutics for orphan indications, and has a commercial product portfolio and a robust late-stage product pipeline. The Company uses its proprietary platform technology and know-how for the extraction and purification of proteins from human plasma to produce Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) in a highly-purified, liquid form, as well as other plasma-derived Immune globulins. AAT is a protein derived from human plasma with known and newly-discovered therapeutic roles given its immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, tissue-protective and antimicrobial properties. The Company’s flagship product is Glassia®, a liquid, ready-to-use, intravenous plasma-derived AAT product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Kamada markets Glassia® in the U.S. through a strategic partnership with Baxalta (formerly Baxter International Inc.’s BioScience business and now part of Shire plc) and in other counties through local distributors. In addition to Glassia®, Kamada has a product line of seven other pharmaceutical products administered by injection or infusion, that are marketed through distributors in more than 15 countries, including Israel, Russia, Brazil, India and other countries in Latin America and Asia. Kamada has five late-stage plasma-derived protein products in development, including an inhaled formulation of AAT for the treatment of AAT deficiency for which Kamada completed a pivotal Phase 2/3 clinical trial in Europe. Kamada has also completed its Phase 2 clinical trial in the U.S. for the treatment of AAT deficiency with Inhaled AAT. In addition, Kamada's intravenous AAT is in development for other indications such as type-1 diabetes, GvHD and prevention of lung transplant rejection. Kamada also leverages its expertise and presence in the plasma-derived protein therapeutics market by distributing more than 10 complementary products in Israel that are manufactured by third parties.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts, such as statements regarding assumptions and results related to financial results forecast, commercial results, sales volume, timing and results of clinical trials and EMA and U.S. FDA authorizations. Forward-looking statements are based on Kamada’s current knowledge and its present beliefs and expectations regarding possible future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of several factors including, but not limited to, unexpected results of clinical trials, delays or denial in the U.S. FDA or the EMA approval process, additional competition in the AATD and Rabies markets or other markets in which Kamada operates or intends to operate, or further regulatory delays. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date of this announcement and Kamada undertakes no obligation to update publicly such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as otherwise required by law.