Bayer’s Xarelto hailed at Prix Galien
pharmafile | October 19, 2010 | News story | Research and Development | Firazyr, Xarelto, prix galien
Bayer’s Factor Xa anticoagulant Xarelto scooped the Best Pharmaceutical Agent award at the prestigious Prix Galien ceremony.
Xarelto is part of a new class of oral anticoagulants that could herald the disappearance of warfarin clinics in the UK.
Warfarin is currently the only oral anti-clotting agent for both post-surgery prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and atrial fibrillation prevention, but it interacts with many common medications and its use requires close GP monitoring.
Dr Marijn Dekkers, chairman, Bayer, said: “We are very excited about the award and honoured by the recognition of this globally renowned committee.
“Being awarded the International Prix Galien for Best Pharmaceutical Agent underscores the drive for innovation that characterises the focus of our company, and our continuing ambition to improve the quality of life of patients.
The Prix Galien is the highest accolade for pharmaceutical R&D, and rewards the technical, scientific and clinical research skills necessary to develop innovative medicines.
Xarelto beat stiff competition from AstraZeneca’s lung cancer treatment Iressa; Chugai/Roche’s rheumatoid arthritis treatment RoActemra; Merck Serono’s cancer treatment Erbitux; Napp’s severe pain; constipation drug Targinact; and Servier’s treatment for major depressive episodes Valdoxan.
AstraZeneca’s Iressa effectively came second and was commended by the judges who were impressed by recent phase III data that showed its clinical effectiveness in a difficult disease area.
Orphan drug award
Shire’s Firazyr, a treatment for the rare hereditary condition angioedema, won the Orphan Drug Award.
It saw off competition from Celgene’s Vidaza for Myelodysplastic syndromes, Genzyme’s Mozobil for stem cell mobilisation and Novartis’s Afinitor for renal cancer.
Janis Clayton, general manager of Shire UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to see that by driving innovation in orphan diseases our efforts have been rewarded.
“This prestigious recognition highlights the outstanding work undertaken by the UK and global teams who have given patients with hereditary Angioedema an innovative treatment for their condition. Shire will strive to remain at the forefront of orphan medicine.”
Hereditary angioedema is a rare condition characterised by recurrent episodes of oedema formation in the soft tissues of the extremities, face, genitals as well as in the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and larynx.
Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, NICE chairman and a judge for the award, said: “Apart from its novel mechanism of action and clear evidence of its clinical effectiveness, the jury were also extremely impressed by the clinical development programme of Firazyr.
“That Shire managed to undertake the clinical development of this product in such an unpromising environment – is hugely to their credit,” he added.
Celgene’s Vidaza, cytidine nucleoside analogue for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome, was highly commended by the judges.
‘Orphan diseases’ affect a very small number of patients in a given population – many of which are either untreatable or treated very inadequately.
It is estimated that there are 6,000 orphan diseases – which, in total, affect about 30 million EU citizens..
The awards were presented by health secretary Andrew Lansley, who said: “It is a pleasure to be given the chance to participate in what is always a fascinating occasion – and to see at first hand the volume of innovation and new medicines that have been coming through.”
Lansley added: “I am determined that not only we will secure reform in the NHS, but that we will also secure reform that promotes innovation in respect of the pharmaceutical industry and indeed all those industries that are supporting our National Health Service.”
Ben Adams
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