Product launch expected in the second half of July 2009
AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAG) today announced that the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted marketing approval for
Feraheme™ (ferumoxytol) Injection for intravenous (IV) use as an iron
replacement therapy for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adult
patients with chronic kidney disease. The recommended dose of Feraheme
is an initial 510 mg IV injection followed by a second 510 mg IV
injection three to eight days later. Feraheme should be administered as
an undiluted IV injection delivered at a rate of up to 1 mL/sec (30
mg/sec). The recommended Feraheme dose may be readministered to
patients with persistent or recurrent iron deficiency anemia.
Feraheme is expected to be commercially available in the U.S.
during the second half of July 2009. Feraheme will be distributed
primarily through wholesalers and specialty distributors. The Company
will market and sell Feraheme through its commercial organization
consisting of approximately 150 seasoned professionals, including an
80-person specialized sales force, an experienced account management and
reimbursement team, and a contract nurse team.
“Feraheme offers patients across the continuum of chronic kidney
disease, including patients not on dialysis and patients on dialysis, a
new paradigm for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia,” commented
Brian J.G. Pereira, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of AMAG.
“We are extremely pleased with the FDA’s approval of Feraheme, and we
are well prepared and excited to bring this new treatment option to
patients and physicians.”
"Iron deficiency anemia is a significant problem in patients with
chronic kidney disease and is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated,1,2”
said Bryan Becker, MD, President of the National Kidney Foundation. "We
welcome the availability of a new therapy option for chronic kidney
disease patients affected by iron deficiency anemia."
Clinical Data
Feraheme has been proven to be a safe and effective therapy for
treating iron deficiency anemia in adult chronic kidney disease
patients. The FDA approval of Feraheme was based on safety and
efficacy results from four Phase III studies of patients with chronic
kidney disease and iron deficiency anemia. These studies consisted of
three open-label, multi-center, randomized safety and efficacy clinical
studies and a fourth double-blind, multi-center, randomized,
placebo-controlled cross-over safety study. Each of the three pivotal
safety and efficacy studies achieved statistical significance in its
primary endpoint: the mean change in hemoglobin from baseline at Day 35
after the first dose. Feraheme significantly increased hemoglobin
levels as compared to oral iron across the spectrum of chronic kidney
disease.