Top Drug Approvals of 2015: Teaming Up in Multiple Myeloma

TL;DR

Empliciti, developed by Bristol-Myers and AbbVie, has been approved as an adjunct therapy for multiple myeloma, showing solid efficacy in clinical trials.

Transcript

Kristine Harjes: So our last drug that we wanted to talk about today is called Empliciti and it is developed by Bristol-Myers and AbbVie and that was just approved a few days ago -- November 30th. Todd Campbell: Yeah, you know Empliciti is important because again if you look at indication. Is there a need? There is. Empliciti treats multiple myelom... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Empliciti's approval as an adjunct therapy is significant for multiple myeloma patients.
• 🥶 The drug offers better efficacy and an advantage in progression-free survival compared to existing therapies.
• 💗 The multiple myeloma market is expected to grow significantly, creating opportunities for drug developers.
• ✋ Empliciti's high cost and its "me too" status alongside existing therapies may pose challenges regarding payer coverage.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Empliciti and why is its approval significant?

Empliciti is a drug developed by Bristol-Myers and AbbVie, approved as an adjunct therapy for multiple myeloma. Its approval is significant because it treats a disease with a high mortality rate and can become a part of the standard treatment, benefiting a large number of patients.

Q: How does Empliciti compare to other drugs used in multiple myeloma?

Empliciti has shown better efficacy compared to Dexa and Revlimid combination alone, with a higher percentage of tumor shrinkage. It offers an almost 5-month advantage in progression-free survival, making it a favorable choice for patients and doctors.

Q: What is the market potential for drugs like Empliciti?

The multiple myeloma market is expected to rise in value from $8.9 billion in 2014 to over $22 billion by 2023. Revlimid, a commonly used drug, is already generating significant sales, and Empliciti's approval could further boost the market.

Q: What are the financial implications for Bristol-Myers and AbbVie?

Bristol-Myers will receive 70% of the profit from Empliciti in the United States, while AbbVie will receive the remaining 30%. Outside the US, Bristol-Myers will pay AbbVie a royalty. This drug is expected to be more financially impactful for Bristol-Myers than for AbbVie.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Empliciti is a newly approved drug developed by Bristol-Myers and AbbVie, which treats multiple myeloma alongside commonly used therapies, Dexamethasone and Revlimid.

• The drug has shown promising efficacy in clinical trials, with a higher rate of tumor shrinkage than the combination of just Dexa and Revlimid.

• Multiple myeloma is a devastating disease, and with approximately 26,000 to 28,000 patients diagnosed each year, Empliciti has the potential to become part of the standard treatment in the second and third-line therapies.