• First and Only Pill for Children and Adolescents Ages 6-17 with Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Aug. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced Otezla^® (apremilast) is now available in the U.S. for pediatric use. Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Otezla for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in children and adolescents ages 6 and older who weigh at least 20 kg (44 lb) and are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy. There are currently no other FDA-approved oral medications for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in this patient population.riasis

"For the first time, children and adolescents with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and their caregivers have an oral option to treat this chronic disease, with its highly visible, uncomfortable symptoms," said Murdo Gordon, executive vice president of Global Commercial Operations at Amgen. "In the last decade, Otezla has been prescribed to over one million adults worldwide, and today's announcement represents the potential for Otezla to offer relief to many younger patients."

"Children living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis often experience uncomfortable and highly visible symptoms, such as itchy, dry lesions that may bleed or cause pain. However, treatment options for this chronic immune-mediated disease are limited," said Leah M. Howard, JD, president and CEO of the National Psoriasis Foundation. "Until now, FDA-approved systemic treatment options for youth have been injections or infusions. The addition of an oral treatment option with a well-established safety profile is great news for children with this disease and their families."

The FDA approval was based on results from SPROUT, a Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study which investigated the efficacy and safety of Otezla in pediatric patients aged 6 to 17 years with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis inadequately controlled by or intolerant to topical therapy. The primary endpoint – static Physician's Global Assessment (sPGA) response (defined as an sPGA score of clear [0] or almost clear [1] with at least a 2-point reduction from baseline) – at week 16 was met with a 33.1% sPGA response for Otezla versus 10.8% for placebo (95% CI: 12.2%, 32.4%; P<0.0001). The adverse events were consistent with the known safety profile of Otezla in adult patients.

The most common side effects of Otezla include diarrhea, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, tension headache and headache.

After the initial titration period, the maintenance dosage of Otezla in this patient group will be administered in either 20 or 30 mg doses, based on weight, twice daily. The recommended dose is 20 mg twice daily for pediatric patients weighing 20 kg to <50 kg, and 30 mg twice daily for those who weigh at least 50 kg.

Amgen is committed to supporting plaque psoriasis patients to ensure that appropriate patients have affordable access to Otezla. For more information, please visit Otezla.com.

About Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic disease where skin cells build up quickly, typically causing red or discolored, scaly, and itchy patches on the skin.¹ Approximately 125 million people worldwide have psoriasis, including around 14 million people in Europe and more than 8 million people in the United States.^2,3 About 80% of those patients have plaque psoriasis.⁴ Among pediatric patients with plaque psoriasis, one in five have moderate to severe disease.⁵ Approximately one-third of those who get psoriasis are under 18 years old when the disease first surfaces.⁶ 

About Otezla^® (apremilast)                                                                   

Otezla^® (apremilast) is an oral small-molecule inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) specific for cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). PDE4 inhibition results in increased intracellular cAMP levels, which is thought to indirectly modulate the production of inflammatory mediators. The specific mechanism(s) by which Otezla exerts its therapeutic action in patients is not well defined.           

Since its initial FDA approval in 2014, Otezla has been prescribed to more than 1 million patients worldwide.⁷ 

INDICATIONS

Otezla^® (apremilast) is indicated for the treatment of:

• Adult patients with plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy
• Pediatric patients 6 years of age and older and weighing at least 20 kg with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy
• Adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis
• Adult patients with oral ulcers associated with Behçet's Disease

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION           

Contraindications

• Otezla is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to apremilast or to any of the excipients in the formulation

Warnings and Precautions 

• Hypersensitivity: Hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema and anaphylaxis, have been reported during postmarketing surveillance. If signs or symptoms of serious hypersensitivity reactions occur, discontinue Otezla and institute appropriate therapy
• Diarrhea, Nausea, and Vomiting: Cases of severe diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting were associated with the use of Otezla. Most events occurred within the first few weeks of treatment. In some cases, patients were hospitalized. Patients 65 years of age or older and patients taking medications that can lead to volume depletion or hypotension may be at a higher risk of complications from severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Monitor patients who are more susceptible to complications of diarrhea or vomiting; advise patients to contact their healthcare provider. Consider Otezla dose reduction or suspension if patients develop severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
• Depression: Carefully weigh the risks and benefits of treatment with Otezla for patients with a history of depression and/or suicidal thoughts/behavior, or in patients who develop such symptoms while on Otezla. Patients, caregivers, and families should be advised of the need to be alert for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or other mood changes, and they should contact their healthcare provider if such changes occur
  • Plaque Psoriasis: Treatment with Otezla is associated with an increase in depression. During clinical trials in adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, 1.3% (12/920) of patients reported depression compared to 0.4% (2/506) on placebo. Depression was reported as serious in 0.1% (1/1308) of patients exposed to Otezla, compared to none in placebo-treated patients (0/506). Suicidal behavior was observed in 0.1% (1/1308) of patients on Otezla, compared to 0.2% (1/506) on placebo. One patient treated with Otezla attempted suicide; one patient on placebo committed suicide
  • Psoriatic Arthritis: Treatment with Otezla is associated with an increase in depression. During clinical trials, 1.0% (10/998) reported depression or depressed mood compared to 0.8% (4/495) treated with placebo. Suicidal ideation and behavior was observed in 0.2% (3/1441) of patients on Otezla, compared to none in placebo-treated patients. Depression was reported as serious in 0.2% (3/1441) of patients exposed to Otezla, compared to none in placebo-treated patients (0/495). Two patients who received placebo committed suicide compared to none on Otezla
  • Behçet's Disease: Treatment with Otezla is associated with an increase in depression. During the clinical trial, 1% (1/104) reported depression or depressed mood compared to 1% (1/103) treated with placebo. No instances of suicidal ideation or behavior were reported in patients treated with Otezla or treated with placebo
• Weight Decrease: Monitor body weight regularly; evaluate unexplained or clinically significant weight loss, and consider discontinuation of Otezla
  • Plaque Psoriasis: Body weight loss of 5-10% occurred in 12% (96/784) of adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis treated with Otezla and in 5% (19/382) of patients treated with placebo. Body weight loss of ≥10% occurred in 2% (16/784) of adult patients treated with Otezla compared to 1% (3/382) of patients treated with placebo. Body weight loss of 5%-10% occurred in 12% (19/163) of pediatric patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis treated with Otezla compared to 2.5% (2/80) with placebo. Body weight loss of ≥ 10% occurred in 1% (1/163) of pediatric patients treated with Otezla twice daily compared to 0% (0/80) of patients with placebo. Closely monitor growth (height and weight) in Otezla-treated pediatric patients. Pediatric patients who are not growing or gaining weight as expected may need to have their treatment interrupted
  • Psoriatic Arthritis: Body weight loss of 5-10% was reported in 10% (49/497) of patients taking Otezla and in 3.3% (16/495) of patients taking placebo
  • Behçet's Disease: Body weight loss of >5% was reported in 4.9% (5/103) of patients taking Otezla and in 3.9% (4/102) of patients taking placebo
• Drug Interactions: Apremilast exposure was decreased when Otezla was co-administered with rifampin, a strong CYP450 enzyme inducer; loss of Otezla efficacy may occur. Concomitant use of Otezla with CYP450 enzyme inducers (e.g., rifampin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin) is not recommended

Adverse Reactions 

• Plaque Psoriasis: The most common adverse reactions (≥ 5%) are diarrhea, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache, including tension headache.  Overall, the safety profile of Otezla in adult patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis and pediatric patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis was consistent with the safety profile established in adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis
• Psoriatic Arthritis: The most common adverse reactions (≥ 5%) are diarrhea, nausea, and headache
• Behçet's Disease: The most common adverse reactions (≥ 10%) are diarrhea, nausea, headache, and upper respiratory tract infection

Use in Specific Populations 

• Otezla has not been studied in pregnant women. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk of fetal loss

Please click here for the full Prescribing Information for Otezla.          

About Amgen 

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative medicines to help millions of patients in their fight against some of the world's toughest diseases. More than 40 years ago, Amgen helped to establish the biotechnology industry and remains on the cutting-edge of innovation, using technology and human genetic data to push beyond what's known today. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline that builds on its existing portfolio of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, inflammatory diseases and rare diseases. 

In 2024, Amgen was named one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies" by Fast Company and one of "America's Best Large Employers" by Forbes, among other external recognitions. Amgen is one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average^®, and it is also part of the Nasdaq-100 Index^®, which includes the largest and most innovative non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market based on market capitalization.

For more information, visit Amgen.com and follow Amgen on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Threads. 

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CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks 
Elissa Snook, 609-251-1407 (media)
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References

1. National Psoriasis Foundation. About Psoriasis. Available at: https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis. Accessed June 4, 2024.
2. National Psoriasis Foundation. Statistics. Available at: https://www.psoriasis.org/content/statistics. Accessed June 4, 2024.
3. Ortonne JP, Prinz JC. Alefacept: a novel and selective biologic agent for the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis. Eur J Dermatol. 2004;14(1):41–45.
4. National Psoriasis Foundation. Plaque Psoriasis. Available at: https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/types/plaque. Accessed June 4, 2024.
5. Eichenfield LF, Paller AS, Tom WL, et al.  Pediatric psoriasis. Pediatr Dermatol. 2018;35(2):170-181. Accessed June 4, 2024.
6. Menter A, Cordoro KM, Davis DMR, et al. Joint American Academy of Dermatology-National Psoriasis Foundation guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis in pediatric patients. Available at: https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(19)32655-6%20/fulltext. Accessed June 4, 2024.
7. Amgen Data on File.