AZURITY PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. ANNOUNCES FDA APPROVAL OF
DANZITEN™ (nilotinib) tablets, THE FIRST AND ONLY NILOTINIB WITH NO MEALTIME RESTRICTIONS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – WOBURN, Mass. Nov 14, 2024 – Azurity Pharmaceuticals announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Danziten™, the first and only nilotinib with no mealtime restrictions indicated for adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase and adult patients with chronic phase (CP) and acute phase (AP) resistant or intolerant to prior therapy that included imatinib.
“Danziten offers a new nilotinib treatment option with the equivalent efficacy to Tasigna®, but without the fasting requirements of Tasigna,” said Richard Blackburn, CEO of Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “Unlike Tasigna, the boxed warning on the Danziten label has no requirement for patients to take their medication in a fasted state, liberating CML patients from mealtime restrictions.”
Tasigna has established efficacy in adults with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP and resistant or intolerant Ph+ CML-CP and CML-AP.1 However, Tasigna has variable bioavailability that considerably increases when taken with food. In a concentration dependent manner, Tasigna may significantly prolong QT interval on surface electrocardiogram (ECG) when inappropriately taken with food. As such, strict fasting with Tasigna is crucial to avoid cardiotoxicity.2
Danziten is a re-engineered formulation of nilotinib without mealtime restrictions that offers equivalent efficacy to Tasigna but with improved bioavailability, allowing for a lower dose.1,3,4 Danziten demonstrates consistent pharmacokinetics, with no clinically significant differences in nilotinib exposure regardless of fasting state or meal type, while offering the proven efficacy expected from nilotinib.1,5,6 With optimal tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy, patients can achieve deep molecular responses, and some may even attain treatment-free remission.7 The life expectancy of newly diagnosed CP-CML patients who have responded to appropriate treatment is now approaching that of the general population. However, challenges remain, including patient adherence to treatment. Danziten has the potential to improve adherence due to the removal of fasting requirements.7,8
Danziten will be available in the coming weeks through Biologics by McKesson and Limited Specialty Distribution. For full prescribing information including boxed warning, please visit www.Danziten.com.
Azurity will offer patient support through DanzitenCONNECT™, a comprehensive program, subject to terms and conditions, that includes Prior Authorization support and Benefits Investigation, a free first month of Danziten, a co-pay of as little as $0, and a Patient Assistance Program (PAP).
“Danziten offers a new nilotinib treatment option with the equivalent efficacy to Tasigna®, but without the fasting requirements of Tasigna,” said Richard Blackburn, CEO of Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “Unlike Tasigna, the boxed warning on the Danziten label has no requirement for patients to take their medication in a fasted state, liberating CML patients from mealtime restrictions.”
Tasigna has established efficacy in adults with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP and resistant or intolerant Ph+ CML-CP and CML-AP.1 However, Tasigna has variable bioavailability that considerably increases when taken with food. In a concentration dependent manner, Tasigna may significantly prolong QT interval on surface electrocardiogram (ECG) when inappropriately taken with food. As such, strict fasting with Tasigna is crucial to avoid cardiotoxicity.2
Danziten is a re-engineered formulation of nilotinib without mealtime restrictions that offers equivalent efficacy to Tasigna but with improved bioavailability, allowing for a lower dose.1,3,4 Danziten demonstrates consistent pharmacokinetics, with no clinically significant differences in nilotinib exposure regardless of fasting state or meal type, while offering the proven efficacy expected from nilotinib.1,5,6 With optimal tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy, patients can achieve deep molecular responses, and some may even attain treatment-free remission.7 The life expectancy of newly diagnosed CP-CML patients who have responded to appropriate treatment is now approaching that of the general population. However, challenges remain, including patient adherence to treatment. Danziten has the potential to improve adherence due to the removal of fasting requirements.7,8
Danziten will be available in the coming weeks through Biologics by McKesson and Limited Specialty Distribution. For full prescribing information including boxed warning, please visit www.Danziten.com.
Azurity will offer patient support through DanzitenCONNECT™, a comprehensive program, subject to terms and conditions, that includes Prior Authorization support and Benefits Investigation, a free first month of Danziten, a co-pay of as little as $0, and a Patient Assistance Program (PAP).
About Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Azurity specializes in providing innovative, high-quality medicines that serve overlooked patients. We supply a large number of products to treat a wide range of medical conditions. These include anti-infective, cardiovascular/cardiology, central nervous system/cerebrovascular, endocrinology, gastrointestinal, immunology, and oncology medicines. Many of our medicines are dose-form innovations for patients with needs that are not met by other available products. Our medicines have benefited millions of people. For more information, visit www.azurity.com
Contact: Azurity Pharmaceuticals Media Relations
Email: media@azurity.com
Sources:
- 1. DANZITEN [prescribing information]: Woburn, MA: Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc; 2024.
- 2. Tasigna [prescribing information]: East Hanover, NJ: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; 2024.
- 3. Radich J, Mauro M, Jain P, et al. Population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) modeling for a novel nilotinib formulation. Presented at: SOHO 2024 Annual World; September 4-7, 2024; Houston, TX.
- 4. Tan BK, Tan SB, Chen L. Medication-related issues associated with adherence to long-term tyrosine kinase inhibitors for controlling chronic myeloid leukemia: a qualitative study. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2017;11:1027-1034.
- 5. Hochhaus A, Masszi T, Giles FJ, et al. Treatment-free remission following frontline nilotinib in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase: results from the ENESTfreedom study . Leukemia. 2017;31(7):1525-1531.
- 6. Hughes TP, Saglio G, Kantarjian HM, et al. Early molecular response predicts outcomes in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase treated with frontline nilotinib or imatinib. Blood. 2014;123(9):1353-1360.
- 7. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; 2023. Accessed October 29, 2024. https://www.lls.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/PS31_CML_2023.pdf
- 8. Hochhaus A, Baccarani M, Silver RT, et al. European LeukemiaNet 2020 recommendations for treating chronic myeloid leukemia. Leukemia. 2020;34(4):966-984.
PP-DAN-US-0080
