LEBANON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Recordati Rare Diseases Inc. today announces positive results from the large Phase III LINC-4 study of ISTURISA® (osilodrostat) for the treatment of patients with Cushing’s disease for whom pituitary surgery is not an option or has not been curative. Data from the LINC-4 study demonstrate that a significantly higher proportion of patients receiving ISTURISA achieve normal mUFC, the primary treatment goal for Cushing’s disease, after 12 weeks of treatment versus placebo (77% vs 8%; P<0.0001). Improvements in mUFC levels are sustained over 36 weeks of treatment (81% of patients). ISTURISA is well tolerated and has a manageable safety profile, with the most common adverse events in LINC-4 being arthralgia, decreased appetite, fatigue, and nausea. The findings from LINC-4, the first Phase III study of a medical therapy in Cushing’s disease to contain an upfront placebo-controlled phase, builds upon existing clinical evidence and affirms the effectiveness of ISTURISA in this hard-to-treat patient population.1-3
“Cushing’s disease is a chronic and debilitating condition that can be extremely challenging to manage and, if left inadequately treated, can have a significant impact on patients’ quality of life and increase the risk of mortality,” said Richard Feelders, MD, Professor of Endocrinology at the Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam. “Data from this important Phase III study show that ISTURISA® (osilodrostat) is an effective and well-tolerated therapy for Cushing’s disease, which significantly reduces and normalizes mUFC levels in most patients. These data are encouraging given the high unmet medical need for patients with this rare disorder.”
“The compelling topline LINC-4 data confirm the effectiveness of ISTURISA for the treatment of this rare, potentially life-threatening disease,” stated Andrea Recordati, CEO. “We are deeply grateful to the patients, investigators, clinicians and study staff whose ongoing participation in the clinical development of ISTURISA has helped bring this therapy to patients in need.”
Data from the LINC 4 study reinforce the clinical benefits of ISTURISA as an effective and generally well‑tolerated oral treatment option for patients with Cushing’s disease. ISTURISA has recently received marketing authorization in the United States (March 2020) for the treatment of Cushing’s disease.
Important Safety Information for Isturisa®
Indications and Usage
ISTURISA (osilodrostat) is a cortisol synthesis inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adult patients with Cushing’s disease for whom pituitary surgery is not an option or has not been curative.
Warnings and Precautions
- Hypocortisolism: ISTURISA lowers cortisol levels and can lead to hypocortisolism and sometimes life-threatening adrenal insufficiency. Lowering of cortisol can cause nausea, vomiting, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and dizziness. Significant lowering of serum cortisol may result in hypotension, abnormal electrolyte levels, and hypoglycaemia.
Hypocortisolism can occur at any time during ISTURISA treatment. Evaluate patients for precipitating causes of hypocortisolism (infection, physical stress, etc). Monitor 24-hour urinary free cortisol, serum or plasma cortisol, and patient’s signs and symptoms periodically during ISTURISA treatment.
Decrease or temporarily discontinue ISTURISA if urinary free cortisol levels fall below the target range, there is a rapid decrease in cortisol levels, and/or patients report symptoms of hypocortisolism. Stop ISTURISA and administer exogenous glucocorticoid replacement therapy if serum or plasma cortisol levels are below target range and patients have symptoms of adrenal insufficiency. After ISTURISA discontinuation, cortisol suppression may persist beyond the 4-hour half-life of ISTURISA. Please see section 5.1 of full Prescribing Information.
Educate patients on the symptoms associated with hypocortisolism and advise them to contact a healthcare provider if they occur.
- QTc Prolongation: ISTURISA is associated with a dose-dependent QT interval prolongation which may cause cardiac arrhythmias. Perform an ECG to obtain a baseline QTc interval measurement prior to initiating therapy with ISTURISA and monitor for an effect on the QTc interval thereafter. Correct hypokalaemia and/or hypomagnesaemia prior to ISTURISA initiation and monitor periodically during treatment with ISTURISA. Use with caution in patients with risk factors for QT prolongation and consider more frequent ECG monitoring. Please see section 5.2 of full Prescribing Information.
- Elevations in Adrenal Hormone Precursors and Androgens: ISTURISA blocks cortisol synthesis and may increase circulating levels of cortisol and aldosterone precursors and androgens. This may activate mineralocorticoid receptors and cause hypokalaemia, oedema and hypertension. Hypokalaemia should be corrected prior to initiating ISTURISA. Monitor patients treated with ISTURISA for hypokalaemia, worsening of hypertension and oedema. Inform patients of the symptoms associated with hyperandrogenism and advise them to contact a healthcare provider if they occur. Please see section 5.3 of full Prescribing Information.
Adverse Reactions
- Most common adverse reactions (incidence >20%) are adrenal insufficiency, fatigue, nausea, headache, and oedema.
- To report SUSPECTEDADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Recordati Rare Diseases Inc. at 1-888-575-8344, or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Drug Interactions
- CYP3A4 Inhibitor: Reduce the dose of ISTURISA by half with concomitant use of a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor.
- CYP3A4 and CYP2B6 Inducers: An increase of ISTURISA dosage may be needed if ISTURISA is used concomitantly with strong CYP3A4 and CYP2B6 inducers. A reduction in ISTURISA dosage may be needed if strong CYP3A4 and CYP2B6 inducers are discontinued while using ISTURISA.
Use in Specific Populations
- Lactation: Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with ISTURISA and for at least 1 week after treatment.
Please refer to Full Prescribing Information at www.isturisa.com/pdf/isturisa-pi.pdf
About Cushing’s disease
Cushing’s disease is a form of Cushing’s syndrome, in which chronically elevated cortisol levels is triggered by a pituitary adenoma secreting excess adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).4 It is a rare, serious and difficult-to-treat disease that affects approximately one to two patients per million per year. Prolonged exposure to elevated cortisol levels is associated with considerable morbidity, mortality and impaired quality of life as a result of complications and comorbidities.5 Normalization of cortisol levels is therefore a primary objective in the treatment of Cushing’s disease.6
About LINC-4
LINC-4 is a large randomized, double-blinded, multicenter, 48-week trial with an initial 12-week placebo-controlled period to evaluate the safety and efficacy of osilodrostat in patients with Cushing’s disease. The primary endpoint in the LINC-4 trial is the proportion of patients randomized to ISTURISA® and placebo, separately, with a mUFC ≤ULN at the end of the 12-week placebo-controlled period. The key secondary endpoint is the proportion of patients in both arms combined with a mUFC ≤ULN after 36 weeks. LINC-4 involved 73 patients with persistent or recurrent Cushing’s disease or those with de novo disease who were not candidates for surgery.
About ISTURISA®
ISTURISA is a cortisol synthesis inhibitor that works by preventing 11-betahydroxylase, an enzyme responsible for the final step of cortisol biosynthesis in the adrenal gland, from being created. ISTURISA is available as 1 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg film-coated tablets. Please see prescribing information for detailed recommendations for the use of this product.7 In March 2020, the FDA granted marketing authorization for ISTURISA in the United States. For more information visit www.isturisa.com.
1. Bertagna X et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2014;99:1375–83
2. Fleseriu M et al. Pituitary 2016;19:138–48
3. Biller BMK et al. Abstract OR16-2. Oral presentation at the Endocrine Society Annual Congress 2019
4. Lacroix A et al. Lancet 2015;386:913–27
5. Pivonello R et al. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2016;4:611–29
6. Nieman LK et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2015;100:2807–31
7. ISTURISA® Prescribing Information. March 2020
About Recordati Rare Diseases Inc.
Recordati Rare Diseases Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company committed to providing often-overlooked orphan therapies to the underserved rare disease communities of the United States. Recordati Rare Diseases is a part of the Recordati Group, a public international specialty pharmaceutical company committed to the research and development of new specialties with a focus on treatments for rare diseases.
Recordati Rare Diseases’ mission is to reduce the impact of extremely rare and devastating diseases by providing urgently needed therapies. We work side-by-side with rare disease communities to increase awareness, improve diagnosis and expand availability of treatments for people with rare diseases.
The company’s U.S. corporate headquarters is located in Lebanon, NJ, with global headquarter offices located in Milan, Italy.
For a full list of products, please click here: www.recordatirarediseases.com/us/products
Statements contained in this release, other than historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements are based on currently available information, on current best estimates, and on assumptions believed to be reasonable. This information, these estimates and assumptions may prove to be incomplete or erroneous, and involve numerous risks and uncertainties, beyond the Company’s control. Hence, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All mentions and descriptions of Recordati products are intended solely as information on the general nature of the company’s activities and are not intended to indicate the advisability of administering any product in any particular instance.
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