UK patients and healthcare professionals involved in the re-design of pre-filled syringe to meet the needs and expectations of patients
Tuesday 30th July 2019 – Today the UK affiliate of Ipsen (Euronext: IPN; ADR: IPSEY) announced the launch of a new pre-filled syringe for Somatuline® Autogel® (lanreotide). Results from five separate studies, involving patients and healthcare professionals have informed the redesign of the lanreotide syringe. This patient-centred research has enabled the development, testing and validation of the syringe, which is intended to enable patients to have more control of their disease by supporting self or partner injection, and potentially requiring fewer hospital visits.[i] The syringe is now available for use on the NHS for the treatment of adult patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NETs), symptoms associated with neuroendocrine (particularly carcinoid) tumours (NETs), and acromegaly.
Wendy Martin, NET Clinical Nurse Specialist at Kings College London and Lead Investigator said “From today we can genuinely discuss independence for patients living with these chronic, burdensome disease. Patients want and need treatment options that allow them as much freedom and flexibility as possible so that they can live fuller lives and spend, what is for them precious time with family and friends. I hope that today’s development can transform NET clinics across the UK and further enhance patient care.”
Over 4,000 people are diagnosed with a NET each year in the UK[ii] and although once considered rare, the incidence of NETs is on the rise.[iii], [iv] Survival rates have improved over the last decadeiii, iv and so patients are living for longer with the disease. However, living with NETs has a considerable impact on patients’ personal and work lives and data suggest there is a need to improve the patient experience.[v]
Acromegaly is a rare hormone disorder resulting in an overgrowth of all organ systems, bones, joints and soft tissues. The incidence in Europe is around 2-4 per million population[vi] and its prevalence estimates range from 36 to 60 per million.[vii]
New features include modified ergonomics and handling, a needle shield removal system, an injection process with plunger support and a thermoform tray to prevent accidental plunger depression. The automatic, built-in safety system, which helps to prevent needle stick injury by locking in place following the administration, has not been changed. The mode of administration of lanreotide with the new pre-filled syringe remains the same (i.e. deep subcutaneous injection).
“Today’s launch of a new pre-filled syringe for Somatuline Autogel® in the UK represents a significant milestone in our commitment to patient-centric innovation. This medicine has been a routine part of clinical practice for the treatment of both NETs and acromegaly for many years – I am proud that we are able to challenge our own thinking to ensure that this medicine reaches patients in a way that puts their needs and expectations at the centre.” said Asad Mohsin Ali, UK & Ireland General Manager.
For further information, please contact:
Lydia Jenkins, Communications Manager, UK & Ireland
T: +44 (0) 7736 616028
About Somatuline® Autogel®
Somatuline® Autogel® is made of the active substance lanreotide, which is a somatostatin analogue that inhibits the secretion of growth hormone and certain hormones secreted by the digestive system. The main indications are:
- The treatment of individuals with acromegaly when the circulating levels of Growth Hormone (GH) and/or Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) remain abnormal after surgery and/or radiotherapy, or in patients who otherwise require medical treatment.
- The treatment of grade 1 and a subset of grade 2 (Ki-67 index up to 10%) gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NETs) of midgut, pancreatic or unknown origin where hindgut sites of origin have been excluded, in adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic disease.
- The treatment of symptoms associated with neuroendocrine (particularly carcinoid) tumours.
For more detailed information about the Somatuline® Autogel®, please refer to the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), available here: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/4808/smpc
Landmark data for lanreotide demonstrated a significant increase in progression free survival (PFS) in patients with metastatic pancreatic/intestinal neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) compared with a placebo – estimated rates of PFS at 24 months were 65.1% (95% CI, 54.0 to 74.1) in the lanreotide group and 33.0% (95% CI, 23.0 to 43.3) in the placebo group. [viii] Further clinical trials of lanreotide in other NETs and acromegaly have proven its efficacy for these conditions and have supported its role in clinical practice today.
About Ipsen UK
Our team in the UK is a core part of Ipsen’s global biopharmaceutical business and are driven by the belief that patients don’t have time to wait. We have a biotech mindset coupled with pharmaceutical capabilities and have invested in a robust business presence in the UK that spans the early stages of R&D (Abingdon, Oxford) through to in-house manufacturing (Wrexham, Wales) so we can effectively deliver on our promise to UK patients. As part of this investment in the heart of UK life sciences, we employ over 700 people across our three major UK sites, including our commercial headquarters in Bath Road, Slough.
Our business focuses on oncology, neurosciences and rare diseases, to create innovative therapies in areas of high unmet medical need. In the UK we aim to provide best-in-class treatments for a range of conditions, including renal cell carcinoma and neuroendocrine tumours, where there are limited treatment options available for patients. In addition to the treatments we have already made available to patients in the UK, our team is continuing to research, develop and commercialise new assets to address the needs of patients who are still waiting.
[i] Development of a new and improved delivery system for lanreotide Autogel to further enhance patient care”. Wendy Martin et al. [Published at ENETS, 6.3F.19]
[ii] Cancer Research UK: About NETS. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/neuroendocrine-tumours-nets/what-are-nets . Accessed July 2019
[iii] Yang Z et al. Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumors (G-Nets): Incidence, Prognosis and Recent Trend Toward Improved Survival. Available at: https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/486915. Accessed July 2019
[iv] T. R. Halfdanarson et al. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs): incidence, prognosis and recent trend toward improved survival. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2735065/
[v] Patient-Reported Burden of a Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET) Diagnosis: Results From the First Global Survey of
Patients With NETs. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5493232/. Accessed July 2019
[vi] Burton T, et al; Incidence and prevalence of acromegaly in a large US health plan database. Pituitary. 2016 Jun19(3):262-7. doi: 10.1007/s11102-015-0701-2
[vii] Capatina C, Wass JA; 60 Years of Neuroendocrinology: Acromegaly. J Endocrinol. 2015 Aug226(2):T141-60. doi: 10.1530/JOE-15-0109. Epub 2015 Jul 1
[viii] Caplin M.E. et al. N Engl J Med 2014; 371:224-233
