SHENYANG, China, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- 3SBio Inc.
(Nasdaq: SSRX), a leading biotechnology company focused on researching,
developing, manufacturing and marketing biopharmaceutical products primarily
in China, today announced that it has submitted its application for a
registrational clinical trial to the Chinese State Food and Drug
Administration ("SFDA") for Feraheme (ferumoxytol) Injection for intravenous
use. Feraheme is an intravenous iron therapy that 3SBio licensed from AMAG
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMAG) for development in China for the
treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adult patients with chronic kidney
disease ("CKD").
Feraheme was approved on June 30, 2009 by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration for the same indication for which 3SBio is seeking approval in
China and launched commercially in the U.S. by AMAG in July 2009. As
previously announced, 3SBio has exclusive rights to develop and commercialize
Feraheme in China. Once approved by the SFDA, 3SBio will commence a
multi-center randomized efficacy and safety study in China with approximately
200 CKD patients, measuring the mean change in hemoglobin from baseline at Day
35 after first dose.
Dr. Jing Lou, Chief Executive Officer of 3SBio comments: "We are pleased
with the timely submission of the Feraheme clinical trial application to the
SFDA in China, representing a major milestone and our commitment to bringing
this innovative therapy to Chinese CKD patients in need. We look forward to
working with the SFDA to ensure an efficient review process."
Brian J.G. Pereira, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of AMAG
Pharmaceuticals comments: "3SBio is the ideal partner to bring Feraheme to
iron deficiency anemia patients with chronic kidney disease in China. This
step represents an important milestone in our efforts to broaden the global
reach of Feraheme."
Important Safety Information about Feraheme
Feraheme is contraindicated in patients with evidence of iron overload,
known hypersensitivity to Feraheme or any of its components, and patients with
anemia not caused by iron deficiency.
In clinical studies, hypotension was reported in 1.9% (33/1,726) of
subjects receiving Feraheme, including three patients with serious hypotensive
reactions. Serious hypersensitivity reactions were reported in 0.2% (3/1726)
of patients. Patients should be observed for signs and symptoms of
hypersensitivity for at least 30 minutes following Feraheme injection and the
drug should only be administered when treatment of hypersensitivity reactions
is readily available. Excessive therapy with parenteral iron can lead to
excess storage of iron with the possibility of iatrogenic hemosiderosis.
Patients should be regularly monitored for hematologic response during
parenteral iron therapy. As a superparamagnetic iron oxide, Feraheme may
transiently affect magnetic resonance diagnostic imaging but will not affect
X-ray, CT, PET, SPECT, ultrasound, or nuclear imaging.
In clinical trials, the most commonly occurring adverse reactions in
Feraheme treated patients versus oral iron treated patients were diarrhea,
nausea, dizziness, hypotension, constipation and peripheral edema.
About 3SBio Inc.
3SBio Inc. is a leading, fully integrated biotechnology company focused on
researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing biopharmaceutical
products, primarily in China. For more information, please visit 3SBio on the
web at http://www.3sbio.com .
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These
statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these
forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will," "expects,"
"anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and
similar statements. The accuracy of these statements may be impacted by a
number of business factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those projected or anticipated, including factors
related to: the ability of 3SBio to initiate and successfully complete the
registrational trial for Feraheme; the risk that 3SBio may not be able to
commercially offer Feraheme in China in a timely manner or at all for whatever
reason, including possible failure to obtain SFDA approval; uncertainty as to
hospital or patient demand for 3SBio's products; uncertainties regarding
3SBio's ability to successfully compete in the intravenous iron replacement
market in China; uncertainties regarding 3SBio's ability to obtain favorable
insurance coverage and pricing for Feraheme, if approved by the SFDA; changes
in the healthcare industry in China, including changes in the healthcare
policies and regulations of the P.R.C. government and changes in the
healthcare insurance sector in the P.R.C.; fluctuations in general economic
and business conditions in China; and other risks outlined in 3SBio's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 3SBio does not undertake any
obligation to update this forward-looking information, except as required
under applicable law.
Feraheme(TM) is a trademark of AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
For more information, please contact:
Investor Contacts
Bo Tan
Chief Financial Officer
3SBio Inc.
Tel: +86-24-2581-1820
Email: ir@3SBio.com
Tom Folinsbee
Director of Investor Relations
3SBio Inc.
Tel: +852-8191-6991
Email: ir@3SBio.com
SOURCE 3SBio Inc.