FDA Advisory Committee Votes Favorably that the Data Support Arimoclomol as Effective Treatment for Patients with Niemann-Pick Disease Type C

PDUFA Action Date for the Arimoclomol NDA is September 21, 2024

CELEBRATION, Fla., Aug. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. (NasdaqGS: ZVRA) (Zevra, or the Company), a rare disease therapeutics company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Genetic Metabolic Diseases Advisory Committee (GeMDAC) voted favorably (11 yes, 5 no) that the data support that arimoclomol is effective in the treatment of patients with Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC).

“We are extremely pleased with the committee’s recognition of the benefits of arimoclomol for people living with NPC,” said Neil F. McFarlane, President and Chief Executive Officer of Zevra. “Based on the totality of the clinical data, including data from the pivotal trial, the long-term data from the arimoclomol open label extension study, and data from our expanded access programs (EAP: NCT04316637), we remain confident in the clinical benefit offered by arimoclomol as a treatment for NPC, and are optimistic about its continued path to approval.”

The GeMDAC, which consists of experts in the fields of medical genetics, inborn errors of metabolism, epidemiology and other related specialties, discussed the benefits and risks of arimoclomol, including the data recently presented at the 45^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders (SIMD), and reviewed comments received from independent experts, NPC patients, and patient advocacy group representatives. The committee’s recommendation will be considered by the FDA as it completes its independent review of the arimoclomol NDA; however, the feedback from the GeMDAC is not binding upon the Agency. The arimoclomol NDA has been assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of September 21, 2024.

About Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC):
Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is an ultra-rare, progressive, and neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder characterized by an inability of the body to transport cholesterol and other lipids within the cell, leading to an accumulation of these substances in various tissue areas, including brain tissue. The disease is caused by mutations in the NPC1 or NPC2 genes, which are responsible for making lysosomal proteins. Both children and adults can be affected by NPC with varying clinical presentations. Those living with NPC lose independence due to physical and cognitive limitations, with key neurological impairments presenting in speech, cognition, swallowing, ambulation, and fine motor skills. Disease progression is irreversible and can be fatal within months or take years to be diagnosed and advance in severity.