Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved Ogluo (glucagon) injection for the treatment of severe hypoglycaemia in adults, adolescents, and children aged 2 years and over with diabetes mellitus. The marketing authorisation is valid in all 27 countries of the European Union, plus Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein. As the EC decision was received after the end of the Brexit transition period, Xeris will complete a further administrative step in order to obtain a license in Great Britain. No re-examination of clinical data by the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is expected.
“This EU approval for Ogluo is a major milestone for Xeris and a significant advancement in the treatment of severe hypoglycaemia for the diabetes community in Europe. Hypoglycaemia is the #1 side effect of insulin, and severe hypoglycaemia is the most urgent emergency any person with diabetes could face. Ogluo, the first pre-mixed auto-injector for severe hypoglycaemia, can help offset the inherent risk associated with insulin,” said Paul R. Edick, chairman and chief executive officer of Xeris Pharmaceuticals. “We are preparing to launch Ogluo later this year, while simultaneously seeking a commercialization partner in which to broaden the availability of Ogluo to more European countries.”
The EC approval was supported by data from a phase 3, multi-centre, randomized controlled, non-inferiority study. The study was conducted among 132 adults with type 1 diabetes in Europe and North America to evaluate the liquid stable glucagon auto-injector as a treatment for severe hypoglycaemic events compared with Novo Nordisk’s GlucaGen HypoKit. The results demonstrated comparable efficacy between the two groups in achieving a plasma glucose of greater than 3.89 mmol/L (>70 mg/dL) or a relative increase of 1.11 mmol/L (=20 mg/dL) in plasma glucose concentration within 30 minutes of administration. The study also found that time to resolution of hypoglycaemia symptoms as well as time to resolution of the overall feeling of hypoglycaemia were comparable. No safety or tolerability concerns were noted. In this study, the most common adverse reactions were nausea and vomiting.
“Hypoglycaemia is a neglected complication of glucose-lowering therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus. Attempts made at intensive glycaemic control invariably increases the risk of hypoglycaemia. In patients experiencing severe hypoglycaemia an increase in deaths up to six-fold has been associated to diabetes in comparison to those not experiencing severe hypoglycaemia. Patients with diabetes should be evaluated for the risk of clinically important hypoglycaemia and have access to ready-to-use glucagon,” said Thomas Pieber, MD, Professor of Medicine, Chair, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
Gvoke PFS and Gvoke HypoPen (glucagon injection), the first prescription, ready-to-use, pre-mixed, pre-measured glucagon injection, were approved by the FDA in September 2019 for use in the United States. Gvoke is indicated for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia in pediatric and adult patients with diabetes ages 2 years and above. Ogluo received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) in December 2020 and the European Commission (EC) granted the marketing authorisation on 11 February 2021. Ogluo is indicated for the treatment of severe hypoglycaemia in adults, adolescents, and children aged 2 years and over with diabetes mellitus.
Glucagon is a metabolic hormone secreted by the pancreas that raises blood glucose levels by causing the liver to rapidly convert glycogen (the stored form of glucose) into glucose, which is then released into the bloodstream. Glucagon and insulin are two critical hormones in a glycemic control system that keep blood glucose at the right level in healthy individuals. In people with diabetes who are dependent on insulin, this control system is disrupted, and insulin must be injected to avoid high levels of blood glucose (hyperglycemia). The opposite effect, or low blood glucose (hypoglycemia), is also prevalent in this population due to dysregulated glucagon secretion. Severe hypoglycemia is a serious condition and can lead to seizures, coma, potential brain injury and, if untreated, death.
Glucagon is the standard of care for treating severe hypoglycemia. According to the American Diabetes Association, glucagon should be prescribed for all individuals at increased risk of clinically significant hypoglycemia, defined as blood glucose <54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L). Leveraging XeriSol, one of Xeris’ two proprietary formulation technology platforms, Xeris has the potential to provide the first ready-to-use, room-temperature stable liquid glucagon for use by people with diabetes and other conditions to prevent or manage various forms of hypoglycemia and improve glucose control.
Hypoglycemic events of any severity are a daily concern for people with diabetes. Mild or moderate hypoglycemia can occur multiple times a month. Severe hypoglycemia is characterized by severe cognitive impairment, requiring external assistance for recovery, and can be extremely frightening for patients and caregivers. Severe hypoglycemia can result in cardiovascular disease, seizure, coma, and, if left untreated, death. These severe hypoglycemic events can occur multiple times a year. Such events require emergency assistance from another person or caregiver such as a family member, friend, or co-worker.
Xeris is a specialty pharmaceutical company delivering innovative solutions to simplify the experience of administering important therapies that people rely on every day around the world.
