On September 23, 2020 Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: LGND) reported that recent new contracting with partners and investments in manufacturing capacity have contributed to its Captisol business operating at the highest levels in the history of the technology and position Captisol for major growth (Press release, Ligand, SEP 23, 2020, View Source [SID1234565518]). Significant new clinical and regulatory developments with Evomela and Kyprolis, among other drugs, are reinforcing the role the proprietary technology serves in enabling important medicines. During 2020, Ligand has facilitated the successful installation of equipment to allow production at significantly higher levels to support anticipated demand. In addition to manufacturing at partner Hovione’s facilities in Ireland and Portugal, Ligand has now added final step processing capacity for Captisol in both the United States and England. Ligand also introduces guidance for 2021 Captisol material sales of approximately $200 million.
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"The global medical need for Captisol-enabled drugs has never been higher," said John Higgins, Chief Executive Officer of Ligand. "Our recently expanded operating team has successfully positioned our Captisol technology for the substantial growth we now expect in 2021 and beyond. There is significant ongoing investment by our partners for over 30 Captisol-enabled medicines in clinical development. We have entered into more contracts this year than any other year and are proud to be working closely with Gilead under our recently extended 10-year supply contract. We continue to be pleased with the momentum relating to Captisol, as it is a critical component in multiple life-saving medicines."
Recent Captisol technology business highlights include the following:
To date in 2020 Ligand has entered into more than 120 Captisol research use agreements and eight clinical and/or commercial license agreements. This is the highest number of use agreements to be signed in a single year since the invention of Captisol.
Captisol is utilized in the formulation of Gilead Sciences’ Veklury (remdesivir), which has received emergency use authorizations or regulatory approvals for the treatment of moderate or severe COVID-19 in over 50 countries and is included in more than 30 ongoing clinical trials. Ligand is supplying Captisol to Gilead and the company’s voluntary licensing partners who are supplying generic remdesivir to 127 low- and middle-income countries. Ligand expects Captisol orders into 2021 and beyond to Gilead and its partners to help countries around the world manage the pandemic.
Ligand recently extended its Captisol supply agreement with Gilead until September 2030. The contract defines terms and conditions for forecasting, supply, order commitments and price.
Ligand’s manufacturing partner Hovione announced today that to meet Captisol demand associated with Veklury, Hovione will soon be producing more Captisol per month than it usually produces per year. "This spike in demand has required unique mobilization efforts across the Hovione network to secure additional raw material supply, execute major capital expenditure projects at oursites, maximize operational efficiency, hire additional talent and identify external partners to expand our overall capacity. The pharmaceutical supply chain is working together in an unprecedented fashion to treat patients and save lives. Hovione is privileged to be part of this truly global rapid response," said Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Chief Operating Officer of Hovione.
Recent clinical data have been announced including publication of a study from the Medical College of Wisconsin that compared safety parameters for Captisol-enabled Evomela versus Alkeran in patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation for the treatment of multiple myeloma. The study of 294 patients demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in 30-day re-hospitalization rates for patients treated with Evomela (6.8% for Evomela vs. 17.9% for Alkeran, p=0.04)a with a similar safety profile to Alkeran. Evomela is marketed by Acrotech Biopharma in the U.S. and by CASI Pharmaceuticals in China.
Partner Marinus was recently awarded a BARDA contract by the U.S. government to develop Captisol-enabled IV ganaxolone for the treatment of refractory status epilepticus caused by nerve agent exposure.
Ligand’s pivotal trial for Captisol-enabled Iohexol (CE-Iohexol) is planned to initiate in December 2020. CE-Iohexol is an iodine-based contrast agent for hospital-based imaging procedures. The market for iodinated contrast agents is substantial with approximately 20 million imaging procedures per year in the U.S., representing an estimated $1.5 billion in sales. The objective of the clinical trial will be to demonstrate a reduction in the incidence of contrast-induced acute kidney injury and an equivalent image quality compared to GE’s Omnipaque. The trial is expected to enroll approximately 500 patients and results are expected within two years.
Ligand’s forecast for 2021 Captisol material sales of approximately $200 million is based on information it has on anticipated demand from its major partners given growth in existing and new markets, clinical requirements for Captisol-enabled development programs and binding orders from certain commercial or pre-commercial partners. The 2021 Captisol outlook compares with the Company’s guidance for 2020 Captisol material sales of approximately $90 million.
About Captisol
Captisol is a patent-protected, chemically modified cyclodextrin with a structure designed to optimize the solubility and stability of drugs. Captisol was invented and initially developed by scientists in the laboratories of Dr. Valentino Stella, University Distinguished Professor at the University of Kansas’ Higuchi Biosciences Center for specific use in drug development and formulation. This unique technology has enabled several FDA-approved products, including Gilead’s VEKLURY, Amgen’s KYPROLIS, Baxter International’s NEXTERONE, Acrotech Biopharma L.L.C.’s and CASI Pharmaceuticals’ EVOMELA, Melinta Therapeutics’ BAXDELA and Sage Therapeutics’ ZULRESSO. There are many Captisol-enabled products currently in various stages of development. Ligand maintains a broad global patent portfolio for Captisol with more than 400 issued patents worldwide relating to the technology (including 37 in the U.S.) and with the latest expiration date in 2033. Other patent applications covering methods of making Captisol, if issued, extend to 2040.