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Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Granteded Five-Year Extension for FOLOTYN® Patent

08-Oct-2012 | Source : | Visits : 10076
HENDERSON, Nev - Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company with fully integrated commercial and drug development operations with a primary focus in hematology and oncology, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has extended by five years the US Patent No. 6,028,071, which covers FOLOTYN®(pralatrexate injection). A press release by the Office stated that the extension was granted through the Hatch-Waxman Act and postpones the original July 16, 2017 expiration date to July 16, 2022. 

"The extension of the FOLOTYN patent provides Spectrum with an additional five years of exclusive commercial rights to the product. We believe the drug is an important treatment option in relapsed or refractory PTCL and look forward to reaching a greater physician and patient base in the upcoming year," stated Rajesh C. Shrotriya, M.D., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "In addition, the patent extension confirms substantial expected revenue growth for the Company in the near- and long-term." 

FOLOTYN, a folate analogue metabolic inhibitor, was discovered by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, SRI International and Southern Research Institute and developed by Allos Therapeutics. In September 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for FOLOTYN for use as a single agent for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL. This indication is based on overall response rate. Clinical benefit such as improvement in progression-free survival or overall survival has not been demonstrated. FOLOTYN has been available to patients in the US since October 2009. An updated analysis of data from PROPEL, the pivotal study of FOLOTYN in patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL, was published in the March 20, 2011 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. FOLOTYN has patent protection through July 2022. Please see full Prescribing Information for FOLOTYN at www.FOLOTYN.com. 

FOLOTYN may suppress bone marrow function, manifested by thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and anemia. Monitor blood counts and omit or modify dose for hematologic toxicities.
Mucositis may occur. If greater-than or equal to Grade 2 mucositis is observed, omit or modify dose. Patients should be instructed to take folic acid and receive vitamin B12 to potentially reduce treatment-related hematological toxicity and mucositis. 

Fatal dermatologic reactions may occur. Dermatologic reactions may be progressive and increase in severity with further treatment. Patients with dermatologic reactions should be monitored closely, and if severe, FOLOTYN should be withheld or discontinued. Tumor lysis syndrome may occur. Monitor patients and treat if needed. 

FOLOTYN can cause fetal harm. Women should avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with FOLOTYN and pregnant women should be informed of the potential harm to the fetus.
Use caution and monitor patients when administering FOLOTYN to patients with moderate to severe renal function impairment. 

Elevated liver function test abnormalities may occur and require monitoring. If liver function test abnormalities are greater-than or equal to Grade 3, omit or modify dose. 

The most common adverse reactions were mucositis (70%), thrombocytopenia (41%), nausea (40%), and fatigue (36%). The most common serious adverse events are pyrexia, mucositis, sepsis, febrile neutropenia, dehydration, dyspnea, and thrombocytopenia. 

Nursing mothers should be advised to discontinue nursing or the drug, taking into consideration the importance of the drug to the mother. 

Co-administration of drugs subject to renal clearance (e.g., probenecid, NSAIDs, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) may result in delayed renal clearance.
Please see FOLOTYN® Full Prescribing Information at www.FOLOTYN.com.
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