FARXIGA Met Primary Endpoint in Landmark Phase III DAPA-HF Trial for the Treatment of Patients With Heart Failure

The safety profile of FARXIGA in the DAPA-HF trial was consistent with the well-established safety profile of the medicine.

Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, said: “With the DAPA-HF trial, FARXIGA becomes the first in its class to demonstrate efficacy and safety data for the treatment of patients with heart failure, with and without type 2 diabetes, on top of standard of care. Today, half of heart failure patients will die within five years of diagnosis and it remains one of the leading causes of hospitalization. We look forward to discussing the results of DAPA-HF with health authorities as soon as possible.” FARXIGA is not indicated to reduce the risk of heart failure or CV death.

John McMurray, MD, University of Glasgow, Cardiovascular Research Centre, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences said: “The benefits of dapagliflozin in DAPA-HF are very impressive, with a substantial reduction in the primary composite outcome of cardiovascular death or hospital admission. We hope these exciting new findings will ultimately help reduce the terrible burden of disease caused by heart failure and help improve outcomes for our patients.”

DAPA-HF is the first heart failure outcomes trial with an SGLT2 inhibitor investigating the treatment of heart failure in adults with HFrEF on top of standard of care (which includes medicines such as angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers [ARB], beta blockers, mineralocorticoid-receptor antagonists [MRAs] and neprilysin inhibitors), in patients with and without type 2 diabetes.

The full DAPA-HF trial results will be submitted for presentation at a forthcoming medical meeting.

FARXIGA is also being studied in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in the DELIVER and DETERMINE (HFrEF and HFpEF) trials.

Indication and Limitations of Use for FARXIGA^® (dapagliflozin) tablets

FARXIGA is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

FARXIGA is not recommended for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus or for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Important Safety Information for FARXIGA^® (dapagliflozin) tablets

Contraindications

• Prior serious hypersensitivity reaction to FARXIGA
• Severe renal impairment (eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m²), end-stage renal disease, or patients on dialysis

Warnings and Precautions

• Hypotension: FARXIGA causes intravascular volume contraction, and symptomatic hypotension can occur. Assess and correct volume status before initiating FARXIGA in patients with impaired renal function, elderly patients, or patients on loop diuretics. Monitor for hypotension
• Ketoacidosis has been reported in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes receiving FARXIGA. Some cases were fatal. Assess patients who present with signs and symptoms of metabolic acidosis for ketoacidosis, regardless of blood glucose level. If suspected, discontinue FARXIGA, evaluate and treat promptly. Before initiating FARXIGA, consider risk factors for ketoacidosis. Patients on FARXIGA may require monitoring and temporary discontinuation in situations known to predispose to ketoacidosis
• Acute Kidney Injury and Impairment in Renal Function: FARXIGA causes intravascular volume contraction and renal impairment, with reports of acute kidney injury requiring hospitalization and dialysis. Consider temporarily discontinuing in settings of reduced oral intake or fluid losses. If acute kidney injury occurs, discontinue and promptly treat.FARXIGA increases serum creatinine and decreases eGFR. Elderly patients and patients with impaired renal function may be more susceptible to these changes. Before initiating FARXIGA, evaluate renal function and monitor periodically.FARXIGA is not recommended when the eGFR is <45 mL/min/1.73 m²
• Urosepsis and Pyelonephritis: SGLT2 inhibitors increase the risk for urinary tract infections [UTIs] and serious UTIs have been reported with FARXIGA. Evaluate for signs and symptoms of UTIs and treat promptly
• Hypoglycemia: FARXIGA can increase the risk of hypoglycemia when coadministered with insulin and insulin secretagogues. Consider lowering the dose of these agents when coadministered with FARXIGA
• Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Perineum (Fournier’s Gangrene): Rare but serious, life-threatening cases have been reported in patients receiving SGLT2 inhibitors including FARXIGA. Cases have been reported in females and males. Serious outcomes have included hospitalization, surgeries, and death. Assess patients presenting with pain or tenderness, erythema, swelling in the genital or perineal area, along with fever or malaise. If suspected, institute prompt treatment and discontinue FARXIGA.
• Genital Mycotic Infections: FARXIGA increases the risk of genital mycotic infections, particularly in patients with prior genital mycotic infections. Monitor and treat appropriately
• Increases in Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) occur with FARXIGA. Monitor LDL-C and treat per standard of care
• Bladder cancer: An imbalance in bladder cancers was observed in clinical trials. There were too few cases to determine whether the emergence of these events is related to FARXIGA, and insufficient data to determine whether FARXIGA has an effect on pre-existing bladder tumors. FARXIGA should not be used in patients with active bladder cancer. Use with caution in patients with a history of bladder cancer
• Macrovascular Outcomes: There have been no clinical studies establishing conclusive evidence of macrovascular risk reduction with FARXIGA

Adverse Reactions

In a pool of 12 placebo-controlled studies, the most common adverse reactions (≥5%) associated with FARXIGA 5 mg, 10 mg, and placebo respectively were female genital mycotic infections (8.4% vs 6.9% vs 1.5%), nasopharyngitis (6.6% vs 6.3% vs 6.2%), and urinary tract infections (5.7% vs 4.3% vs 3.7%).

Use in Specific Populations

• Pregnancy: Advise females of potential risk to a fetus especially during the second and third trimesters.
• Lactation: FARXIGA is not recommended when breastfeeding.

Please see accompanying US Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for FARXIGA.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About DAPA-HF

DAPA-HF (Dapagliflozin And Prevention of Adverse-outcomes in Heart Failure) is the first heart failure trial with an SGLT2 inhibitor and morbidity and mortality outcomes investigating the treatment of heart failure on top of standard of care, in a representative patient population (NYHA II to IV) with and without type 2 diabetes. DAPA-HF is an international, multi-centre, parallel group, randomised, double-blind trial in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (LVEF ≤ 40%), with and without type 2 diabetes, designed to evaluate the effect of FARXIGA 10mg, compared with placebo, given once daily in addition to standard of care. The primary composite outcome was time to a worsening heart failure event (hospitalisation or equivalent event; i.e. an urgent heart failure visit), or cardiovascular death.

About heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a life-threatening disease in which the heart cannot pump enough blood around the body.¹ It affects approximately 64 million people worldwide (half of which have a reduced ejection fraction) and is a chronic and degenerative disease where half of patients will die within five years of diagnosis.^2,3,4 HF remains as ‘malignant’ as some of the most common cancers in both men (prostate and bladder cancers) and women (breast cancers).⁵ It is the leading cause of hospitalisation for those over the age of 65 and represents a significant clinical and economic burden.⁶

About the DapaCare Clinical Programme

AstraZeneca is taking a holistic, patient-centric approach to disease management by addressing the underlying morbidity, mortality and organ damage associated with cardiovascular (CV), metabolic and renal diseases. Due to the interconnectivity of these diseases, AstraZeneca has developed the DapaCare clinical programme to explore the CV and renal profile of FARXIGA in people with and without type 2 diabetes. The clinical programme will enrol nearly 30,000 patients in randomised clinical trials and is supported by a multinational real-world evidence study. DapaCare will generate data across a spectrum of people with established CV disease, CV risk factors and varying stages of renal disease, both with and without type 2 diabetes, providing healthcare providers with evidence needed to improve patient outcomes.

FARXIGA is also being developed for patients with heart failure in the DELIVER (HFpEF) and DETERMINE (HFrEF and HFpEF) trials, in addition to chronic kidney disease in the DAPA-CKD trial. DapaCare underscores our commitment to following the science by pursuing a holistic patient approach to address the multiple risk factors associated with CV, renal and metabolic diseases. FARXIGA is not indicated to reduce the risk of heart failure, CV death or kidney disease.

About AstraZeneca in heart failure

AstraZeneca is committed to advancing science and clinical outcomes with FARXIGA in the treatment of people with HF. The company’s extensive clinical programme includes several global Phase III trials (DAPA-HF, DELIVER and DETERMINE) focusing on distinct and clinically important areas of HF research in order to provide comprehensive clinical evidence around the disease and address areas of high unmet need in HF. AstraZeneca is also investing its efforts in compelling new science through early-stage research of several potential medicines to address HF.

About AstraZeneca in CVRM

Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism (CVRM) together forms one of AstraZeneca’s three therapy areas and is a key growth driver for the Company. By following the science to understand more clearly the underlying links between the heart, kidneys and pancreas, AstraZeneca is investing in a portfolio of medicines to protect organs and improve outcomes by slowing disease progression, reducing risks and tackling co-morbidities. The Company’s ambition is to modify or halt the natural course of CVRM diseases and potentially regenerate organs and restore function, by continuing to deliver transformative science that improves treatment practices and cardiovascular health for millions of patients worldwide.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas – Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism and Respiratory. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com and follow us on Twitter @AstraZenecaUS.