NEW YORK, NY — Applied Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of novel drug candidates against validated molecular targets in indications of high unmet medical need, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the filing of the New Drug Application (NDA) for govorestat (AT-007) for the treatment of Classic Galactosemia. The NDA was granted Priority Review status, and the FDA assigned a Prescription Drug User Free Act (PDUFA) target action date of August 28, 2024. The FDA also noted that it is planning to hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss the application. Govorestat was previously granted Pediatric Rare Disease designation, and will qualify for a Priority Review Voucher (PRV) upon approval.
“The FDA’s acceptance of the NDA for govorestat for the treatment of Galactosemia represents a critical milestone for Applied Therapeutics and more importantly, for patients with Galactosemia and their families. The Agency’s decision to grant Priority Review for this NDA underscores the urgent unmet medical need as there are currently no treatment options for this devastating disease,” said Shoshana Shendelman, PhD, Founder and CEO of Applied Therapeutics. “We want to thank the patients, families, collaborators and physicians involved in reaching this achievement. We look forward to continuing to work with the FDA throughout the review process, as we hope to bring govorestat to patients as quickly as possible.”
“We are excited to see that the FDA has accepted the govorestat NDA for priority review,” said Nicole Casale, President of the Galactosemia Foundation. “The Galactosemia community is in urgent need of a safe and effective treatment, and the potential approval of govorestat provides hope for many families. Acceptance of the govorestat NDA brings us one step closer to availability of a first-ever treatment.”
Govorestat is an investigational, novel Aldose Reductase Inhibitor (ARI) being developed for the treatment of several rare diseases. It is a potent and selective compound, which crosses the blood brain barrier into the Central Nervous System (CNS). The NDA filing of govorestat is supported by rapid and sustained reduction in galactitol, which resulted in a meaningful benefit on clinical outcomes across pediatric patients, alongside a favorable safety profile. The submission package included clinical outcomes data from the Phase 3 registrational ACTION-Galactosemia Kids study in children aged 2-17 with Galactosemia, the Phase 1/2 ACTION-Galactosemia study in adult patients with Galactosemia, and preclinical data.
If approved, govorestat would be the first medication indicated for the treatment of Galactosemia and would be Applied Therapeutics’ first commercial product. The FDA grants Priority Review to applications for potential medicines that, if approved, may offer significant improvements in the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of a serious condition. Govorestat for the treatment of Galactosemia has received Orphan Medicinal Product Designation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Orphan Drug Designation, Pediatric Rare Disease Designation and Fast Track Designation from the FDA. The Company has also submitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for govorestat for the treatment of Classic Galactosemia to the EMA, which was validated in December 2023 and is under review by the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP). The Company expects a decision by the EMA in the fourth quarter of 2024.
About Galactosemia
Galactosemia is a rare genetic metabolic disease resulting in an inability to metabolize the simple sugar galactose. Galactose is found in foods, but is also produced endogenously by the body. When not metabolized properly, galactose is converted to the toxic metabolite, galactitol, which causes neurological complications, including deficiencies in speech, cognition, behavior, and motor skills, and also results in juvenile cataracts and ovarian insufficiency (in women). There are approximately 3,000 patients with Galactosemia in the US and 80 new births per year, and approximately 4,000 patients with Galactosemia in the EU and 120 new births per year. Newborn screening for Galactosemia is mandatory in the US and most EU countries, leading to rapid identification of affected patients.
About Govorestat (AT-007)
Govorestat is a central nervous system (CNS) penetrant Aldose Reductase Inhibitor (ARI) in development for the treatment of several rare neurological diseases, including Galactosemia, SORD Deficiency, and PMM2-CDG.
In a study in children with Galactosemia aged 2-17, treatment with govorestat demonstrated clinical benefit on activities of daily living, behavioral symptoms, cognition, fine motor skills and tremor. Govorestat also significantly reduced plasma galactitol levels in both adults and children with Galactosemia. Galactitol is a toxic metabolite responsible for tissue damage and long-term complications in Galactosemia.
Govorestat is also being studied in the ongoing Phase 3 INSPIRE trial, which is evaluating the effect of AT-007 vs. placebo in patients with SORD Deficiency on sorbitol reduction as well as clinical outcomes in approximately 50 patients aged 16-55 in the U.S. and Europe. In an interim analysis at 12 months, govorestat achieved statistical significance on the prespecified primary endpoint of correlation of sorbitol with the clinical outcome composite and demonstrated sustained, statistically significant reduction in sorbitol level vs. placebo. Govorestat also demonstrated highly statistically significant effects on the CMT Health Index (CMT-HI) patient reported outcome measure, with benefit of govorestat on categories of lower limb function, mobility, fatigue, pain, sensory function, and upper limb function.
Govorestat has received Orphan Medicinal Product Designation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for both Galactosemia and SORD Deficiency. Govorestat has also received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Galactosemia, PMM2-CDG, and SORD Deficiency; Pediatric Rare Disease designation for Galactosemia and PMM2-CDG; and Fast Track designation for Galactosemia.
About Applied Therapeutics
Applied Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of novel drug candidates against validated molecular targets in indications of high unmet medical need. The Company’s lead drug candidate, govorestat, is a novel central nervous system penetrant Aldose Reductase Inhibitor (ARI) for the treatment of CNS rare metabolic diseases, including Galactosemia, SORD Deficiency, and PMM2-CDG. The Company is also developing AT-001, a novel potent ARI, for the treatment of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy, or DbCM, a fatal fibrosis of the heart. The preclinical pipeline also includes AT-003, an ARI designed to cross through the back of the eye when dosed orally, for the treatment of Diabetic retinopathy.
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