Pharming announces marketing authorization in the U.K. for Joenja® (leniolisib)

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Pharming Group N.V.
Pharming Group N.V.

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Indicated for adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) syndrome (APDS)

Leiden, the Netherlands, September 26, 2024: Pharming Group N.V. (“Pharming” or “the Company”) (EURONEXT Amsterdam: PHARM/Nasdaq: PHAR) announces that the United Kingdom (U.K.) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has granted marketing authorization for Joenja® (leniolisib) for the treatment of activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) syndrome (APDS) in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older.

Leniolisib, an oral, selective PI3Kδ inhibitor, is the first treatment approved in the U.K. specifically for APDS, a rare and progressive primary immunodeficiency. Leniolisib is currently under evaluation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) regarding reimbursement within the National Health Service (NHS) in England.

Sijmen de Vries, Chief Executive Officer of Pharming, commented:
“The MHRA approval of Joenja®, the first treatment option specifically indicated for APDS, is an important milestone for people in the U.K. living with this debilitating disease. To date, management of APDS has relied on the treatment of the diverse symptoms associated with APDS or for some patients, the need to undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We are therefore delighted that this product is now approved in the U.K. Today also marks Pharming’s third country approval for APDS, bringing us closer to our goal of becoming a leading global rare disease company dedicated to patient communities with unmet medical needs.”

The MHRA evaluated the Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for leniolisib through the International Recognition Procedure (IRP) pathway on the basis of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval received in March 2023.

Important Safety Information
The full Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC/SmPC) for Joenja® (leniolisib) will be available on the MHRA website at https://products.mhra.gov.uk/.

About Activated Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase δ Syndrome (APDS) 
APDS is a rare primary immunodeficiency that was first characterized in 2013. APDS is caused by variants in either one of two identified genes known as PIK3CD or PIK3R1, which are vital to the development and function of immune cells in the body. Variants of these genes lead to hyperactivity of the PI3Kδ (phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta) pathway, which causes immune cells to fail to mature and function properly, leading to immunodeficiency and dysregulation1,2,3 APDS is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including severe, recurrent sinopulmonary infections, lymphoproliferation, autoimmunity, and enteropathy.4,5 Because these symptoms can be associated with a variety of conditions, including other primary immunodeficiencies, it has been reported that people with APDS are frequently misdiagnosed and suffer a median 7-year diagnostic delay.6 As APDS is a progressive disease, this delay may lead to an accumulation of damage over time, including permanent lung damage and lymphoma.4-7 A definitive diagnosis can be made through genetic testing. APDS affects approximately 1 to 2 people per million worldwide.