Novartis receives EU approval for Kesimpta® (ofatumumab), the first and only self-administered, targeted B-cell therapy for adult patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis

The European Commission has approved Kesimpta^® (ofatumumab) for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) in adults with active disease defined by clinical or imaging features. Kesimpta is a targeted, precisely dosed and delivered B-cell therapy that has shown superior efficacy with a similar safety profile compared with teriflunomide, a first-line treatment in MS². Kesimpta is the first B-cell therapy that can be self-administered once-monthly at home via the Sensoready^® autoinjector pen and can be a first-choice treatment option for patients with RMS³.

“With more than 1 million people living with MS – an incurable condition so far – in Europe, it is encouraging to see that research continues to develop more treatments.  We welcome the approval from the European Medicines Agency that gives another treatment option for people living with RMS”, said Pedro Carrascal, President of the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMSP).

“Slowing the worsening of disability is one of the main goals when managing RMS and evidence shows that early initiation of a high-efficacy treatment can improve long-term outcomes. Additionally, as RMS progresses, it can substantially increase overall healthcare costs as a result of increased disability,” said Haseeb Ahmad, Global Head of Value & Access, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. “Kesimpta’s powerful efficacy and favorable safety profile has the potential to become a first-choice treatment to help improve the quality of life of people living with MS, as well as having broader value in potentially reducing medical costs associated with infusion therapies. Kesimpta is a testament to our commitment to reimagine medicine and we remain dedicated to helping to improve the lives of people living with this disease.”

About Kesimpta^® (ofatumumab)
Kesimpta is a targeted, precisely dosed and delivered B-cell therapy that provides the flexibility of self-administration for adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS). It is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) self-administered by a once-monthly injection, delivered subcutaneously^2,3. Initial doses of Kesimpta are at Weeks 0, 1 and 2, with the first injection performed under the guidance of a healthcare professional. As shown in preclinical studies, Kesimpta is thought to work by binding to a distinct epitope on the CD20 molecule inducing potent B-cell lysis and depletion⁵. The selective mechanism of action and subcutaneous administration of Kesimpta allows precise delivery to the lymph nodes, where B-cell depletion in MS is needed, and preclinical studies have shown that it may preserve the B-cells in the spleen⁶. Once-monthly dosing of Kesimpta differs from other anti-CD20 therapies as it allows faster repletion of B-cells, offering more flexibility in MS management⁷. Ofatumumab was originally developed by Genmab and licensed to GlaxoSmithKline. Novartis obtained rights for ofatumumab from GlaxoSmithKline in all indications, including RMS, in December 2015⁸.