Regeneron Receives Complete Response Letter From FDA for ARCALYST® (rilonacept) sBLA for the Prevention of Gout Flares in Patients Initiating Uric Acid-lowering Therapies

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Complete Response Letter for the supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for ARCALYST^® (rilonacept) Injection for Subcutaneous Use for the prevention of gout flares in patients initiating uric acid-lowering therapy.

The Complete Response Letter states that the FDA cannot approve the application in its current form. The agency has requested additional clinical data, as well as additional Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) information related to a proposed new dosage form.  The FDA's action does not impact the approved indication of ARCALYST for the treatment of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), including Familial Cold Auto-inflammatory Syndrome (FCAS) and Muckle-Wells Syndrome (MWS) in adults and children 12 and older. 

"Regeneron is reviewing the Complete Response Letter and will determine appropriate next steps," said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., President of Regeneron Laboratories. "We remain committed to continuing to make ARCALYST available to the community of patients with CAPS including our comprehensive patient and caregiver educational and reimbursement services programs."

Important information about ARCALYST^® (rilonacept) Injection

ARCALYST is currently indicated in the U.S. for the treatment of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), including Familial Cold Auto-inflammatory Syndrome (FCAS) and Muckle-Wells Syndrome (MWS) in adults and children 12 and older.  Rilonacept is also approved, but not marketed, in the E.U. for the same patient population. IL-1 blockade may interfere with immune response to infections.  Serious, life-threatening infections have been reported in patients taking rilonacept.  Rilonacept should be discontinued if a patient develops a serious infection.  Taking rilonacept with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors is not recommended because this may increase the risk of serious infections.  Treatment with rilonacept should not be initiated in patients with active or chronic infections.  Patients should not receive a live vaccine while taking rilonacept.  It is recommended that patients receive all recommended vaccinations prior to initiation of treatment with rilonacept.  Patients should be monitored for changes in their lipid profiles and provided with medical treatment if warranted.  Hypersensitivity reactions associated with rilonacept administration have been rare.  Please see the full Prescribing Information for ARCALYST^® (rilonacept), available online at www.regeneron.com/ARCALYST-fpi.pdf.

About Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Regeneron is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company that discovers, invents, develops, manufactures, and commercializes medicines for the treatment of serious medical conditions.  Regeneron markets two products in the United States, EYLEA^® (aflibercept) Injection and ARCALYST^® (rilonacept) Injection for Subcutaneous Use.  Regeneron has filed regulatory applications with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a second indication for EYLEA and for the product candidate ZALTRAP^® (aflibercept) Injection for Intravenous Infusion.  Phase 3 studies are in progress with EYLEA in two additional indications and with product candidates sarilumab and REGN727.  Regeneron has active research and development programs in many disease areas, including ophthalmology, inflammation, cancer, and hypercholesterolemia.  Additional information and recent news releases are available on the Regeneron web site at www.regeneron.com.

Regeneron Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties relating to future events and the future performance of Regeneron, and actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements.  These statements concern, and these risks and uncertainties include, among others, the nature, timing, and possible success and therapeutic applications of Regeneron's products, product candidates and research and clinical programs now underway or planned, including without limitation ARCALYST, unforeseen safety issues resulting from the administration of products and product candidates in patients, the likelihood and timing of possible regulatory approval and commercial launch of Regeneron's late-stage product candidates, determinations by regulatory and administrative governmental authorities which may delay or restrict Regeneron's ability to continue to develop or commercialize Regeneron's products and drug candidates, competing drugs that may be superior to Regeneron's products and drug candidates, uncertainty of market acceptance of Regeneron's products and drug candidates, unanticipated expenses,  the costs of developing, producing, and selling products, the potential for any license or collaboration agreement, including Regeneron's agreements with Sanofi and Bayer HealthCare, to be canceled or terminated without any product success, and risks associated with third party intellectual property and pending or future litigation relating thereto.  A more complete description of these and other material risks can be found in Regeneron's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012.  Regeneron does not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless required by law.

SOURCE Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.