Reducing
development & reimbursement risk,
whilst achieving
pre-approval sales.
Paul Kemp, CEO
I spoke recently with Paul Kemp, CEO of cellular therapy company
Intercytex, regarding approaches to reducing time, cost and risk in product
development and reimbursement. Including their “Progressive Translation”
approach and forthcoming Cell2therapyTM “Contract Translation Service”.
Development &
pre-approval sales
Paul began by outlining two long standing routes to getting product to
the patient (in UK) before a formal MHRA marketing license:
·
“Specials” – this applies to any type of medicinal product but has
to be a bone fide request from a clinician and can only be used if a licensed
alternative is not available, the product can be exported if it is legal to
supply unlicensed products to patients in the receiving country.
·
“Hospital Exemption” – for ATMP (i.e. Regen Med & gene therapy) only,
and applies even if a licensed alternative is available, provided that the physician
determines this is better. But is hospital use only, and cannot be
routine, nor exported. .
He then mentioned the work of Brian Salter, who believes that the
development of Stem Cell therapeutic products is predominantly;
·
Science led in The West; so that patients/doctors etc. have to wait
until a company delivers a licensed therapy. It’s a very linear
approach, risky and time consuming.
·
Demand led in The East; with an individual patient focus & based upon
clinical experience and medical innovation, and is a circular (iterative)
processes. (C.f. transplantation in the UK). Hence it’s quicker and less risky. However, this approach cannot achieve broad
application until a marketing license is obtained.
Intercytex have developed a "Progressive
Translation” approach, which combines the best of both worlds. This arose
during their development of their fibroblast preparation based wrinkle
therapy. They followed the classic linear approach and completed Phase
two trials. Unfortunately the Fibroblast prep was not sufficiently
efficacious using the trial’s protocol to make it economically viable.
Part of problem was that in phase 2b one uses “Dose ranging” to determine
optimal doses ready for phase 3. However, as Paul explained, for cells (cell
based products) this is not that relevant – more important is the overall
protocol such as number of doses over what time i.e. “Protocol ranging” - and
phase 2 approvals don’t allow this!
They were in the classic trap of being locked into a product that does
not work (well enough), and nowhere to go – so abandon? Not in their case:
they realised some of their trial physicians were using Fibroblast preps under the
Specials procedure to test out as a therapy for Epidermolysis bullosa and scar
contractures. So they pivoted to these applications, and are taking a
“time-out” from phase 2 trials. The
clinicians are treating patients under Specials, with “very promising results”,
and the information gained is helping to develop a better protocol for use in
later trials. What’s more, clinicians are sometimes able to obtain
reimbursement on a “Named Patient” basis. And all of this is within
existing legislation.
The one thing to be particularly careful about, Paul indicated, is that
a company cannot promote a Special product nor make any efficacy claims, so that
care needs to be taken in getting physicians involved. Intercytex are
looking at the optimum way to interact with clinicians with the current
legislative framework
They are establishing Cell2therapyTM a “Contract
Translation Service", in collaboration with UHSM at Wythenshawe in
order to provide this to third parties.
The other approach Intercytex are taking to de-risk development is “to build change into the product from the
start”. The issue is once you’ve defined and agreed your
product with the regulator, you are locked in. So subsequent changes need
a large effort, to effectively go back to the start.
Paul’s approach now, is to discuss with the regulator, “testing the
water”, to define the minimum aspects necessary to achieve the expected
function of the product (effectively an MVP),
thereby providing sufficient leeway for later stage product modifications.
This allows process and even product changes, provided “comparability”
can be determined.
He also mentioned, that once in phase 3, there are the more widely know approaches to expediting registration/sales, such as conditional licenses,
orphan status, breakthrough product designation….”the national competent
authorities around the world have appreciated that the current standard
clinical trial process provides a huge burden to a therapy developer, and are
working to improve the situation without compromising patient safety.”
Reimbursement games
A further benefit of the specials etc. approach (achieving pre-approval sales),
is that “you develop some degree of market pricing”, along with evidence for
cost: benefit, which then aids in reimbursement discussions. It’s also the case
that patients can pay for specials, hospital exemptions etc. themselves,
although co-payment is not possible (in UK). This helps to de-risks
reimbursement negotiations.
“we are learning the reimbursement games”!
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This post is part of an occasional series exploring lessons for risk, time and cost reduction, and the application of Lean Start-up techniques and Evidence based Entrepreneurialism to Lifescience based start-up companies. Ideas explored during The Science of Entrepreneurship event, and practiced at Next Business Generation, Nottingham.
