Elexacaftor/Ivacaftor/Tezacaftor: First Approval

Drugs. 2019 Dec;79(18):2001-2007. doi: 10.1007/s40265-019-01233-7.

Abstract

A fixed-dose combination tablet of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) corrector tezacaftor and the CFTR potentiator ivacaftor with the next-generation CFTR corrector elexacaftor (hereafter referred to as elexacaftor/ivacaftor/tezacaftor) [Trikafta™] has been developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. to treat patients with the most common cystic fibrosis mutation (F508del). Its use has been associated with statistically significant and/or clinically meaningful improvements in lung function and respiratory-related quality of life compared with comparator regimens (placebo or ivacaftor/tezacaftor) in multinational phase II and III studies, and in October 2019 elexacaftor/ivacaftor/tezacaftor was approved by the US FDA for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in patients aged ≥ 12 years who have ≥ 1 F508del mutation in the CFTR gene. A regulatory assessment for elexacaftor/ivacaftor/tezacaftor as a treatment for cystic fibrosis is underway in the EU. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of elexacaftor/ivacaftor/tezacaftor leading to this first approval for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in patients aged ≥ 12 years who have ≥ 1 F508del mutation in the CFTR gene.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aminophenols / pharmacology*
  • Benzodioxoles / pharmacology*
  • Chloride Channel Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Cystic Fibrosis / drug therapy*
  • Cystic Fibrosis / genetics
  • Cystic Fibrosis / metabolism
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / agonists*
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / genetics
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / metabolism
  • Drug Approval*
  • Humans
  • Indoles / pharmacology*
  • Mutation
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology*
  • Pyridines / pharmacology*
  • Pyrrolidines / pharmacology*
  • Quinolones / pharmacology*
  • United States
  • United States Food and Drug Administration

Substances

  • Aminophenols
  • Benzodioxoles
  • CFTR protein, human
  • Chloride Channel Agonists
  • Indoles
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyridines
  • Pyrrolidines
  • Quinolones
  • tezacaftor
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator
  • ivacaftor
  • elexacaftor