National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) honors NULIBRY® (fosdenopterin) for the Treatment of molybdenum cofactor deficiency (MoCD) Type A with 2022 Industry Innovation Award

SOLANA BEACH, Calif., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sentynl Therapeutics, Inc. (Sentynl), a U.S. based biopharmaceutical company focused on bringing innovative therapies to patients living with rare diseases owned by Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. (formerly known as Cadila Healthcare Ltd.), today announced that NULIBRY (fosdenopterin) was honored with a 2022 Industry Innovation Award by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).  The award was given to BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBIO), which developed NULIBRY, at the NORD 2022 Rare Impact Awards virtual event on June 26, 2022.  Sentynl acquired global rights to NULIBRY from BridgeBio earlier this year. 

 The NORD Rare Impact Awards celebrate the individuals, groups, and companies making extraordinary contributions to the lives of rare disease patients and caregivers. NORD is the leading independent advocacy organization committed to the identification, treatment, and cure of rare disorders through programs of education, advocacy, research, and patient services.

"We congratulate BridgeBio for their achievements and are proud to continue serving MoCD Type A patients and their caregivers," said Matt Heck, founder and CEO of Sentynl.

MoCD Type A is an autosomal recessive, inborn error of metabolism caused by mutations in the molybdenum cofactor synthesis 1 gene and characterized by a deficiency in molybdenum cofactor production, leading to a lack of molybdenum-dependent enzyme activity.^1,2  The lack of activity leads to decreased sulfite oxidase activity with buildup of sulfite and secondary metabolites (such as S-sulfocysteine) in the brain, which causes irreversible neurological damage.²

MoCD Type A is an ultra-rare disease. The incidence and prevalence of MoCD Type A in the United States are not known, but the estimated incidence is 1 per 342,000 to 411,000 live births (0.24 and 0.29 per 100,000).³ Based on these estimates, MoCD Type A is likely to be underdiagnosed, with an estimated 22 to 26 missed diagnoses per year in the United States and European Union.

The most common presenting symptoms of MoCD Type A are seizures, feeding difficulties and encephalopathy. Patients with MoCD Type A who survive beyond infancy typically suffer from progressive brain damage, which presents in characteristic patterns on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This damage leads to severe psychomotor impairment and an inability to make coordinated movements or communicate with their environment.

NULIBRY® (Fosdenopterin) for Injection is a substrate replacement therapy that provides an exogenous source of cPMP, which is converted to molybdopterin. Molybdopterin is then converted to molybdenum cofactor, which is needed for the activation of molybdenum-dependent enzymes, including sulfite oxidase, an enzyme that reduces levels of neurotoxic sulfites. It is the first and only FDA-approved therapy indicated to reduce the risk of mortality in patients with MoCD Type A, and clinical trials have demonstrated that patients treated with NULIBRY® or rcPMP had an improvement in overall survival compared to the untreated, genotype-matched, historical control group.

NULIBRY is indicated to reduce the risk of mortality in patients with molybdenum cofactor deficiency (MoCD) Type A.

Potential for Photosensitivity

NULIBRY can make the patient oversensitive to sunlight. NULIBRY-treated patients or their caregivers are advised to avoid or minimize patient exposure to sunlight and artificial UV light and adopt precautionary measures when exposed to the sun, including wearing protective clothing and sunglasses, and use broad-spectrum sunscreen with high SPF in patients 6 months of age and older. If photosensitivity occurs, caregivers/patients are advised to seek medical attention immediately and consider a dermatological evaluation.

The most common adverse reactions in NULIBRY-treated patients were infusion catheter–related complications (89%), pyrexia (fever) (78%), viral infection (56%), pneumonia (44%), otitis media (ear infection) (44%), vomiting (44%), and cough/sneezing (44%). Adverse reactions for rcPMP-treated patients were similar to the NULIBRY-treated patients.

Please read the FDA-approved NULIBRY Prescribing Information and Instructions for Use and follow the instructions on how to prepare and administer NULIBRY.

NULIBRY has a potential for photosensitivity; see Warnings and Precautions. Seek medical attention immediately if the patient develops a rash or if they notice symptoms of photosensitivity reactions (redness, burning sensation of the skin, blisters).

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

¹Mechler K et al. Genet Med. 2015;17(12):965-970.
²Schwarz G. Cur Op in Che Bio. 2016;31:179-187.
³Mayr SJ, et al. Forecasting the incidence of rare diseases: an iterative computational and biochemical approach in molybdenum cofactor deficiency type A. Presented at the 2019 SSIEM meeting; September 3-6, 2019; Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Sentynl Therapeutics is a U.S.-based biopharmaceutical company focused on bringing innovative therapies to patients living with rare diseases. The company was acquired by the Zydus Group in 2017. Sentynl's highly experienced management team has previously built multiple successful pharmaceutical companies. With a focus on commercialization, Sentynl looks to source effective and highly differentiated products across a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas to address unmet needs. Sentynl is committed to the highest ethical standards and compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and industry guidelines. For more information, visit www.sentynl.com.

The Zydus Group, with an overarching purpose of empowering people with freedom to live healthier and more fulfilled lives, is an innovative, global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of healthcare therapies. The group employs over 23,000 people worldwide and is driven by its mission to unlock new possibilities in life-sciences through quality healthcare solutions that impact lives. The group aspires to become a global life-sciences company transforming lives through pathbreaking discoveries.  For more information, visit https://www.zyduslife.com/zyduslife/.

For more information:
Michael Hercz
[email protected]
888-507-5296

SOURCE Sentynl Therapeutics