CytoSorbents Corporation (NASDAQ: CTSO), a critical care immunotherapy leader commercializing its CytoSorb® blood purification technology to treat cytokine storm and deadly inflammation in critically-ill and cardiac surgery patients around the world, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Designation to CytoSorb for the removal of ticagrelor in a cardiopulmonary bypass circuit during emergent and urgent cardiothoracic surgery. The Breakthrough Devices Program provides for more effective treatment of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating disease or conditions, in this case the need to reverse the effects of ticagrelor in emergent or urgent cardiac surgery that can otherwise cause a high risk of serious or life-threatening bleeding. Through Breakthrough Designation, FDA will work with CytoSorbents to expedite the development, assessment, and regulatory review of CytoSorb for the removal of ticagrelor, while maintaining statutory standards of regulatory approval (e.g., 510(k), de novo 510(k) or premarket approval (PMA)) consistent with the Agency’s mission to protect and promote public health.
Ticagrelor (Astra Zeneca – Brilinta®, Brilique®) is one of the most commonly used anti-platelet drugs or “blood thinners” to reduce the risk of cardiac death, heart attacks, and strokes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS; i.e., situations where the blood supplied to the heart is suddenly blocked) or a history of a heart attack. It is also used to reduce the rate of stent thrombosis in patients who have been stented for treatment of ACS. However, when patients on ticagrelor require emergent cardiac surgery (e.g., coronary artery bypass graft surgery or CABG, dissecting aortic aneurysm repair, infective endocarditis, etc.), the risk of serious or life-threatening bleeding and complications is very high. There are no approved or cleared therapies in the U.S. to rapidly reverse the effects of, or remove ticagrelor in these patients.
Mr. Vincent Capponi, Chief Operating Officer of CytoSorbents stated, “We are excited to receive FDA Breakthrough Designation of CytoSorb for the removal of ticagrelor during emergent and urgent cardiothoracic surgery. This breakthrough designation represents another constructive regulatory step forward on the heels of the recent Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) granted by FDA for use of CytoSorb in critically-ill COVID-19 patients. We believe this represents an important step towards our goal of obtaining U.S. regulatory approval of CytoSorb for this indication. Following the E.U. approval of CytoSorb to remove ticagrelor during cardiothoracic surgery, we believe this Breakthrough Designation presents a unique opportunity to accelerate the approval process and availability of CytoSorb in the U.S., where no other alternatives are approved. We appreciate the Agency’s positive decision and look forward to working with them to define the regulatory path for approval.”
Dr. Phillip Chan, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of CytoSorbents added, “Ticagrelor is a blockbuster anti-platelet agent that is used widely in patients with ischemic cardiac disease, but is also associated with significant bleeding risk. For example, in the “Study of Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes (PLATO) trial, the incidence of “major fatal/life-threatening” CABG-related bleeding in patients admitted with signs and symptoms of a heart attack, who were administered ticagrelor as part of dual-antiplatelet therapy, was approximately 65% in patients who required emergent CABG within a day, and more than 40% in patients who underwent urgent CABG within two to four days of receiving the last dose of ticagrelor. Of the three major P2Y12 platelet inhibitors – clopidogrel, ticagrelor, and prasugrel – it is currently believed that only the effect of ticagrelor is theoretically reversible. However, because of the absence of an effective reversal agent, this safety advantage has never been realized. We have already reported on a landmark observational study that showed the potential for a significant reduction in bleeding risk, and another study highlighting an approximate $5,000 projected costs savings, when CytoSorb is used with patients on ticagrelor undergoing emergent cardiac surgery, in comparison to patient outcomes when CytoSorb was not used. As we seek to leverage our E.U. approval abroad, we look to collaborate with the FDA under this Breakthrough Designation for the potential benefit of patients here as well.”
For more information about the FDA Breakthrough Devices Program and how it can facilitate collaboration with the FDA and the Company, please see the section below.
About FDA Breakthrough Devices Program and Breakthrough Designation