Portola Phramaceuticals (PTLA)

[H2R]

"PAS" APPROVED !

http://investors.portola.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=198136&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2381753

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approves Portola Pharmaceuticals’ Prior Approval Supplement for Andexxa® Generation 2 Manufacturing Process

– Expands Patient Access to Andexxa, the First and Only Antidote for Reversal of
the Factor Xa Inhibitors Rivaroxaban or Apixaban –

– Full Commercial Launch to Begin January 2019 –

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Dec. 31, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.® (Nasdaq: PTLA) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Company’s Prior Approval Supplement (PAS) for its large-scale, second generation Andexxa® [coagulation factor Xa (recombinant), inactivated-zhzo], allowing for broad commercial launch in the United States.

Andexxa received both U.S. Orphan Drug and FDA Breakthrough Therapy designations and was initially approved on May 3, 2018 under the FDA's Accelerated Approval pathway. It is the first and only antidote indicated for patients treated with rivaroxaban or apixaban, when reversal of anticoagulation is needed due to life-threatening or uncontrolled bleeding.

“It is clear from the response to the Andexxa Early Supply Program that there is significant need for a specific reversal agent that can address life-threatening bleeding associated with the use of the Factor Xa inhibitors apixaban and rivaroxaban,” said Scott Garland, Portola’s president and chief executive officer. "We are pleased to now be able to stock hospitals nationwide and serve all patients in the U.S. who could benefit from the potential life-saving impact of Andexxa.”

The use of Factor Xa inhibitors is rapidly growing because of their efficacy and safety profile compared to enoxaparin and warfarin in preventing and treating thromboembolic conditions such as stroke, pulmonary embolism and venous thromboembolism (VTE). This growth has come with a related increase in the incidence of hospital admissions and deaths related to bleeding, the major complication of anticoagulation. In the U.S. alone in 2017, there were approximately 140,000 hospital admissions attributable to Factor Xa inhibitor-related bleeding.

The Company will provide additional details on the commercial launch plans for Andexxa during its annual corporate webcast scheduled for Tuesday, January 8, at 7:00 a.m. PT (10:00 a.m. ET). The live webcast will be available on the Company's website at www.portola.com.

Nice!!!

Best of luck to Long investors ! 2019 should be a good year!