Alexion gets Japan approval for drug treating rare metabolic disease

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. in New Haven announced Monday that Japan’s health ministry approved Kanuma for the treatment of patients in Japan with lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL-D).

Kanuma, an enzyme replacement therapy, is the first therapy approved in Japan for the treatment of patients with LAL-D, a genetic and progressive ultra-rare metabolic disease in which patients suffer organ damage and premature death, according to Alexion.

Alexion expects patients with LAL-D in Japan will start commercial treatment with Kanuma in the third quarter this year.

Kanuma is also approved for the treatment of patients with LAL-D in the United States and European Union.