BUSINESS INSIGHTS, PHARMA TECH
Lyra Therapeutics | February 08, 2023
On February 6, 2023, Lyra Therapeutics, Inc., a leading clinical-stage biotechnology firm developing novel therapies for the localized treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), announced that enrollment in the Phase 2 BEACON clinical trial of LYR-220 in adult patients with CRS who have previously undergone sinus surgery has been completed.
LYR-220 is designed to provide continuous anti-inflammatory medicine (mometasone furoate; MF) to the sinonasal passageways for six months in order to treat CRS. Topline outcomes are expected in the fourth quarter of 2023.
The Phase 2 BEACON trial is a sham-controlled, parallel-group trial designed to assess the efficacy and safety of the LYR-220 (7500g MF) matrix in symptomatic adult CRS patients who have previously had bilateral ethmoid sinus surgery during a 24-week period. The trial is divided into two parts: Part 1 was aimed to examine the feasibility and tolerability of two 7500µg MF matrix designs; in Part 2, 40 patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive LYR-220 or sham control.
Lyra revealed positive preliminary findings from the BEACON trial's Part 1, the non-randomized portion, in September 2022, indicating the feasibility and tolerability of bilateral LYR-220 placement in this patient population. In addition, all six patients were given the medication for at least six weeks, and no significant or unexpected side effects were recorded.
Although efficacy evaluation was not the goal of the trial's uncontrolled Part 1 stage, there was a mean improvement of 21 points (37%) from baseline in the 22-item Sino-nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) total score at six weeks. This is more than double the minimal clinically significant difference of 8.9 points.
About Lyra Therapeutics
Founded in 2018, Lyra Therapeutics is a clinical-stage firm pioneering a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of debilitating ear, nose, and throat (ENT) diseases that affect millions of people. Its mission is to change the ENT treatment paradigm by giving physicians effective front-line solutions and innovative therapy alternatives for their patients. The company is working on therapeutics for the localized treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis patients (CRS). Lyra has two investigational product candidates, LYR-210 and LYR-220, in late-stage development for CRS, which is a common inflammatory disease of the paranasal sinuses that causes debilitating symptoms and significant morbidities. It is headquartered in the Boston region and was created by academic luminaries in the disciplines of chemistry, materials science, and biotechnology, and is supported by top life science investors.
Read More
RESEARCH, PHARMA TECH
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | March 10, 2023
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, a leading RNA-targeted therapy firm, recently announced that the USFDA has accepted for review a new drug application (NDA) for eplontersen. Eplontersen is an investigational antisense medicine designed to reduce the production of transthyretin (TTR) protein and treat hereditary and non-hereditary forms of ATTR amyloidosis (ATTR).
The NDA has been given a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of December 22, 2023. The FDA has declared that no review concerns were detected and made no new data requests. The FDA also stated that it does not intend to conduct a meeting of the advisory committee to discuss the application.
ATTR amyloidosis is a systemic disease caused by the accumulation of TTR protein in organs, leading to progressive organ damage and eventually death. Patients with hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloid polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN) experience ongoing debilitating nerve damage throughout their bodies, resulting in the progressive loss of motor function.
The NDA for eplontersen is based on results from the global Phase 3 NEURO-TTRansform study showcased at the International Symposium on Amyloidosis (ISA). In the study, eplontersen showcased a statistically significant and clinically meaningful change relative to the baseline for its co-primary and critical secondary endpoints compared to the external placebo group. In addition, Eplontersen also demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile.
Ionis and AstraZeneca announced a strategic partnership to develop and commercialize eplontersen in December 2021. Eplontersen is being developed and commercialized jointly by both businesses in the United States and will be created and commercialized by AstraZeneca throughout the rest of the globe, except Latin America.
The FDA granted eplontersen Orphan Drug Designation in the United States in January 2022. Eplontersen is also being studied in the worldwide Phase 3 CARDIO-TTRansform trial for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), a systemic, progressive, and deadly disorder leading to progressive heart failure and death within 3 to 5 years after disease start.
About Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a leading biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Carlsbad, California. Its unique antisense technology platform allows them to develop RNA-targeted therapies that modify the production of disease-causing proteins, leading to the development of treatments for rare genetic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. The company's most significant achievement is developing and commercializing Spinraza, the first approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy. Ionis Pharmaceuticals has also developed drugs for other rare diseases, including transthyretin amyloidosis, Huntington's disease, and myotonic dystrophy type 1.
Read More
RESEARCH, PHARMA TECH
Ambrx | February 21, 2023
Ambrx Biopharma Inc., recently released positive preliminary results from its current Phase 1 trial, APEX-01 (NCT04662580), which is examining ARX517, Ambrx's patented anti-PSMA ADC, in patients with prostate cancer.
Patients with advanced prostate cancer who have progressed on at least two prior FDA-approved treatments are enrolled in the Phase 1, first-in-human, open label dose escalation and dose expansion experiment known as APEX-01. In the US, APEX-01 is the only clinical trial that uses an ADC to treat PSMA. The trials revealed
• No grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) or drug-related serious adverse events (SAEs) have been reported in the 22 individuals who were evaluable for safety. ARX517 was well-tolerated otherwise with grade 1 or 2 treatment-related adverse events were observed. It is yet to reach the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) • Starting with the second to lowest dose of 0.64 mg/kg, PSA reductions of > 30% have been seen in Cohorts 2-5 • 3 (100%) patients in Cohort 6 (2.0 mg/kg dosage) had a PSA level reduction of at least 50%. PSA levels were reduced by more than 90% in 2 out of 3 patients. At the initial on-treatment scan, soft tissue measurable disease was found in 1 of the 3 patients, and showed a partial RECIST v1.1 response • In Cohort 7, three patients received doses with no DLTs
Daniel J. O’Connor, CEO of Ambrx, said, “While recent advances have considerably reduced the number of men who die from prostate cancer, it remains the second-most common form of death from cancer in the United States. Approximately 1 man in 41 will die of prostate cancer. Thus, there remains an urgent need for better treatments, in particular for men with advanced prostate cancer.” He further added, “We are very pleased to see a significant reduction of greater than 50% in PSA levels in the first three patients at 2.0 mg/kg, two of which went on to see a greater than 90% PSA level reduction, without any serious drug-related adverse events.”
(Source – Business Wire)
About Ambrx
Ambrx Inc., is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. It develops precision biologics using an extended genetic code. Synthetic amino acids are incorporated into proteins using Ambrx technology, which is carried out entirely within a living cell. Precision Biologics, a novel therapeutic class with significant potential uses these synthesized amino acids.
Read More