BUSINESS INSIGHTS, PHARMA TECH
Koneksa | January 18, 2023
On January 17, 2023, Koneksa, a healthcare technology company that develops evidence-based validated digital biomarkers, announced the beginning of a clinical study that will compare the treatment effect of at-home mobile spirometry using digital biomarkers versus in-clinic spirometry in patients who have moderate asthma and are receiving long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) treatment.
The LEARN study is a single-arm interventional trial that compares the identification of treatment effects in people with moderate asthma using at-home mobile spirometry by utilizing an ultrasonic spirometer and a smartphone compared to in-clinic spirometry. Up to 60 people with mild, uncontrolled asthma who already use inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) will take part in the study. Besides, it will also cover those who need to take LABA medication for a six-week treatment period.
In-clinic spirometry can be performed at home with the same or higher accuracy compared to in-clinic and potentially less strain on the patient. The study will analyze the LABA treatment impact in clinic and mobile spirometry along with assessing the association between different readouts of mobile spirometry, in addition to evaluating asthma control as determined by the ACQ-6, a patient-reported outcome questionnaire. Other goals include assessing patient and site-specific satisfaction with mobile spirometry technology.
Chris Benko, CEO & Founder, Koneksa, stated, “This study builds on Koneksa's prior work demonstrating that mobile spirometry has the potential to detect clinically meaningful changes in very small cohorts of asthma patients on standard of care.” He further added, “The LEARN study will evaluate whether at-home mobile spirometry can detect treatment effects of a known positive control (LABA) in a significantly smaller population than would traditionally be assumed for an in-clinic proof-of-concept study.”
(Source – Business Wire)
About Koneksa
Based out of New York, Koneksa is a patient-centric digital biomarker firm that develops end-to-end solutions for remotely obtained clinical data to expedite clinical research and guide decision-making in drug development and market strategy for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. It seeks to revolutionize effect detection in clinical research by providing integrated solutions for efficient trial designs that yield more meaningful data. Its evidence-based biomarker solutions allow for more efficient clinical trial designs, allowing novel medicines to reach patients sooner.
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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.
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BUSINESS INSIGHTS, PHARMA TECH
Indivior | March 06, 2023
Indivior PLC, a global pharmaceutical company, recently announced its successful acquisition of Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The acquisition strengthens Indivior's addiction treatment and science portfolio by adding Opiant's late-stage assets. In particular, OPNT003, an investigational opioid overdose treatment, aims to provide an effective treatment option to address the current wave of opioid overdose caused by powerful synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
Indivior acquired Opiant for an upfront consideration of $20.00 per share in cash, summing to approximately $145 million and up to $8.00 per share in contingent value rights (CVRs). The CVRs will become payable if OPNT003 meets certain net revenue milestones within seven years after approval and launch. The acquisition was completed after meeting customary conditions, and Indivior funded the upfront consideration with its existing cash. It expects OPNT003 to generate net revenue of 150 million to 250 million dollars and the acquisition to be earnings accretive after the second year of launch. The company plans to provide updated guidance for FY 2023 with its Q1 results announcement on April 27, 2023.
OPNT003 is a patent-protected intranasal formulation of nalmefene. It employs an absorption-enhancing technology to improve its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile, resulting in a fast-acting and long-lasting duration of action that helps OPNT003 as a possible new treatment option for opioid overdose. On December 22, 2022, Opiant completed its rolling NDA for OPNT003. OPNT003's FDA PDUFA date is May 22, 2023. One formulation patent (expiry 2038) and five other patent applications cover various aspects of OPNT003, including treatment methods. National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is funding the development of the program, as well as an agreement from Biological Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
About Indivior
A global pharmaceutical company, Indivior, is working to support patients in changing their lives by developing medicines that help in coming out of addiction and severe mental illnesses. The company aims to provide access to evidence-based treatment to all patients globally for chronic conditions and co-occurring disorders of substance use disorder (SUD). It is committed to transforming substance use disorder from a worldwide human crisis to a recognized and treated chronic illness. In addition, it has a pipeline of product candidates designed to build on its global portfolio of OUD treatments and potentially address other chronic conditions and co-occurring disorders of SUD, such as alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder.
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