Jun 23, 2015 Press Release for Alnylam
Alnylam Reports New Positive Clinical Data for ALN-AT3, a Subcutaneously Administered, Investigational RNAi Therapeutic Targeting Antithrombin (AT) for the Treatment of Hemophilia and Rare Bleeding Disorders
Jun 23, 2015
- New Interim Data from Ongoing Phase 1 Study in Hemophilia Subjects Demonstrate an up to 86% AT Knockdown and a Re-Balancing of Hemostasis with Normalization of Thrombin Generation up to a Mean Increase of 350% and Marked Improvements in Whole Blood Clotting -
- In Exploratory Post Hoc Analysis, Reduced Bleeding Events Associated with AT Knockdown, with a Maximum Bleed-Free Interval of 114 Days -
- ALN-AT3 Administration Remains Generally Well Tolerated, Including No Clinically Significant Increases in D-Dimer -
- Based on Promising Results, Company Now Expects to Advance ALN-AT3 into Pivotal Studies in Mid-2016 -
- Company to Host Conference Call Today,
"With the potential for infrequent subcutaneous dose administration and
possible correction of disease phenotype, we believe that ALN-AT3
represents an innovative investigational medicine for the treatment of
hemophilia and rare bleeding disorders. We regard these new results from
our ongoing Phase 1 study as very promising, as they demonstrate
clinical activity for ALN-AT3 toward AT knockdown and a re-balancing of
hemostasis with a normalization of thrombin generation and improved
whole blood clot formation. Moreover, we're encouraged by results from
an exploratory analysis of effects on bleeding, where we've observed a
reduced estimated annualized bleeding rate (ABR) at higher levels of AT
knockdown. Importantly, ALN-AT3 has continued to be generally well
tolerated in the study, including no clinically significant increases in
D-dimer levels," said
"New therapeutic options are needed to manage bleeding in hemophilia and
other rare bleeding disorders. This is particularly important for
patients who experience multiple annual bleeds when receiving
replacement factor ‘on demand' or patients who have developed inhibitory
antibodies. I believe that the availability of a subcutaneously
administered therapeutic with a long duration of action - such as a
once-monthly regimen - that is shown to be safe and effective would
represent a marked improvement over currently available approaches for
prophylaxis," said Claude Negrier, M.D., Ph.D, Professor of Medicine at
the
The ongoing Phase 1 trial of ALN-AT3 is being conducted in
New results were presented from 12 hemophilia subjects in Part B of the
ongoing Phase 1 study in an oral presentation at ISTH and include all
available data as of the data cut-off date of
AT knockdown with ALN-AT3 was associated with statistically significant
increases in thrombin generation and improvements in whole blood clot
formation, providing continued evidence for a re-balancing of hemostasis
and potential correction of the hemophilia phenotype in severe
hemophilia subjects. The association between levels of AT knockdown and
thrombin generation was assessed in a post hoc exploratory analysis in
which AT knockdown was categorized into tertiles. In the highest tertile
(greater than 66% AT knockdown), ALN-AT3 administration resulted in mean
increases in thrombin generation of 350 ± 239% (p less than
0.05). In this same tertile, the observed level of thrombin generation
(120 ± 81 nM peak thrombin) was comparable to levels observed in
healthy volunteers (120 ± 33 nM peak thrombin) from Part A of the
Phase 1 study, demonstrating an apparent normalization of thrombin
generation. Thrombin generation is known to be a biomarker for bleeding
frequency and severity in people with hemophilia (
Additional evaluation of the effects of ALN-AT3 employed the use of ROTEM® thromboelastometry in 3 severe hemophilia subjects in which ALN-AT3 administration resulted in statistically significant, AT knockdown-dependent improvements in whole blood clot formation, including a shortening of clot formation time (CFT). At day 35, the CFT for all 3 subjects was significantly shorter than on day 1, with an over three-fold shortening of CFT from 1166 ± 614 sec to 323 ± 46 sec (p less than 0.05).
While the Phase 1 study was not designed to evaluate the effects of ALN-AT3 on bleeding, an exploratory post hoc analysis was performed by examining the frequency of on-study bleeding events in all subjects in Part B of the study. During the period of time when subjects had AT knockdown less than 33%, a total of 33 bleeding events were reported, and the mean estimated annualized bleeding rate (ABR) was 22 ± 5; this ABR is generally consistent with values reported in prospective clinical trials for hemophilia subjects treated "on-demand" with factor replacement. The mean estimated ABR was reduced to 14 ± 5 at levels of AT knockdown between 33 and 66% and was reduced yet further to a mean estimated ABR of zero during the period of time when AT knockdown exceeded 66%. The reduced ABR associated with increased AT knockdown was statistically significant (p less than 0.001 based on negative binomial regression model). The maximum bleed-free interval for any given subject was 114 days, observed in a subject who achieved an up to 86% level of AT knockdown. This subject with severe hemophilia had a self-reported ABR of over 20 bleeds per year prior to entering the ALN-AT3 Phase 1 study.
| AT Knockdown | |||||||||
| Less than 33% | 33-66% | Greater than 66% | |||||||
| Subjects (N) | 12 | 9 | 2 | ||||||
| Cumulative Days | 509 | 414 | 106 | ||||||
| Peak Thrombin Generation (nM, Mean +/- SD) | 18 ± 8 | 35 ± 24 | 120 ± 81* | ||||||
| % Increase in Peak Thrombin Generation (Mean +/- SD) | 25 ± 72% | 69 ± 92% | 350 ± 239%* | ||||||
| Cumulative Bleeds | 33 | 18 | 0 | ||||||
| Estimated Annualized Bleeding Rate (ABR) (Mean +/- SEM)** | 22 ± 5 | 14 ± 5 | 0 | ||||||
*p less than 0.05, compared with AT knockdown less than 33%
**p
less than 0.001, based on negative binomial regression model
As of the current data cut off, ALN-AT3 continues to be generally well tolerated in all subjects. There have been no serious adverse events, no discontinuations, and no significant changes in physical exams, vital signs, or electrocardiography. One subject experienced mild injection site pain lasting two minutes, but otherwise there were no injection site reactions. Further, there have been no clinically significant changes in any laboratory parameter, including liver function tests, hematology, and coagulation measures. There have been no clinically significant increases in D-dimer, a marker of pathologic clot formation, and no thromboembolic events. The most common adverse event observed in hemophilia subjects was the occurrence of mild to moderate bleeds unrelated to study drug. All bleeds were successfully managed with replacement factor administration, with no adverse events associated with factor administration.
Based on these promising results, Alnylam plans to advance directly to pivotal studies for ALN-AT3 and is providing new guidance that it intends to start a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial in mid-2016. The company also intends to open a Phase 1 open label extension (OLE) study in late 2015 to provide hemophilia subjects enrolled in the Phase 1 study the opportunity for continued dosing; Alnylam intends to report data from the Phase 1 OLE at least once per year with initial data expected in 2016. Finally, the company still plans on presenting additional data from the ongoing Phase 1 study in late 2015.
Alnylam scientists and collaborators also are presenting new pre-clinical data on ALN-AT3 at the ISTH meeting. Earlier this morning, the company presented data from an oral presentation entitled "Antithrombin Reduction Improves Coagulation in Rare Bleeding Disorder Plasma." Specifically, ex vivo AT depletion was demonstrated to result in increased thrombin generation in plasma from donors with deficiencies in factors V, VII, and XI. These new pre-clinical data support the clinical evaluation of ALN-AT3 in these rare bleeding disorders. Additional data reports from the meeting will be made available on the company's website following their presentation.
In January 2014, Alnylam and Genzyme, a
Sanofi company, formed an alliance to accelerate and expand the
development and commercialization of RNAi therapeutics across the world.
The alliance is structured as a multi-product geographic alliance in the
field of rare diseases. Alnylam retains product rights in North
America and Western Europe, while Genzyme obtained the right to access
certain programs in Alnylam's current and future Genetic Medicines
pipeline, including ALN-AT3, in the rest of the world. In certain
defined instances, Genzyme has co-development/co-commercialization
and/or global product rights. Genzyme has the right, under specified
circumstances, to elect to co-develop and co-promote ALN-AT3, with
Alnylam maintaining development and commercialization control. Genzyme's
rights are structured as an opt-in that is triggered upon achievement of
human proof-of-principle.
Conference Call Information
Alnylam management will discuss
these new interim Phase 1 results with ALN-AT3 in a webcast conference
call on
About Hemophilia and Rare Bleeding Disorders
Hemophilias are
hereditary disorders caused by genetic deficiencies of various blood
clotting factors, resulting in recurrent bleeds into joints, muscles,
and other major internal organs. Hemophilia A is defined by
loss-of-function mutations in Factor VIII, and there are greater than
40,000 registered persons in the U.S. and E.U. with Hemophilia A.
Hemophilia B, defined by loss-of-function mutations in Factor IX,
affects greater than 9,500 registered persons in the U.S. and E.U. Other
Rare Bleeding Disorders (RBD) are defined by congenital deficiencies of
other blood coagulation factors, including Factors II, V, VII, X, and
XI, and there are about 1,000 persons worldwide with a severe bleeding
phenotype. Standard treatment for persons living with hemophilia
involves replacement of the missing clotting factor either as
prophylaxis or on-demand therapy. However, as many as one third of
people with severe hemophilia A will develop an antibody to their
replacement factor - a very serious complication; persons in this
‘inhibitor' subset become refractory to standard replacement therapy.
There exists a small subset of persons living with hemophilia who have
co-inherited a prothrombotic mutation, such as Factor V Leiden,
antithrombin deficiency, protein C deficiency, and prothrombin G20210A.
People who have co-inherited these prothrombotic mutations are
characterized as having a later onset of disease, lower risk of
bleeding, and reduced requirements for Factor VIII or Factor IX
treatment as part of their disease management. There exists a
significant need for novel therapeutics to treat people living with
hemophilia.
About Antithrombin (AT)
Antithrombin (AT, also known as
"antithrombin III" and "SERPINC1") is a liver expressed plasma protein
and member of the "serpin" family of proteins that acts as an important
endogenous anticoagulant by inactivating Factor Xa and thrombin. AT
plays a key role in normal hemostasis, which has evolved to balance the
need to control blood loss through clotting with the need to prevent
pathologic thrombosis through anticoagulation. In hemophilia, the loss
of certain procoagulant factors (Factor VIII and Factor IX, in the case
of hemophilia A and B, respectively) results in an imbalance of the
hemostatic system toward a bleeding phenotype. In contrast, in
thrombophilia (e.g., Factor V Leiden, protein C deficiency, antithrombin
deficiency, amongst others), certain mutations result in an imbalance in
the hemostatic system toward a thrombotic phenotype. Since
co-inheritance of prothrombotic mutations may ameliorate the clinical
phenotype in hemophilia, inhibition of AT defines a novel strategy for
improving hemostasis.
About GalNAc Conjugates and Enhanced Stabilization Chemistry
(ESC)-GalNAc Conjugates
GalNAc-siRNA conjugates are a
proprietary Alnylam delivery platform and are designed to achieve
targeted delivery of RNAi therapeutics to hepatocytes through uptake by
the asialoglycoprotein receptor. Alnylam's Enhanced Stabilization
Chemistry (ESC)-GalNAc-conjugate technology enables subcutaneous dosing
with increased potency and durability, and a wide therapeutic index.
This delivery platform is being employed in nearly all of Alnylam's
pipeline programs, including programs in clinical development.
About RNAi
RNAi (RNA interference) is a revolution in
biology, representing a breakthrough in understanding how genes are
turned on and off in cells, and a completely new approach to drug
discovery and development. Its discovery has been heralded as "a major
scientific breakthrough that happens once every decade or so," and
represents one of the most promising and rapidly advancing frontiers in
biology and drug discovery today which was awarded the 2006 Nobel Prize
for Physiology or Medicine. RNAi is a natural process of gene silencing
that occurs in organisms ranging from plants to mammals. By harnessing
the natural biological process of RNAi occurring in our cells, the
creation of a major new class of medicines, known as RNAi therapeutics,
is on the horizon. Small interfering RNA (siRNA), the molecules that
mediate RNAi and comprise Alnylam's RNAi therapeutic platform, target
the cause of diseases by potently silencing specific mRNAs, thereby
preventing disease-causing proteins from being made. RNAi therapeutics
have the potential to treat disease and help patients in a fundamentally
new way.
About
Alnylam is a biopharmaceutical
company developing novel therapeutics based on RNA interference, or
RNAi. The company is leading the translation of RNAi as a new class of
innovative medicines. Alnylam's pipeline of investigational RNAi
therapeutics is focused in 3 Strategic Therapeutic Areas (STArs):
Genetic Medicines, with a broad pipeline of RNAi therapeutics for the
treatment of rare diseases; Cardio-Metabolic Disease, with a pipeline of
RNAi therapeutics toward genetically validated, liver-expressed disease
targets for unmet needs in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases; and
Hepatic Infectious Disease, with a pipeline of RNAi therapeutics that
address the major global health challenges of hepatic infectious
diseases. In early 2015, Alnylam launched its "Alnylam 2020" guidance
for the advancement and commercialization of RNAi therapeutics as a
whole new class of innovative medicines. Specifically, by the end of
2020, Alnylam expects to achieve a company profile with 3 marketed
products, 10 RNAi therapeutic clinical programs - including 4 in late
stages of development - across its 3 STArs. The company's demonstrated
commitment to RNAi therapeutics has enabled it to form major alliances
with leading companies including Merck, Medtronic, Novartis, Biogen,
Roche,
Alnylam Forward Looking Statements
Various statements in
this release concerning Alnylam's future expectations, plans and
prospects, including without limitation, Alnylam's views with respect to
the potential for RNAi therapeutics, including ALN-AT3 for the treatment
of hemophilia and rare bleeding disorders and the potential clinical
activity and durability of ALN-AT3, expectations regarding the reporting
of data from clinical studies, in particular the ongoing Phase 1
clinical trial of ALN-AT3, as well as the Phase 1 OLE for ALN-AT3,
expectations regarding the initiation of pivotal Phase 3 studies for
ALN-AT3, expectations regarding its STAr pipeline growth strategy, and
its plans regarding commercialization of RNAi therapeutics, including
ALN-AT3, constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the
safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated
by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important
factors, including, without limitation, Alnylam's ability to discover
and develop novel drug candidates and delivery approaches, successfully
demonstrate the efficacy and safety of its drug candidates, the
pre-clinical and clinical results for its product candidates, which may
not be replicated or continue to occur in other subjects or in
additional studies or otherwise support further development of product
candidates, actions of regulatory agencies, which may affect the
initiation, timing and progress of clinical trials, obtaining,
maintaining and protecting intellectual property, Alnylam's ability to
enforce its patents against infringers and defend its patent portfolio
against challenges from third parties, obtaining regulatory approval for
products, competition from others using technology similar to Alnylam's
and others developing products for similar uses, Alnylam's ability to
manage operating expenses, Alnylam's ability to obtain additional
funding to support its business activities and establish and maintain
strategic business alliances and new business initiatives, Alnylam's
dependence on third parties for development, manufacture, marketing,
sales and distribution of products, the outcome of litigation, and
unexpected expenditures, as well as those risks more fully discussed in
the "Risk Factors" filed with Alnylam's most recent Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and in
other filings that Alnylam makes with the SEC. In addition, any
forward-looking statements represent Alnylam's views only as of today
and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any
subsequent date. Alnylam explicitly disclaims any obligation to update
any forward-looking statements.
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