Cynapsus Announces Completion of Human Healthy Volunteer Crossover
Study Results for APL-130277
Results Support Expected 505(b)2 Path to New Drug Application
(NDA) in the United States
TORONTO, CANADA--(Marketwired - Jan 13, 2014) - Cynapsus
Therapeutics Inc. (TSX-VENTURE:CTH) (OTCQX:CYNAF), a specialty
pharmaceutical company, today announced positive top line data from
its recently completed healthy volunteer pilot crossover trial
comparing APL-130277, a sublingual thin film strip formulation of
apomorphine, to a commercially available injectable formulation of
apomorphine. The study results further support the advancement of
APL-130277 for management of "OFF" episodes in Parkinson's disease
through the section 505(b)(2) regulations of the United States Food
and Drug Administration Act, which provides an accelerated path to
approval for new formulations of approved medicines.
Mr. Anthony Giovinazzo, President and CEO of Cynapsus commented,
"Results from this CTH103 clinical study are an important
de-risking event for our product and set the stage for completing
in the next two years the clinical requirements for qualifying
APL-130277 for a 505(b)(2) New Drug Application. Importantly, the
data indicate that APL-130277 may have advantages over an
injectable product (i.e. apomorphine hydrochloride subcutaneous
injection, Apokyn® or Apo-Go®) by reducing the frequency and
intensity of side effects including nausea and vomiting versus
those commonly reported for a subcutaneous injectable formulation.
The results also suggest that APL-130277 exhibits comparable time
to maximal concentrations in the blood and therapeutic plasma
levels that are similar or longer than those seen following
subcutaneous injection."
Mr. Giovinazzo added, "Assuming concurrence with the regulatory
authorities, we expect that results of this study will enable us to
proceed directly to the completion of two small efficacy studies
and a safety study, in patients with Parkinson's disease. Our plan
is to design a clinical registration program for APL-130277 that
demonstrates efficacy as measured by both time to "ON" and duration
of "ON" in patients with Parkinson's disease, with possible
advantageous adverse event claims. If substantiated in the
registration clinical trials, the findings from the CTH103 healthy
volunteer study indicate that the sublingual formulation of
APL-130277 could have measurable advantages for patients and their
caregivers over a subcutaneous injection of apomorphine."
Dr. Albert Agro, Chief Medical Officer at Cynapsus, also
commented: "We are indebted to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for
Parkinson's Research for supporting this important milestone for
APL-130277. Their support was fundamental to the success of this
study. We are very pleased with the results, which confirm that our
sublingual thin film strip formulation is effective at delivering
apomorphine with the potential to reach efficacious plasma levels,
but with what appears to be a reduced side effect profile compared
to the subcutaneous injectable formulation. We look forward to
initiating the efficacy program in patients suffering from
Parkinson's disease with debilitating motor complications."
CTH103 Clinical Trial Design and Results
The CTH103 study was a three-dose active comparator,
placebo-controlled, randomized cross-over trial to examine the
pharmacokinetic profile of sublingual administered APL-130277
compared to the subcutaneous injection of apomorphine in healthy
volunteers. The study was completed outside the United States with
the active comparator Apo-go®, the approved subcutaneous injection
in Europe and Asia.
The 10mg and 15mg APL-130277 sublingual thin film strips were
crossed over to 2mg and 3mg subcutaneous injections, with N=15 and
N=14 for the two cohorts, respectively. The Tmax (time to maximum
concentration) was 31 minutes and 40 minutes for the two doses of
APL-130277. The rapid uptake of apomorphine is similar to that
described in the Apokyn® label (i.e. between 10 and 60 minutes). In
addition, the sublingual thin film strip delivery system achieved
an average minimum threshold exposure of approximately 3 ng/ml in
plasma for both dose levels administered, which is expected to be
sufficient to restore motor control (the "ON") in patients
requiring the lowest titratable doses of a subcutaneous injection.
The sublingual thin film strips also demonstrated proportionality
between the doses. The results from CTH103 support the pursuit of
an efficacy program under the 505(b)(2) regulatory path.
The intent in the CTH103 study for the third cohort was to
compare the 25mg sublingual thin film strip (APL-130277) to the 4mg
subcutaneous injection, but this third cohort could not be dosed
due to the dose-limiting adverse events experienced with the 3mg
subcutaneous injection. The 15mg APL-130277 side effects were
mild-to-moderate and not dose limiting. The Company is in the
process of preparing a single arm, healthy volunteer
pharmacokinetic study to look at the 25mg APL-130277 sublingual
strip (without a crossover to the injection), which is expected to
be completed in Q1 2014.
Key Findings
- Sublingual delivery of apomorphine with APL-130277 was better
tolerated than the subcutaneous injection in the studied
doses;
- The PK profile of APL-130277 was proportional between doses and
exposures above the minimum expected efficacious level were similar
to or longer than seen following subcutaneous injection;
- APL-130277 achieved apomorphine mean Tmax of 31 and 40 minutes
for the 10mg and 15mg formulations, respectively. The subcutaneous
injection achieved apomorphine Tmax of27 and 24 minutes for the 2mg
and 3mg formulations, respectively;
- The mean time to reaching a plasma concentration of apomorphine
associated with therapeutic benefit of "Time to ON" was 10-13
minutes for the two doses of APL-130277 versus 4-5 minutes for the
subcutaneous injection. The times achieved are reflective of
patients' expectations for a rapid return to "ON"; and
- APL-130277 was safe and well-tolerated in CTH103 as in previous
clinical studies (i.e. CTH101 and CTH102). There were fewer adverse
events and the adverse events were less intense for subjects
exposed to the 10mg and 15mg strips versus the subcutaneous 2mg and
3mg injections. The adverse events for the 3mg injection dose were
dose-limiting and escalation of the subcutaneous injection to a
higher dose as a comparator could not be pursued.
Next Steps
Cynapsus believes that results of the CTH103 study justify
requesting a meeting with the US FDA to confirm the Company's plan
to demonstrate efficacy and safety benefits in a limited number of
small clinical studies of APL-130277. Specifically, the Company
seeks to conduct small efficacy studies in "OFF" episode
management, similar to those completed as part of the Apokyn® NDA
(total of 62 patients), including studies in apomorphine-naïve and
in apomorphine-experienced Parkinson's patients, plus a safety
study in apomorphine-naïve Parkinson's patients. Cynapsus currently
expects the initial efficacy studies to be completed by the end of
2014 and a safety study to be completed by the end of 2015, with a
505(b)(2) NDA filing possible in the first half of 2016.
About Apomorphine
Apomorphine, a potent dopamine agonist, is the only drug
approved specifically for the treatment of acute motor
fluctuations/hypomobility (freezing or "OFF" episodes) in patients
with advanced Parkinson's disease. Presently, apomorphine is
administered by intermittent subcutaneous injection usually via a
pre-filled injection pen, or, in some cases outside the US, by
continuous infusion pump. Drawbacks associated with subcutaneous
injection therapy for patients and caregivers include aversion to
needles, the need for multiple injections, which can be painful and
are often associated with irritation and inflammation at the
injection site, and the requirement for a degree of manual
dexterity that some Parkinson's patients find difficult.
About Cynapsus Therapeutics
Cynapsus is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing a
convenient and easy to use sublingual (oral) thin film strip for
the acute rescue of "OFF" motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Cynapsus' drug candidate, APL-130277, is an easy-to-administer,
fast-acting reformulation of apomorphine, which is the only
approved drug (in the United States, Europe, Japan and other
countries) to rescue patients from "OFF" episodes. Cynapsus is
focused on maximizing the value of APL-130277 by completing pivotal
studies in advance of a New Drug Application ("NDA") expected to be
submitted in 2016. Cynapsus anticipates a trade sale or
out-licensing to an appropriate global pharmaceutical partner
before such an application is submitted.
Over one million people in the U.S. and an estimated 4 to 6
million people globally suffer from Parkinson's disease (National
Parkinson Foundation, 2014). Parkinson's disease is a chronic and
progressive neurodegenerative disease that impacts motor activity,
and its prevalence is increasing with the aging of the population.
Based on a recent study and the results of the Company's Global 500
Neurologists Survey, it is estimated that between 25 percent and 50
percent of patients experience "OFF" episodes in which they have
impaired movement or speaking capabilities. Current medications
only control the disease's symptoms, and most drugs become less
effective over time as the disease progresses.
More information about Cynapsus (TSX-VENTURE:CTH) (OTCQX:CYNAF)
is available at www.cynapsus.ca and at the System for Electronic
Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of applicable securities laws. Generally, these
forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not
expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates",
"forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or
"believes" or variations of such words and phrases or state that
certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might"
or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking
statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of
activity, performance or achievements of Cynapsus to be materially
different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements, including but not limited to those risks and
uncertainties relating to Cynapsus' business disclosed under the
heading "Risk Factors" in its Annual Information Form filed on
August 30, 2013 and its other filings with the various Canadian
securities regulators which are available online at www.sedar.com.
Although Cynapsus has attempted to identify important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors
that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.
There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be
accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. Cynapsus does not undertake to update any
forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable
securities laws.
Each of the TSX Venture Exchange and OTCQX has neither approved
nor disapproved the contents of this press release.
Cynapsus TherapeuticsAnthony GiovinazzoPresident and CEO(416)
703-2449 x225ajg@cynapsus.caAndrew WilliamsCOO & CFO(416)
703-2449 x253awilliams@cynapsus.caMichael RiceLifeSci Advisors,
LLC646-597-6979
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