Results Support Higher Drug Concentration in the Blood as a Result of Higher Dose Strip
Cynapsus Therapeutics Inc. (TSX VENTURE:CTH)(CYNAF), a specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced positive interim data from its recently completed healthy volunteer pilot study of a single 25mg sublingual strip (APL-130277) dose of apomorphine. 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. The interim CTH-104 study results indicate that a higher load of drug on the strip does result in a higher amount of drug entering the blood stream.
Mr. Anthony Giovinazzo, President and CEO of Cynapsus commented, "Results from the first group of subjects of the CTH-104 clinical study are an important de-risking event for our product and set the stage for identifying efficacious doses for our upcoming clinical studies in 2014. We are encouraged that the 25mg strip was safe and well tolerated. Further, a significantly higher amount of drug accumulated in the blood stream as compared to the 10mg and 15mg strips that were tested in our CTH-103 study. This interim data shows that the APL-130277 strip can provide a concentration of apomorphine in the blood associated with an expected minimum efficacious concentration (i.e. approximately 3ng/ml) for over 2 hours, therefore potentially providing a significant reversal of the "off" state for patients with Parkinson's disease."
Dr. Albert Agro, Chief Medical Officer at Cynapsus, also commented: "The early PK and safety data from CTH-104 confirms that our formulation has both the potential for clinical efficacy and safety advantages over the sub-cutaneous injection of apomorphine. We look forward to the initiation of the upcoming clinical program assessing the effectiveness of APL-130277 in patients with Parkinson's disease."
CTH-104 Clinical Trial Design and Results
Background
As reported on January 13, 2104, the third cohort of the CTH-103 study was designed to compare the 25mg sublingual thin film strip (APL-130277) to the 4mg subcutaneous injection. This third cohort could not be dosed due to the dose-limiting adverse events experienced with the 3mg subcutaneous injection. The 15mg sublingual strip (APL-130277), which was the corresponding dose to the 3mg subcutaneous injection, resulted in side effects that were mild-to-moderate and not dose limiting.
The current CTH-104 study is a single dose, single arm, placebo-controlled, healthy volunteer pharmacokinetic study, which is designed to examine the pharmacokinetic profile of the 25mg dose of APL-130277.
The study is designed to include 16 healthy human volunteers (two placebo and 14 active). Nine (9) of the sixteen (16) subjects were completed in the first group, reported herein. The remaining subjects will be dosed and analysed within the next 15-30 days, at which point the combined data will be released.
Key Findings
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 United States, 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.
Critical Next Steps
For development of APL-130277 in the United States, the Corporation will follow the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway. Specifically, the Corporation is pursuing the reformulation of apomorphine from a subcutaneous injection to a convenient and more tolerable and safe sublingual thin film strip. The drug being delivered (apomorphine) is identical to the drug used in the injection, and its use will be intended as an acute rescue therapy for Parkinson's patients experiencing acute, intermittent hypomobility (i.e. "off" episodes) associated with advanced Parkinson's disease, which is the description of the use of apomorphine in the current US approved label.
The 505(b)(2) pathway will require that the Corporation provide statistically sufficient clinical evidence that Parkinson's patients experience management of their "off" episodes, as a result of delivery of apomorphine via the sublingual thin film strip route. The primary end point will be based on changes in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (UPDRS III) movement score. In addition, the Corporation will be required to provide in a separate study, statistically sufficient clinical evidence that administering apomorphine via a sublingual thin film route results in Parkinson's patients experiencing low to no oral irritation as a result of multiple daily exposures to the drug for an extended period.
To achieve this, the Corporation currently expects to complete the following clinical studies:
The above clinical development plan has been vetted with both clinical experts and regulatory consultants who have expertise in overseeing FDA 505(b)(2) submissions to the Agency.
In parallel to the studies described above, the Corporation will be performing the necessary scale-up, process validation and stability as part of the Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls ("CMC") requirements for the filing of the NDA. Accordingly, all development will be performed according to current Good Manufacturing Practices ("cGMP") methodology.
Upon completion of the efficacy and safety studies, as well as the CMC section, the Corporation expects will begin preparation of a FDA 505(b)(2) NDA in 2016.
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.
Over one million people in the U.S. and an estimated 4 to 6 million people globally suffer from Parkinson's disease. 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)(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 latest Annual Information Form 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.
Neither of the TSX Venture Exchange or OTCQX has approved or disapproved the contents of this press release.
Cynapsus Therapeutics Inc.
Anthony Giovinazzo
President and CEO
(416) 703-2449 x225
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Cynapsus Therapeutics Inc.
Andrew Williams
COO & CFO
(416) 703-2449 x253
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www.cynapsus.ca
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