Ardelyx Announces Science Translational Medicine Publication Detailing Tenapanor's Unique Mechanism of Action Inhibiting Paracellular Phosphate Absorption

FREMONT, Calif., Aug. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ardelyx, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARDX), today announced that the novel mechanism of action for tenapanor for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia, or elevated serum phosphorus, has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Translational Medicine. Tenapanor, Ardelyx's lead product candidate, is a sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) inhibitor currently being evaluated in a second, Phase 3 registration trial, the PHREEDOM trial, for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are on dialysis. The paper, titled "Inhibition of sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3 in the gastrointestinal tract by tenapanor reduces paracellular phosphate permeability," can be accessed in the current online edition of the publication.

"The elucidation of tenapanor's mechanism is a landmark discovery in our field causing us to completely rethink our understanding of phosphate transport and absorption," said Geoff Block, M.D., director of clinical research at Denver Nephrology Research, and a PHREEDOM trial investigator. "Nearly all patients with ESRD have elevated serum phosphorus, a problem that if not managed properly through diet changes and prescription medication, can lead to an increase in morbidity and mortality in patients. Today, our only therapeutic option is to use phosphate binders, which are inadequate in reducing serum phosphorus in the majority of patients and associated with a number of challenges, including low rates of compliance because of the large number of pills that must be taken each day, significant tolerability issues and long-term concerns related to the safety of our patients. I believe tenapanor could shift our treatment approach and offer a significant benefit to patients, who absolutely need better options."

Ardelyx scientists, in collaboration with global academic experts, established the mechanism by which tenapanor reduces gastrointestinal phosphate absorption using in vivo studies in rodents, as well as Ardelyx's human stem cell-based translational technology called the Ardelyx Primary Enterocyte and Colonocyte Culture System (APECCS). In the past, the literature has described two pathways of phosphate absorption in the gut: active transcellular transport directly through the cells lining the gut and passive paracellular flux through tight junction protein pores between cells. Historically, the science has focused almost exclusively on the transcellular transport pathway where specific transporter proteins bring phosphate into and through intestinal cells and into the blood. Ardelyx's discoveries conclude that phosphate absorption in humans actually occurs primarily through a dynamically regulated paracellular pathway. This pathway of phosphate flux is inhibited by tenapanor in a manner that appears largely specific for phosphate, whereas the overall absorption of other ions and large molecules appear not to be affected. Tenapanor's phosphate mechanism is due to its direct action on NHE3, which exchanges sodium from the lumen of the gut for an intracellular proton. Inhibition of NHE3 by tenapanor results in proton retention in the cell, which modulates tight junction proteins to decrease permeability to phosphate, reducing paracellular phosphate absorption. Dynamic regulation of the permeability characteristics of the tight junction pore has only very recently been recognized, and tenapanor is the first agent to demonstrate this dynamic regulation of paracellular phosphate permeability.

Tenapanor's novel mechanism of action has translated into meaningful reductions in serum phosphorus in humans, as reported in the findings from Ardelyx's first Phase 3 clinical study evaluating tenapanor for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in ESRD patients on dialysis. That trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant difference in change in serum phosphorus between pooled tenapanor-treated patients and placebo-treated patients from the end of the eight-week treatment period to the end of the four-week randomized withdrawal period, in the responder population. Tenapanor was also well-tolerated in the trial, with limited discontinuations due to GI-related adverse events in the treatment period and no discontinuations related to GI events in the randomized withdrawal period.

"Tenapanor's dynamic mechanism of lowering phosphate by tight junction modulation with just two small pills has the potential to offer a first-of-its-kind approach to treating this large and growing patient population," commented David Rosenbaum, Ph.D., chief development officer of Ardelyx. "This important publication showcases our commitment to scientific innovation, unique insights into the biology of the gut and chemistry capabilities that enable us to design and optimize gut-restricted compounds. Tenapanor, if approved, would offer an entirely new way of treating ESRD patients who need a convenient, effective and tolerable medicine for managing phosphorus."

Ardelyx's Phase 3 PHREEDOM trial is enrolling patients, and the company expects to report results from this registration study in 2019.

About Hyperphosphatemia
Phosphorus, a vital element required for most cellular processes, is present in almost every food in the Western diet, and, in individuals with normal kidney function, excess dietary phosphorus is efficiently removed by the kidneys and excreted in urine. In adults with functioning kidneys, normal serum phosphorus levels are 2.5 to 4.5 mg/dL. With kidney failure, elevated phosphorus becomes harmful and is diagnosed as hyperphosphatemia when serum phosphorus levels are greater than 4.5 mg/dL, according to KDIGO guidelines¹.  Although patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) rely on dialysis to eliminate harmful agents, these patients cannot adequately handle a typical daily phosphate intake and other means of managing phosphorus levels must be employed. In addition to dialysis, ESRD patients are put on restrictive low phosphorus diets and are currently prescribed medications called phosphate binders, the only interventions currently marketed for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia.

About Ardelyx, Inc.
Ardelyx is focused on enhancing the way people with renal diseases are treated by developing first-in-class medicines. Ardelyx's renal pipeline includes the Phase 3 development of tenapanor for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in people with end-stage renal disease who are on dialysis and RDX013, a potassium secretagogue program for the potential treatment of high potassium, or hyperkalemia, a problem among certain patients with kidney and/or heart disease. In addition, Ardelyx has completed Phase 3 development of tenapanor for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and anticipates submitting a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for this indication early in the fourth quarter of 2018. To efficiently bring its treatments to market, Ardelyx is pursuing strategic collaborations for tenapanor for IBS-C and hyperphosphatemia in certain territories. Ardelyx has established agreements with Kyowa Hakko Kirin in Japan, Fosun Pharma in China and Knight Therapeutics in Canada. For more information, please visit http://www.ardelyx.com/ and connect with us on Twitter @Ardelyx.

Forward Looking Statements
To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding Ardelyx, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor of the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995, including the potential for Ardelyx's product candidates in treating the diseases and conditions for which they are being developed; Ardelyx's expected timing for the filing of its NDA for tenapanor for the treatment of IBS-C, and Ardelyx's expected timing to report topline data for its Phase 3 PHREEDOM clinical trial of tenapanor for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with end-stage renal disease who are on dialysis. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause the development of Ardelyx's product candidates or Ardelyx's future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties inherent in research and the clinical development process, including the regulatory approval process. Ardelyx undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to Ardelyx's business in general, please refer to Ardelyx's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 7, 2018, and its future current and periodic reports to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

¹ KDIGO CKD-MBD Guidelines 2017. https://kdigo.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2017-KDIGO-CKD-MBD-GL-Update.pdf

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