BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. Announces Positive Data from Phase 2b Study of CCH in Patients with Cellulite

LYNBROOK, N.Y., Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: BSTC), a biopharmaceutical company that originated and continues to develop collagenase based-therapies with a first in class collagenase-based product collagenase clostridium histolyticum, or CCH, marketed as XIAFLEX^® in the U.S. and Xiapex^® in Europe today announced positive, highly statistically significant results from a Phase 2b study of CCH for the treatment of cellulite, or edematous fibrosclerotic panniculopathy. Trial subjects receiving CCH showed statistically significant levels of improvement in the appearance of cellulite with treatment, as measured by the trial's primary endpoint (p<0.001), compared to those subjects receiving placebo. CCH was well-tolerated in the actively treated subjects with most adverse events being mild to moderate in severity, and primarily limited to the local injection area.

"Like in the prior Phase 2a study, these positive results are very encouraging, particularly because both patients and physicians saw a statistically significant improvement in the appearance of cellulite after CCH treatment," said Thomas L. Wegman, President of BioSpecifics. "Cellulite is highly prevalent in women and we see a promising opportunity for CCH in this indication and other cosmetic indications. We look forward to our partner advancing development of CCH for cellulite into Phase 3."

The Phase 2b trial was conducted by BioSpecifics' partner Endo International plc and enrolled 375 women with moderate or severe cellulite aged 18 years or older in the United States. Each subject received up to three treatment sessions of CCH (0.84 mg / session) or placebo with each treatment session occurring approximately 21 days apart. Twelve injections were administered into cellulite dimples during each session across an entire treatment quadrant - left or right buttock or left or right posteriolateral thigh. At both the outset and conclusion of the study period (28 days after the last treatment), cellulite severity was assessed by each patient and clinician using two photonumeric cellulite severity scales developed by Endo and third-party experts. The scales - the Photonumeric Cellulite Severity Scale (PCSS) - are 5-point scales ranging from 0 (no cellulite) to 4 (severe cellulite) that measure improvement in the appearance of cellulite.

The primary endpoint was the proportion of composite responders at Day 71 defined as subjects with a 2-point improvement in severity from baseline in the clinician-reported (CR) PCSS and a 2-point improvement in the patient-reported (PR) PCSS. Additional endpoints include a composite of 1-point responders, the percentage of responders with 1-point and 2-point improvements on the CR-PCSS and PR-PCSS, assessment of improvement by patient and clinician using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS); subject satisfaction, and change in the Hexsel cellulite severity scale.

Key Phase 2b Trial Results Include:

• Subjects receiving CCH demonstrated a highly statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint of composite investigators' and patients' assessments of the appearance of cellulite, as measured by a two-point improvement in both the CR-PCSS and PR-PCSS scores, with a p-value of <0.001 versus placebo.
• Subjects receiving CCH demonstrated a highly statistically significant improvement in the composite investigators' and patients' assessments of the appearance of cellulite, as measured by a one-point improvement in both the CR-PCSS and PR-PCSS scores, with a p-value of <0.001 versus placebo.
• A highly significant proportion of CCH subjects reported being "Satisfied" or "Very Satisfied" with their cellulite treatment, compared to placebo subjects, with a p-value of <0.001.
• A highly significant proportion of CCH subjects were reported as "Improved" or "Very Improved" or "Very Much Improved" in global appearance of their cellulite area as assessed by the subjects and investigators, compared to placebo subjects, with a p-value of <0.001.
• CCH was well-tolerated by all dose groups with most adverse events (AEs) being mild to moderate and primarily limited to the local injection area; 92 percent of all related AEs were mild to moderate in the CCH group compared to 96 percent in the placebo group; the most common AEs were expected and included injection site bruising (approximately 75 percent) and injection site pain (approximately 59 percent).

About Cellulite

Edematous fibrosclerotic panniculopathy, commonly known as cellulite, describes a condition in which lobules of subcutaneous adipose tissue extend into the dermal layer. Cellulite affects approximately 85-98 percent of post-pubertal females and can involve the loss of elasticity or shrinking of collagen cords, called septae, that attach the skin to lower layers of muscle. When fat in cellulite prone areas swells and expands, the septae tether the skin, which causes surface dimpling characteristic of cellulite. These changes can visibly affect the shape of the epidermis and resemble an orange peel-like dimpling of the skin.

About BioSpecifics Technologies Corp.

BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. is a biopharmaceutical company that has developed injectable collagenase for twelve clinical indications to date. Injectable collagenase is marketed as XIAFLEX® in the U.S. for the treatment of Dupuytren's contracture and Peyronie's disease by BioSpecifics' partner, Endo International plc (Endo). XIAFLEX® is also commercialized in Japan, Europe, Canada and Australia for Dupuytren's contracture and also for Peyronie's disease in Europe and Australia. Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi) has marketing rights for Xiapex® (the European tradename for XIAFLEX) in Europe and certain Eurasian countries and Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation (Asahi) has marketing rights in Japan. Sobi is selling Xiapex in Europe for the treatment of Dupuytren's contracture and Peyronie's disease and Asahi is selling XIAFLEX for the treatment of Dupuytren's contracture in Japan. The XIAFLEX research and development pipeline includes several additional promising indications. Endo is currently managing development of CCH for Dupuytren's nodules, cellulite, adhesive capsulitis, human and canine lipoma, lateral hip fat and plantar fibromatosis. BioSpecifics is managing the development of CCH for uterine fibroids and plans to initiate clinical development in the first quarter of 2017. For more information, please visit www.biospecifics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of, and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding the company's strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, expected revenue growth, and the assumptions underlying or relating to such statements, are "forward-looking statements." The forward-looking statements in this press release include statements concerning, among other things, whether there is a promising opportunity for CCH for the treatment of cellulite and other cosmetic indications and whether and when Endo will advance development of CCH for cellulite into Phase 3.In some cases, these statements can be identified by forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "plan", "may," "will," "can," and "could," the negative or plural of these words, and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are predictions based on BioSpecifics' current expectations and its projections about future events and various assumptions. There can be no assurance that BioSpecifics will realize its expectations or that BioSpecifics' beliefs will prove correct. There are a number of important factors that could cause BioSpecifics' actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including the timing of regulatory filings and action; the ability of Endo and its partners, Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB, to achieve their objectives for XIAFLEX in their applicable territories; the market for XIAFLEX in, and timing, initiation and outcome of clinical trials for, additional indications including adhesive capsulitis, cellulite, human lipoma, canine lipoma, uterine fibroids, plantar fibromatosis, lateral hip fat and Dupuytren's nodules all of which will determine the amount of milestone, royalty, mark-up on cost of goods sold, license and sublicense income BioSpecifics may receive; the potential of CCH to be used in additional indications; Endo modifying its objectives or allocating resources other than to XIAFLEX; and other risk factors identified in BioSpecifics' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2016 and BioSpecifics' Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date hereof, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this press release and, except as may be required by law, BioSpecifics assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE BioSpecifics Technologies Corp.

Related Links

http://www.biospecifics.com