Silence Therapeutics' Partner Quark Pharmaceuticals Announces Results From Phase 2 PF-04523655 Study in Diabetic Macular Edema
LONDON, March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Silence Therapeutics plc (AIM: SLN) ("Silence" or the "Company") a leading global RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics company, announces today that its partner, Quark Pharmaceuticals, has received results from a prospective randomized Phase 2 trial, the DEGAS study. The study evaluated the safety and efficacy of PF-04523655 (RTP801I- 14) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). PF-04523655 incorporates Silence's AtuRNAi technology and was sub-licensed to Pfizer Inc. by Quark Pharmaceuticals.
The key highlights of the announcement are:
- Interim results at 12 months showed there were no drug related Serious Adverse Events
- Best results achieved at 3mg dose level, mean improvement from baseline on a visual acuity test was 5.8 letters for all patients enrolled in the 3mg dose group versus 2.4 letters on average in patients treated with laser photocoagulation control (the current standard of care)
- Separate secondary analysis of the 111 patients who completed the 12 month follow up visit showed mean improvement from baseline on a visual acuity test in the 3mg group of 9.1 letters versus 3.2 letters on average (p<0.01) in patients treated with laser photocoagulation control
- Quark Pharmaceuticals will conduct a Phase 2b study
The announcement issued by Quark Pharmaceuticals is shown below:
In a Phase 2 Study PF-04523655 (RTP801I-14) Showed Improved Vision Over Standard of Care in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema at 12 Months
Quark Pharmaceuticals to Initiate Phase 2b Study
Fremont, CA March 18, 2011, - Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of RNAi-based therapeutics, today announced that it has received results from a prospective randomized Phase 2 trial, the DEGAS study. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of PF-04523655 (RTP801I- 14) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). 184 patients were randomly assigned to four treatment groups; three dose levels of PF-04523655 (RTP801I-14) (0.4mg, 1mg, and 3mg) or laser. The study was designed with a primary endpoint of mean visual acuity improvements over baseline at 24 months.
Interim results at 12 months showed there were no drug related Serious Adverse Events (SAEs). Following 12 months of treatment with PF-04523655 (RTP801I-14), a dose dependent improvement in visual acuity was observed with the best results achieved at the 3mg dose level. At this dose, the mean improvement from baseline on a visual acuity test was 5.8 letters for all patients enrolled in this dose group while in patients treated with laser photocoagulation control (the current standard of care) visual acuity improved by only 2.4 letters on average (p=0.08). Furthermore, in a separate secondary analysis of the 111 patients who completed the 12 month follow up visit, the mean improvement from baseline on a visual acuity test in the 3mg group was 9.1 letters while in patients treated with laser photocoagulation control visual acuity improved by only 3.2 letters on average (p<0.01).
The study was terminated at 12 months based upon this interim analysis suggesting that higher doses would be necessary to produce a therapeutic effect sufficiently superior to the current standard of care to benefit patients over the long term given emerging new therapeutic modalities. Based upon these results, and in view of a dose related effect on vision, Quark and Pfizer have mutually agreed that a Phase 2b study will be conducted by Quark at its own expense under a protocol mutually agreed upon by Quark and Pfizer. Quark will test higher doses of PF-04523655 (RTP801I-14) and determine the optimal dose for pivotal Phase 3 studies. It is designed as a randomized, dose ranging comparator study that will evaluate the safety and efficacy of PF-04523655 (RTP801I-14) versus Lucentis(R).
Quark and Pfizer also agreed to amend their existing agreement in order to enable Quark to conduct the Phase 2b study. Under the amended agreement, Pfizer has materially increased the development and product approval milestone payments associated with the first ophthalmic use of PF-04523655 (RTP801I-14), as well as the royalty rates for the product. Under the amended license agreement, if Pfizer chooses to continue development of PF-04523655 (RTP801I-14) following review of the Phase 2b data, Quark may receive total developmental and sales milestones payments for all indications, including those related to successful completion of the Phase 2b study, of up to approximately $700 million.
Stated Daniel Zurr, Ph.D. President and Chief Executive Officer of Quark: "We are very encouraged by the results, both by the biological activity and the significant dose response. We look forward to initiating this Phase 2b study with the aim to determine the optimal dose for pivotal trials."
About the Phase 2b Study
The Phase 2b prospective, randomized, multi-center, dose-ranging, comparator study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of PF-04523655 (RTP801I-14) versus Lucentis(R) in patients with diabetic macular edema. Approximately 225 patients will be given the drug PF-04523655 (RTP801I-14) at varying doses including higher doses than in the DEGAS study or will be given Lucentis.
About Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company engaged in discovering and developing novel RNAi interference or RNAi-based therapeutics. The Company has a fully integrated drug development platform that spans therapeutic target identification based on its proprietary gene discovery science and technology, to clinical drug development. The Company has initially been focusing on RNAi-based therapeutics for the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress and ischemic injury. Quark has three product candidates in clinical development in five different indications of which four are in Phase 2.
Quark is committed to leveraging a broad research pipeline of siRNA drug candidates and novel siRNA structures to develop additional RNAi drug candidates.
Quark is headquartered in Fremont, California and operates research and development facilities in Boulder, Colorado and Ness-Ziona, Israel. Additional information is available at www.quarkpharma.com.
Notes for editors
About Silence Therapeutics plc ( http://www.silence-therapeutics.com)
Silence Therapeutics plc (AIM: SLN) is a leading global biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery, development and delivery of targeted, systemic RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics for the treatment of serious diseases. The company possesses multiple proprietary short interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery technology platforms including AtuPLEX(TM), a system that enables the functional delivery of siRNA molecules to targeted diseased tissues and cells, while increasing their bioavailability and intracellular uptake. A second, complementary delivery technology known as PolyTran(TM) uses a library of novel peptide-based biodegradable polycationic polymers for systemic siRNA administration. Additionally, the company has a platform of novel siRNA molecules, AtuRNAi, which provide a number of advantages over conventional siRNA molecules, including reduced cytokine induction and decreased manufacturing costs. Silence's unique RNAi assets also include structural features for a next generation of RNAi molecules and additional proprietary siRNA sequences against more than 50 highly valued oncology and other disease targets.
The Company's lead internal drug candidate is Atu027, a liposomal AtuRNAi formulation in clinical development for systemic cancer indications and one of the most clinically advanced RNAi therapeutics in the area of oncology. Silence is currently conducting an open-label, single-centre, dose-escalation Phase I study with Atu027 in patients with advanced solid tumors involving single, as well as, repeated intravenous administration. The study is expected to be completed in the second half of 2011.
The Company's RNAi therapeutic platform has received key validation through multiple partnerships with pharmaceutical companies including AstraZeneca, Dainippon Sumitomo, Pfizer, and Quark. Silence is actively pursuing the establishment of additional partnerships.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Silence Therapeutics and Silence Therapeutics assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
For further information, please contact:
Silence Therapeutics
Phil Haworth / Max Herrmann
+1(650)855-1514 / +4420-7491-6520
[email protected] / [email protected]
Vida Communication (US)
Tim Brons (media) / Stephanie Diaz (investors)
+1-415-675-7400
[email protected] / [email protected]
Singer Capital Markets
Shaun Dobson / Claes Spang
+44-20-32057500
[email protected] / [email protected]
M:Communications (Europe)
Katja Toon / Emma Thompson
+44-20-7920-2345 / +44-20-7920-2342
[email protected]
SOURCE Silence Therapeutics Plc
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