Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals Presents Preclinical and Clinical Data on Immunomodulatory Agent SB 9200 at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver

MILFORD, Mass., April 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of viral infections, today announced the presentation of scientific data from its Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) programs at The International Liver Congress™ 2015, 50^th annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), April 22-26, in Vienna, Austria.

"The data presented at EASL on Saturday, April 25, continue to expand our understanding of the mechanism of action of SB 9200, an oral dinucleotide prodrug derived from our proprietary Small Molecule Nucleic Acid Hybrid (SMNH) technology platform," stated Radhakrishnan (Kris) Iyer, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Spring Bank. "Our studies demonstrate that SB 9200 activates the cell's innate immune response triggering Interferon production which causes the death of the infected cell thereby removing the virus while also providing protection for uninfected cells. Based on the results reported of a preclinical study in chronic hepatitis-carrier woodchucks and a Phase I study in HCV-infected patients, we are excited about the potential of SB 9200 for the treatment of HBV and HCV."

SB 9200 is an oral antiviral agent that uniquely acts by modulating the host immune response to viral infections through activation of host antiviral sensor proteins, RIG-I and NOD2.  RIG-1 and NOD2 are cytosolic viral sensors that are important for the regulation of the innate immune response and activation of intracellular interferon (IFN) signaling pathways in response to viral RNA. Data presented from a Phase I clinical study in HCV-infected patients with SB 9200 demonstrate safety, positive PK/PD characteristics and dose-dependent antiviral activity consistent with host immune modulation within infected cells.  Data presented from a 12-week study in the chronic woodchuck model of HBV infection demonstrate significant reductions in viral loads, surface antigen and cccDNA along with a strong safety profile, suggesting the potential of SB 9200 as a next generation HBV therapy in combination with currently available, direct acting HBV antiviral drugs as well as other agents in development.

"The data presented at EASL continue to build upon a growing body of scientific evidence supporting the development of SB 9200 in the treatment in HBV, HCV and other of viral diseases," said Douglas J. Jensen, President and CEO of Spring Bank. "Collectively, these data are helping to elucidate the underlying mechanisms that are the foundation for our research and development efforts with SB 9200. Based on the body of evidence we have assembled to date, we are  advancing SB 9200 into Phase II clinical trials in patients with HBV this year and evaluating opportunities to partner for Phase II combination studies in HCV."

A summary of the data presented by Spring Bank at the conference is below:

Poster Presentations

Title: Antiviral Efficacy and Induction of Host Immune Responses with SB 9200, an Oral Prodrug of the Dinucleotide SB 9000, in the Woodchuck Model of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection
Date and Time: Saturday, April 25, 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm (CEST)
Location: Hall B ePoster Area
Abstract Number: PO636
Session: Viral hepatitis: Hepatitis B & D – c. Clinical (Therapy, new compounds, resistance)

An oral presentation of the poster was made by Dr. Stephan Menne, Research Associate Professor at the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center

Summary: The study was a 12-week study in two groups of woodchucks with chronic woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) infection (the gold standard for HBV drug development). WHV carrier woodchucks (n=5/group) were treated orally, once daily, with SB 9200 for 12 weeks at doses of 15 or 30 mg/kg. Endpoints included PK, PD, tolerability, and efficacy determined by changes in serum levels of viral DNA, surface antigen (WHsAg), and antibody against WHsAg (anti-WHs). Efficacy in liver was evaluated by changes in levels of viral DNA, RNA, and antigens.

Treatment with SB 9200 at two select dose levels resulted in up to 4.2 and 2.2 log10 reductions in serum WHV DNA or WHsAg loads, respectively, from pretreatment levels. Treatment was also associated with reduced hepatic levels of WHV DNA replicative intermediate (RI) (up to 41%), WHV covalently-closed circular (ccc) DNA (up to 32%), and WHV RNA (up to 50%), lower hepatic expression of WHV core and surface antigens, and reduced liver disease progression. Following cessation of SB 9200 treatment, recrudescence of WHV replication was observed in all woodchucks treated with 15 mg/kg, whereas woodchucks administered 30 mg/kg had delays in the relapse of serum WHV DNA and WHsAg. The development of an anti-WHs antibody response was not observed in any of the woodchucks. Furthermore, the antiviral effects were associated with the dose-dependent induction of type I IFNs (IFN-α and IFN-β), ISGs (OAS-1, CXCL10, and ISG15), and cytokine (IL-6) in blood and liver. Prolonged SB 9200 administration at both dose levels was well tolerated with CBC, hematology and serum biochemistry parameters all appearing normal through the treatment period.

During this study, once-daily oral administration of SB 9200 in woodchucks with chronic WHV infection resulted in marked reductions in serum and hepatic levels of viral DNA, RNA, and antigens that were associated with (or were a result of) the induction of host immune responses. These results suggest that SB 9200 can induce an antiviral immune response during chronic active hepadnaviral infection that has the potential for a functional cure in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, most likely in combination with approved anti-HBV drugs.

Title: SB 9200, A Novel Immunomodulator for Patients with Viral Hepatitis: Phase 1 MAD Study in
Patients with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection
Date and Time: Saturday, April 25, 2015, 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm (CEST)
Location: Hall B ePoster Area
Session: Late Breaker

Summary: This was a first in man randomized, placebo-controlled, multiple ascending dose study of SB 9200 in treatment-naïve, HCV-infected adults. Subjects were randomized 6:2 to SB 9200 or placebo for 7 days. Doses evaluated were 200 mg (N=8), 400 mg (N=8), 900 mg (N=8 HCV-1, N=6 HCV-3). The results showed that increases in SB 9200 AUC0-t and Cmax were dose-proportional. The terminal plasma half-life (t1/2) on Days 1 and 7 ranged from 0.684 to 1.07 hours for SB 9200, and was slightly longer for the metabolites: Sp-SB 9000 t1/2 was 4.65-8.90 hours, Rp-SB 9000 t1/2 was 4.31-5.94 hours. SB 9200 Cmax ranged from 0.531 to 6.66 ng/mL at 0.817 and 3.00 hours. Sp-SB 9000 Cmax ranged from 7.13 to 22.0 ng/mL at 1.00 and 12.0 hours. Rp-SB 9000 Cmax ranged from 4.32 to 14.7 ng/mL at 1.00 and 12.0 hours. Peak individual viral load drop improved from 1.5 to 1.9 log10 when the dose increased from 200 to 400 mg. Further dose increases did not result in response increases. Inter-individual variability in antiviral response was observed.

A significant relationship between SB 9200 Cmax and maximum suppression of HCV RNA on Day 7 was observed (p=0.015) after exclusion of two subjects with extreme Cmax values for SB 9200. Seventy-three adverse events (AEs) were reported by 25 subjects (83.3%), mostly mild in severity. No dose limiting toxicities or systemic interferon-like side effects were observed and no serious adverse events were reported. There was no relationship between incidences, severity or relationship of AEs and dose of SB 9200 received or placebo. Results of this study suggest an anti-viral effect similar to interferon but without systemic side effects. Based on the reported HCV data, Spring Bank believes SB9200 merits further evaluation in combination trials with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).

About SB 9200

SB 9200, derived from Spring Bank's proprietary Small Molecule Nucleic Acid Hybrid (SMNH) technology platform, is a novel anti-viral agent that uniquely acts by modulating the host immune response to viral infections through activation of the intracellular sentinel proteins RIG-I and NOD2. SB 9200 is being developed for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis B and C and other viral infections.

About Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals

Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company. Based on its proprietary SMNH chemistry platform, Spring Bank is developing a pipeline of products representing a new class of pharmaceuticals with a wide range of applications. These rationally designed molecules combine the selectivity of naturally occurring nucleotides with the drug-like properties of classical pharmaceuticals.  The SMNHs have the properties of oral delivery, good pharmacokinetic profile, low side effects and ease of manufacture. The Company's most advanced clinical candidate, SB 9200, is a potential breakthrough drug for the treatment for HBV, HCV and other viral diseases. SB 9200 has a novel mechanism of action that involves modulation of the host immune response in the presence of viral infection. 

Note Regarding NIH-Funded Research

Certain studies mentioned in this press release were partly supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01AI094469 and NIAID contract laboratories. The content of this press release is solely the responsibility of Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Contact:

Douglas J. Jensen
President and Chief Executive Officer
(508) 473-5993 x105

Matthew Haines / Maeve Conneighton
Argot Partners
(212) 600-1902
[email protected]
[email protected]

SOURCE Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Related Links

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