Synageva BioPharma Presents Sebelipase Alfa Data At The NASPGHAN Meeting

LEXINGTON, Mass., Oct. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Synageva BioPharma Corp. (Synageva) (NASDAQ: GEVA), a biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutic products for rare disorders, announced today two poster presentations of sebelipase alfa data for LAL Deficiency and a satellite symposium at the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) annual meeting being held October 23-26, 2014 in Atlanta, GA. 

Reduced steatosis and fibrosis observed with sebelipase alfa from an ongoing Phase 1/2 extension study in adults with LAL Deficiency

Nine adults with LAL Deficiency enrolled in the Phase 1/2 trial with sebelipase alfa.  After completing the initial four-week portion of the trial, patients were allowed to continue treatment with sebelipase alfa as part of a long-term, open-label extension study.  Eight of nine patients enrolled in the extension study and continue treatment with sebelipase alfa.  The ninth patient delayed entering the extension study and, after 10 months without treatment, experienced progression of liver disease requiring an urgent liver transplant.

As previously reported, with six of the eight patients enrolled in the ongoing Phase 1/2 extension study completing two years of treatment, sebelipase alfa continued to demonstrate sustained reductions in the biomarkers of liver damage (both ALT and AST), frequently into the normal range, from the pre-treatment baseline to two years of the extension study.  Sebelipase alfa also maintained improvements in dyslipidemia associated with LAL Deficiency, with decreases in LDL and triglycerides and increases in HDL from the pre-treatment baseline to two years of the extension study. 

Most adverse events through the two years of the extension study were mild and unrelated to sebelipase alfa.  Infusion associated reactions were uncommon, generally mild and gastrointestinal in nature (diarrhea, abdominal cramping).  Two serious adverse events (cholecystitis/cholelithiasis) considered unlikely related to sebelipase alfa occurred in one patient and this patient continues treatment with sebelipase alfa in the study.

Updated data from this ongoing Phase 1/2 trial presented at the NASPGHAN meeting include pre-treatment and post-sebelipase alfa treatment liver biopsies obtained from two patients.  Compared to historical pre-treatment biopsies, biopsies obtained after more than 18 months of treatment with sebelipase alfa showed less steatosis and fibrosis based on assessments performed by local pathologists.  One patient had a pre-treatment biopsy at 17 years of age with notable steatosis assessed visually and extensive fibrosis with numerous fibrous bridges and initial nodulations.  A subsequent liver biopsy conducted one and a half years after treatment with sebelipase alfa at 22 years of age showed substantial decreases in steatosis with less fibrosis localized to periportal areas associated with some septa.  A second patient had a pre-treatment liver biopsy at 37 years of age revealing significant steatosis and fibrosis.  A subsequent liver biopsy conducted two years after treatment with sebelipase alfa at 44 years of age showed mild steatosis with no significant fibrosis. 

Updated results from an ongoing Phase 2/3 trial with sebelipase alfa in infants with LAL Deficiency

The ongoing Phase 2/3 trial is an open-label, multicenter study of sebelipase alfa in infants with LAL Deficiency.  Infants with growth failure before six months of age were eligible to enroll and receive weekly infusions with sebelipase alfa (1-3 mg/kg).  The primary endpoint of the trial is survival at 12 months of age.  In a natural history study, failure to thrive, liver complications and mortality were confirmed in infants with LAL Deficiency.  The median age (range) for infants at symptom onset, diagnosis, and death was 1.0 month (0-6.0), 2.6 months (1.0-17.7), and 3.7 months (1.4-46.3), respectively.  Growth failure and aggressive liver disease contributed to early mortality.  Transaminase levels (ALT and/or AST), abnormal at diagnosis, markedly increased with disease progression.  Hematopoietic stem cell transplants were performed in 10 infants; seven of these 10 infants died before nine months of age and three infants died between 26.9­-­46.3 months of age.

Data from the nine infants enrolled in the clinical trial were presented at the meeting.  Patients with previous hematopoietic stem cell or liver transplant were excluded from this study.  The median age of infants at first infusion with sebelipase alfa was 3.0 months. The median baseline liver function tests (ALT and AST of 145 IU/L and 125 IU/L, respectively) revealed underlying liver dysfunction and high baseline ferritin levels (median 586 ug/L) indicated macrophage activation.  Diarrhea and vomiting, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and adrenal calcification were also common.

Six infants met the primary endpoint of survival at 12 months of age and five infants continue on treatment with sebelipase alfa.  In addition to improved survival relative to the historical cohort, all infants demonstrated improved weight gain, improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms, and reductions in hepatosplenomegaly. In addition to these clinical effects, rapid improvements in biochemical and hematological markers including ALT, AST, hemoglobin, and bilirubin were also observed.  Four infants died during the study.  Three infants died shortly after the start of the study, unrelated to sebelipase alfa, and one infant who met the primary endpoint of survival at 12 months of age subsequently died at 15 months of age, and this was considered unlikely related to treatment with sebelipase alfa. 

Adverse events with sebelipase alfa were mostly mild to moderate.  Serious adverse events were mainly related to central line infections or hospitalizations for treatment with antibiotics.  One patient experienced three related serious adverse events that included fever, malaise, and tachycardia developed during the infusion of sebelipase alfa.  Four infants were previously described as having developed anti-drug antibodies and only one infant remains anti-drug antibody positive at the last data cut.  All four infants continue on infusions with sebelipase alfa.

Synageva-sponsored satellite symposium

During the NASPGHAN meeting, Synageva sponsored a satellite symposium entitled "Pediatric Metabolic Liver Disorders: Diagnostic Challenges Via Case Choice."  The symposium was chaired by Kathleen B. Schwarz, M.D., Director, Pediatric Liver Center, Medical Director, Pediatric Liver Transplant Program, Professor of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Baltimore, MD.

Sebelipase Alfa for LAL Deficiency

LAL Deficiency is a serious, underdiagnosed disease that manifests with significant morbidity and early mortality.  LAL Deficiency causes progressive and multisystemic organ damage including hepatic cirrhosis and accelerated atherosclerosis that can lead to sudden and unpredictable clinical complications.  LAL Deficiency often manifests in childhood but can be diagnosed at all ages with a simple blood test.  LAL Deficiency is caused by genetic mutations that result in decreased LAL enzyme activity in the lysosomes across multiple body tissues, leading to the buildup of fatty material in the liver, blood vessel walls and other tissues.

Sebelipase alfa is a recombinant form of the human LAL enzyme being developed by Synageva as an enzyme replacement therapy for LAL Deficiency.  Sebelipase alfa has been granted orphan designation by the FDA, the EMA, and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.  Additionally, sebelipase alfa received fast track designation by the FDA, and Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA for LAL Deficiency presenting in infants.

Synageva routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the "Investor Relations" section of the company's website at www.synageva.com.  Synageva encourages investors and potential investors to consult this website regularly for important information about the company.

Further information regarding Synageva is available at www.synageva.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements".  Such statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "expect," "plan," "could," "intend," "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "forecast," "project," or words of similar meaning. Many factors may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements, including inaccurate assumptions and a broad variety of risks and uncertainties some of which are known, such as, risk that the outcomes of our clinical trials may not support registration or further development due to safety, efficacy or other reasons, the decisions by the FDA and other regulatory authorities, and the risks identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in Synageva's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on July 31, 2014 and other filings Synageva periodically makes with the SEC, and others of which are not known.  Preclinical and clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations, and regulatory agencies, as well as medical and scientific experts, may not share Synageva's views regarding these data or its implications.  Synageva may encounter problems or delays in preclinical and clinical development, the regulatory process, or in manufacturing and supply product.  No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results or events, and investors should avoid placing undue reliance on such statements.  Synageva undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  Our business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those referenced above.  Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties.

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