HIGH IMPACTArdelyx has launched Ibsrela (tenapanor) for the treatment of IBS-C in adults. Ardelyx has also created a patient support program ArdelyxAssist. 

Ibsrela messaging highlights its different mechanisms of action, 3 way in which it treats constipation and pain (softens stool and accelerates bowel movement, improves leaky gut to reduce abdominal pain, and lessens activity of pain-sensing nerves in the intestine to reduce abdominal pain).

The Ibsrela co-pay program allows eligible commercial insurance patients to pay as little as $0. [Ibsrela Website]

inThought Analysis

Despite speculations from the Street on whether Ardelyx will have enough cash runway to launch Ibsrela (which stemmed from the new risk language provided in their latest regulatory filing), the company has launched the drug on time.

Ibsrela is priced at WAC $25 per pill, or $1500 per 60 unit package. With BID dosing the annual cost of the drug is $18250, at a significant premium to $16.35 per pill for Linzess with annual cost of $5968 with QD dosing.

 

Source: Ardelyx Press Release

HIGH IMPACT – The FDA’s Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee (PCNSDAC) reviewed Amylyx’s NDA for AMX0035 in ALS and voted that the current data do not support the efficacy for AMX0035 to treat ALS.

  • Amylyx’s FDA submission was based on a 24-week placebo-controlled study of 137 participants with ALS.
  • The panel voted 4 Yes 6 No and 0 Abstain on the question “Do the data from the single randomized, controlled trial and the open-label extension study (Phase II CENTAUR trial) establish a conclusion that sodium phenylbutyrate/taurursodiol [AMX0035] is effective in the treatment of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)?
  • In response to FDA’s decision, Amylyx said it is confident in the trial data and the benefits of the drug as a treatment option for ALS.
  • The PDUFA date for the FDA’s priority review decision on the approval of AMX0035 is expected on June 29th, 2022.

inThought Analysis

The decision was in line with Monday’s briefing documents, where the FDA staff reviewers raised concerns over the drug’s trial data and efficacy. The tight vote against the drug contrasted with strong support from patients during the “open public hearing”, where several noted that both the FDA and Amylyx agree that AMX0035 “causes no material harm”. Amylyx recently initiated a larger trial in about 600 patients globally, but completion is not expected until 2024.

 

Source: Amylyx Press Release

MODERATE IMPACTServier has resubmitted an MAA to the EMA for its IDH1 inhibitor Tibsovo (ivosidenib) for use with azacitidine as a first-line treatment for patients with IDH1-mutated AML who are not eligible for intensive chemotherapy, and for treating previously treated, locally advanced or metastatic IDH1-mutated cholangiocarcinoma.

inThought Analysis

Servier has resubmitted the marketing application to the EMA more than a year after a previous EU filing was withdrawn for the product, after the EMA had expressed concern that the main study did not provide enough evidence that Tibsovo was effective. Tibsovo is approved in the US for treating AML and cholangiocarcinoma. Tibsovo is also approved for use in China for relapsed or refractory AML.

 

Source: Server Press Release

HIGH IMPACTAt its 4Q/full-year 2021 earnings release, Voyager announced a license agreement with Novartis for the TRACER AAV capsids.

  • Under the agreement, Novartis may exercise options to license novel AAV capsids generated from Voyager’s TRACER capsid discovery platform for potential use with three CNS targets and options to access capsids for two additional targets in the future. These targets are distinct from those being explored in Voyager’s internal pipeline and other licensing agreements.
  • Voyager will receive $54 million up front and is entitled to receive up to $27.5 million in exercise fees for three initial CNS targets, exercisable by Novartis within 12 months of signing.
  • Novartis may elect to evaluate capsids for up to two additional targets in the future for $18 million upon selection of each target, and a $12.5 million exercise fee for selection of a capsid for each target.
  • Voyager is also eligible to earn up to $1.5 billion in total development, regulatory, and commercial milestones for products utilizing Voyager-licensed capsids, as well as mid- to high-single-digit tiered royalties based on net sales of Novartis products incorporating the licensed capsids.

Voyager also reiterated the license agreement with Pfizer in October 2021 that allowed Pfizer to receive target-specific access to Voyager’s TRACER capsids for one CNS and one cardiovascular target.

Preclinical data, previously presented at ASGCT 2021, demonstrated AAV9-derived TRACER capsids can be delivered across blood-brain barrier when dosed intravenously.

The company plans to present preclinical data on additional TRACER AAV9 and AAV5 variants aimed to improve CNS targeting at a spring medical conference (likely ASGCT 2022).

Additional pipeline assets include gene therapy programs Parkinson’s, ALS, Huntington’s, and Alzheimer’s. Preclinical data will be presented at a spring medical conference.

 

Q&A:

  • On Pfizer partnership progress to-date: There is a 12-month evaluation period during which we provide the construct necessary for Pfizer to evaluate the capsids, so that’s underway. It’s in process. They let us know which capsids they’d like to evaluate right now, and that work is ongoing. So we’ll find out whether in which capsids they like to exercise on. They have until October of this year to make that decision.
  • On Novartis program’s CNS indications: the 3 CNS targets under the Novartis deal are undisclosed. So we can’t comment on what those are, except that they are in the CNS. So there is a focus on rare diseases in CNS just in terms of the limitations of the agreement that will be disclosed in due course, but it’s not really very limiting when we talk about what rare disease is with respect to CNS.
  • On Voyager’s advancement of internal pipeline moving towards clinic: With regard to the pipeline, it’s an early stage pipeline. We rebooted last August and really began to focus the pipeline entirely on the tracer capsids. So this means intravenous delivery for a number of the targets, including the CNS targets that we have in the pipeline. We have not released any time lines at this point. But suffice to say, it’s early stage. We are developing the capsids. We’re developing the production processes and doing the requisite preclinical work to move those into the clinic.
  • On business development strategies: Plans to take advantage of the TRACER platform and focus on getting out the capsids to some other major players in the field to allow those programs to move forward. We have made a big shift in our pipeline and there’s work to be done there. We’ll continue to move forward with our own proprietary pipeline and we’ll continue to do transactions. Will consider targets within CNS and beyond CNS. Will not prosecute every target in CNS. Will also look for opportunities in traditional collaborations where we work on programs together with partners. Also, these early transactions are also helpful to strengthen balance sheets and allow us to make investments and move the company forward.
  • On regulatory hurdles of moving TRACER programs to clinic: There are no particular specific gating factors other than the normal gating factors required for putting in AAV gene therapy product into the clinic, which does have to follow a specific pathway based upon safety and efficacy. With regard to the novel capsids, those functions like the conventional AAVs. They just have different tropism and will provide a safety profile that we are anticipating based upon the preclinical work that we’ve done. It should be substantially different and the safety profile that’s being offered by the conventional AAVs. And so what that means is that while we will need to be on high alert for any safety issues as everyone is with the conventional AAVs, we’re anticipating a much broader therapeutic window with these capsids because they’ve been designed to offer that.
  • On updates of VY-AADC program in PD after DSMB assessment: We haven’t provided any updates with regard to the discussions or the progress on the program. The program was put on hold some time ago, and where that remain in that position that there are significant challenges in terms of the technical aspects of that. So we don’t expect to be providing significant updates on that program at this time. The clinical work that we did with Parkinson’s as well as the preclinical work with Huntington’s disease, both involved intraparenchymal delivery of AAV. We are of the opinion at this point that that is not necessarily a good idea. That is the reason why the TRACER platform offers us so much potential, the ability to dose intravenously get across the blood brain barrier in sufficient quantities to offer a therapeutic effect. So we have switched our entire path pipeline and planning over to intravenous delivery of these capsids for CNS diseases as well as for non-CNS diseases
  • On Novartis’ selection of capsids, 3 capsids vs 1 capsid for the three targets in the deal: Could be 3 capsids for 3 targets, or 1 capsid that does all. Some of our best capsids maybe workhorses that can be applicable for multiple targets. In fact, it may be the case that Voyager uses 1 capsid for 1 or more of its own pipeline programs and 1 or more of our partners might end up using the same capsid for some fairs.
  • On safety concerns of AAV gene therapy such as liver toxicity and complement activation: TRACER capsids are offering 2 possibilities to increase the therapeutic window. The first possibility is that we can simply use a lower dose of the capsid, substantially lower dose. And by doing that, we are providing a lower dose to the organs and tissues that are subject to the toxicity. The second aspect of this is that we have noticed in some of our TRACER capsids that they are detargeting specific organs. We think that expanding that therapeutic window in both directions will offer us some safety advantages over the conventional capsids that don’t have much of the therapeutic window.

inThought Analysis

Agreements with Novartis and Pfizer validate the potential of Voyager’s TRACER capsid platform. The new transaction agreement also extends Voyager’s cash runway.

Voyager has previously shifted priorities in its pipeline to fully invest in the TRACER capsid platform. The company continues to differentiate the TRACER capsids from traditional AAV gene therapy. Voyager boasts the platform can enable the development of gene therapies that can target desired cells and tissues with high specificity at low doses and avoid off-target risks. It remains to be seen whether the new capsids can demonstrate better safety profile that addresses many of regulatory concerns for AAV gene therapies. Regardless, vector capsid technologies and delivery techniques will be the key to future generations of gene therapy.

 

Source: Voyager 4Q/FY 2021 Earnings Release, Voyager 4Q/FY 2021 Earnings Webcast

HIGH IMPACT Madrigal reported positive topline data from the double-blind portion of the its phase 3 MAESTRO-NAFLD study of resmetirom in NASH. Patients in the study were identified based on non-invasive imaging and biomarkers, and were treated with either 80mg, 100mg resmetirom once daily or placebo for 52 wks.

Safety (969 patients)

  • Safe and well-tolerated at both 80 and 100mg doses
  • Rates of diarrhea and nausea were higher with resmetirom vs placebo. Diarrhea was generally mild or involved increased stool frequency

Key secondary endpoints (943 patients)

  • All key secondary endpoints were met with statistical significance
  • Reductions in lipids were numerically lower in placebo controlled part vs open label part, likely due to COVID-related treatment interruptions which impacted the placebo-controlled part of the study to a greater extent
  • MRI-PDFF reduction were similar between the placebo controlled and open label 100mg groups. Nearly half of patients in the double-blind study reached 50% MRI-PDFF reduction

High COVID related withdrawals and loss-to follow-up were reported in the double-blind study

  • Withdrawals 9.8-15% between arms, 5-7.3% were lost to follow up
  • Avg COVID-related dose or visit interruptions were 2 per patient
  • Blister-pack manufacturing interruptions observed in the study
  • In contrast, MAESTRO-NASH was not significantly impacted by COVID (5-6% withdrawal; as expected pre-COVID)

Q&A from investor call

  • On other biomarkers:  will analyze Fibroscan measurements and other fibrosis biomarkers over next few weeks. Have not analyzed DXA yet, but has not seen any changes in previous studies. Have not analyzed liver enzymes yet, they go in the normal range in open-label arm. Has not analyzed weight loss yet.
  • On MAESTRO-NASH outlook: Data release still on track for 3Q 2022, believes both doses will achieve endpoint, data from MAESTRO-NAFLD increases confidence on 100mg dose.
  • On diarrhea AE: diarrhea was mild, with single or few loose stools at the beginning of treatment. This was not observed in healthy volunteers. Overall AE rate is in line with open-label cohort and mild.
  • On extrapolate MRI-PDFF results on NASH resolution and fibrosis improvement: Dr. Stephen Harrison noted good correlation with NASH resolution, but no clear correlation with fibrosis yet. Becky Taub noted that in Madrigal studies 30% reduction in MRI-PDFF was correlated with 1-stage reduction in fibrosis reduction in phase 2. Projecting that it will be validated by phase 3 studies.
  • On next disclosures: Will include additional safety and imaging biomarker readouts, has not made a decision what will be shared yet in the disclosure but will focus on endpoints of greatest interest and outcomes such as DXA, PROs. Will likely present data at EASL 2022.  
  • On significance of liver volume corrected PDFF: Resmetirom causes 20% reduction in liver volume, mechanism is currently being investigated. Have not measured liver volume in current dataset.

inThought Analysis

MAESTRO-NAFLD was a unique pivotal study in NASH designed as a ‘real-life’ study utilizing non-invasive testing to select patients and monitor response to therapy, a practice more likely to be adopted in the clinical setting versus the more invasive and expensive liver biopsies. Data from the trial also helps build a large safety database which Madrigal believes now is consistent with ICH guidance (at least 1500 patients dosed for specific lengths at approved dose). The safety and biomarker results from the 52-wk MAESTRO-NAFLD study are largely consistent with the phase 2 data and the MAESTRO-NAFLD open label arm. The incidence of diarrhea and nausea, however, are higher than those previously reported and may be of concern, but Madrigal claims that they are mild and occur only at the initiation of treatment. We await further data from the trial (such as Fibroscan, MRE etc.) which will reinforce the positive results reported here, as well as results from the biopsy trial (MAESTRO-NASH) in Q3 2022 which will allow Madrigal to file resmetirom for accelerated approval.

 

Source: Madrigal Press Release