Health & Fitness
Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness
Thu, May 20, 2010
Wed, May 19, 2010 Data Suggest Denufosol May Hold Promise as an Early Intervention Treatment for Cystic Fibrosis
DURHAM, N.C.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISPH) announced today that Inspire scientists and collaborators will present data on denufosol tetrasodium, an investigational therapy for cystic fibrosis (CF), during an oral presentation at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2010 International Conference May 14 - 19, 2010 in New Orleans, LA. The data suggest that denufosol, an inhaled ion channel regulator, has properties that allow it to reach and improve lung function in the small airways, which may support its potential as an early intervention therapy.
"Since pathological changes in small airways of CF patients are seen as early as six months of age, and mandatory newborn screenings in all 50 states means earlier diagnoses, there is strong need for early intervention treatments in the CF community right now."
aIt is well known that cystic fibrosis lung disease begins in the small airways; however, there has been limited research into treatments that reach these areas of the lungs,a said Felix Ratjen, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Division Chief, Respiratory Medicine, University of Toronto, and lead principal investigator of TIGER-2. aSince pathological changes in small airways of CF patients are seen as early as six months of age, and mandatory newborn screenings in all 50 states means earlier diagnoses, there is strong need for early intervention treatments in the CF community right now.a
Inspirea™s oral presentation, aDenufosol Tetrasodium - An Investigational Inhaled Therapy with Aerosol and Pharmacokinetic Properties Suitable for Early Intervention in CF Lung Diseasea (T. Navratil, C. Evans, A. Schaberg, F. Johnson, T. Durham, L. Smiley, N. Herje, B. Burke, C.L. Ren, F. Ratjen, R.B. Moss, F.J. Accurso), will be presented in the Morial Convention Center, Room 391-392 (Third Level) during the session, aD94 Cystic Fibrosis: From Clinic to Lab and Back,a on Wednesday, May 19 from 3:00 - 3:15 pm CST. The presentation highlights clinical data from Inspirea™s first Phase 3 clinical trial with denufosol, TIGER-1, and data from in vitro testing. Such in vitro data suggests that denufosol, as a result of its aerosol and chemical characteristics, has the potential to reach the small airways of the lungs, where CF lung disease begins. The potential of denufosol to reach the lunga™s small airways was supported by a post-hoc analysis of the TIGER-1 trial, which showed a significant improvement relative to placebo in FEF25%-75% (Forced Expiratory Flow) in a subgroup of patients (n=329) with baseline FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second) a110% predicted normal (p=0.025). In the TIGER-1 trial, following inhalation, there was little to no evidence of systemic exposure to denufosol and no evidence of accumulation as measured by plasma levels. In the trial, denufosol was well-tolerated and had a favorable safety profile.
aThe analysis from this study suggests that denufosol may have the potential to target the lunga™s small airways, with little to no systemic exposure, making it a potentially promising treatment for early intervention in CF,a said M. Lynn Smiley, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Inspire. aIn developing denufosol, we hope to change the course of CF by providing an early intervention strategy to lessen the destructive and irreversible effects of the disease, regardless of CF genotypes.a
The Company also provided two additional poster presentations given at the ATS Conference. The poster presentation, aConcomitant Medication Use in Patients with Mild Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease Assigned to Placebo in a Phase 3 Clinical Trial of Denufosol (Study 08-108/TIGER-1)a (T. Durham, T. Navratil, A. Schaberg, C. Deans, L. Smiley, N. Herje, G. Retsch-Bogart, F.J. Accurso), examined the concomitant medication use in young, relatively mild CF patients to treat respiratory conditions resulting from CF, which involved treatment with inhaled, intranasal, oral and IV medications. Data analyzed from a sample of 175 CF patients who received placebo in the TIGER-1 trial showed that more than 72% of patients used at least five concomitant medications for the treatment of their CF lung disease. New disease modifying treatments that are targeted towards addressing the basic defects of CF lung disease pathophysiology may reduce the need for the extensive polypharmacy.
Inspire also presented a poster presentation entitled, aChronic Inhalation of Denufosol Tetrasodium Aerosol is Non-Inflammatory in Rodent and Canine Respiratory Tract Tissuesa (M.S. Cowlen, R.S. Verhoeven), which showed that in the required one-year and two-year pre-clinical studies, denufosol did not increase background levels of pulmonary inflammation compared with isotonic saline following daily inhalation.
These presentations will be available on Inspirea™s website, [ www.inspirepharm.com ], following the conference.
About Denufosol Tetrasodium
Denufosol is a first-in-class ion channel regulator targeted as an early intervention treatment that potentially corrects the ion transport defect in patients with all CF genotypes. Denufosol is designed to enhance airway hydration and mucociliary clearance by increasing chloride secretion, inhibiting sodium absorption and increasing ciliary beat frequency. These integrated pharmacological actions and the potential to reach the small airways are key to maintaining lung function and potentially delaying the progression of lung disease.
Inspire is currently conducting its second Phase 3 clinical trial with denufosol, TIGER-2.
About Inspire
Inspire is a biopharmaceutical company focused on researching, developing and commercializing prescription pharmaceutical products for ophthalmic and pulmonary diseases. Inspirea™s goal is to build and commercialize a sustainable portfolio of innovative new products based on its technical, scientific and commercial expertise. The most advanced compounds in Inspirea™s clinical pipeline are denufosol tetrasodium for cystic fibrosis and PROLACRIAa" (diquafosol tetrasodium ophthalmic solution) 2% for dry eye, which are both in Phase 3 development, and AZASITE®(azithromycin ophthalmic solution) 1% for blepharitis, which is in Phase 2 development. Inspire receives revenues related to the promotion of AZASITE for bacterial conjunctivitis, the co-promotion of ELESTAT®(epinastine HCl ophthalmic solution) 0.05% for allergic conjunctivitis and royalties based on net sales of RESTASIS® (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.05% for dry eye. For more information, visit [ www.inspirepharm.com ].
Forward-Looking Statements
The forward-looking statements in this news release relating to management's expectations and beliefs are based on preliminary information and management assumptions. Specifically, no assurance can be made with respect to: whether the properties or chemical characteristics of denufosol may allow it to reach and improve lung function in the small airways; whether the properties of denufosol or improved lung function, if any, resulting from use of denufosol may support its potential as an early intervention therapy; whether the potential of denufosol to reach the lunga™s small airways will be supported by any additional analyses or clinical studies; whether additional analyses will suggest that use of denufosol results in little to no systemic exposure; that use of denufosol will lessen the destructive and irreversible effects of cystic fibrosis lung disease, regardless of CF genotypes; that new disease modifying treatments that are targeted toward addressing the basic defects of CF lung disease pathophysiology may reduce the need for extensive polypharmacy; and whether Inspire will successfully be able to build and commercialize a sustainable portfolio of innovative new products based on its technical, scientific and commercial expertise. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a wide range of risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ in material respects, including those relating to product development, revenue, expense and earnings expectations, the seasonality of ELESTAT, intellectual property rights, competitive products, results and timing of clinical trials, success of marketing efforts, the need for additional research and testing, delays in manufacturing, funding, and the timing and content of decisions made by regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Further information regarding factors that could affect Inspire's results is included in Inspire's filings with the SEC. Inspire undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
