Oxurion
Provides Update on
Recruitment for KALAHARI Phase 2, Part B
Trial of Novel PKal
Inhibitor THR-149 in Diabetic Macular
Edemaand Announces Board Changes
Trial has now
enrolled more than
two-thirds of total
subjectsBuilds upon Interim
Analysis Outcome in
DecemberTop-line Data
Anticipated in Q4
2023
Leuven, BELGIUM, Boston, MA, US
– March 14, 2023
– 9:00
pm CET – Oxurion NV (Euronext Brussels:
OXUR) a biopharmaceutical company developing next generation
standard of care ophthalmic therapies, with clinical stage assets
in vascular retinal disorders, announced today that it has enrolled
more than two-thirds of the planned total enrollment in its
KALAHARI Phase 2, Part B clinical trial (KALAHARI trial). The
KALAHARI trial is evaluating Oxurion’s novel plasma kallikrein
(PKal) inhibitor THR-149 as a potential treatment for patients with
diabetic macular edema (DME) who respond suboptimally to anti-VEGF
therapy, the current standard of care.
Oxurion’s investigators have successfully
recruited 80 of the 108 (74%) patients planned for this trial, for
which Oxurion anticipates reporting top-line data in the fourth
quarter of 2023. This milestone builds on the recommendation from
an Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) in December 2022
that the KALAHARI trial should continue based upon the outcome of a
pre-specified futility analysis that included an evaluation of
interim efficacy and safety data from 31 patients at the
three-month time point.
“We are very pleased with the pace of enrollment
in the KALAHARI trial and appreciate the continued support of our
investigators worldwide,” said Andy De Deene, MD, MBA, Chief
Development Officer of Oxurion. “The outcome of this trial, which
is evaluating THR-149 for the treatment of DME against the current
standard of care, aflibercept, could, if positive, provide an
important alternative for the up to 50% of patients with DME who
respond suboptimally to current anti-VEGF therapies. We look
forward to sharing the top-line results of the trial later this
year.”
Board UpdatesOxurion also
announced today that as a part of a planned transition, Dr. David
Guyer and Dr. Adrienne Graves have resigned from the Company’s
Board of Directors due to their other commitments, and will be
replaced by Dr. Anat Loewenstein and Ms. Nathalie Laarakker.
Tom Graney, CFA, CEO of Oxurion, said, “We
appreciate David and Adrienne’s contributions to Oxurion’s progress
over the time they have served on the Board. While we regret that
their professional responsibilities prevent their continued
involvement, the Company and its programs have gained significantly
from their insights and perspectives over the decade that they
dedicated their time and expertise to our efforts to provide better
treatment options for patients with retinal vascular diseases.”
Dr. Guyer stressed, “I’ve been so impressed by
the dedication of the Oxurion team to advancing scientific
innovations that could meaningfully improve therapeutic
alternatives for millions of patients who suffer from DME and who
respond suboptimally to current therapies.” Dr. Graves added,
“The
market Oxurion is planning to address with
THR-149 is greatly in need of the innovation that Oxurion is
pursuing, and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to contribute to
the company’s progress.”
Oxurion is delighted that Dr. Anat Loewenstein,
Director of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Tel Aviv Medical
Center, and Nathalie Laarakker, Chief Financial Officer at
Intravacc B.V. in the Netherlands, have agreed to be co-opted as
independent directors.
Dr. Loewenstein is a world leading retina
specialist, and is the General Secretary of Euretina, President of
the Israeli Ophthalmological Society, Sidney Fox Chair of
Ophthalmology at Tel Aviv University, and Chairman of Ophthalmology
at Sourasky Medical Center. She has also received numerous
accolades for her cutting-edge work in retinal and macular disease,
including Ophthalmology Power list: Top 100, Michelson Award of the
Macula Society, the Rosenthal Award and the Macula Society’s Arnall
Patz Medal for outstanding contribution in studies of retinal and
macular diseases.
In addition to her experience as a CFO, Ms.
Laarakker is a certified public accountant with more than 25 years
of experience under IFRS, Dutch/US GAAP, and Sarbanes-Oxley in the
Netherlands and the United States. In addition to her CPA from
Royal NBA, Amsterdam, her education includes undergraduate and
graduate degrees in auditing from the University of Amsterdam.
Mr. Graney said, “We are thrilled that Dr.
Loewenstein and Ms. Laarakker have agreed to join the Oxurion board
at this important time as we push towards completion of the
KALAHARI trial for THR-149. We are confident that Dr. Loewenstein’s
deep and intricate knowledge of retinal and macular diseases,
combined with Ms. Laarakker’s financial and accounting acumen, will
be invaluable as we complete the KALAHARI trial and beyond.”
The co-optation is subject to ratification by
the Company’s Annual General Shareholders Meeting on May 2,
2023.
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)
Approximately 22 million people worldwide have
DME currently, with prevalence increasing due to the growing global
diabetic epidemic. DME is the leading cause of vision loss in
working-age people, and the market for treatments is currently
estimated at +$5 billion.
People who suffer from DME have leaking vessels
in the back of the eye, leading to a thickening of the retina that
causes vision problems such as blurriness in the center of vision,
the appearance of dark spots or patches in the field of vision, and
colors to look dull. These symptoms may affect the ability to read,
write, drive and recognize faces – presenting a significant patient
and caregiver burden.
About THR-149
THR-149 is a bicyclic peptide that selectively
inhibits human plasma kallikrein (PKal) with an inhibition constant
of 0.22 nM. Through the inhibition of the kallikrein-kinin
system (KKS), THR-149 prevents the induction of retinal vascular
permeability, neurodegeneration, and inflammation. THR-149 is
currently being evaluated in the KALAHARI Phase 2, Part B clinical
trial as a potential treatment for patients who respond
suboptimally to anti-VEGF standard of care for treatment of
DME.
KALAHARI Phase 2, Part BThe
Phase 2 KALAHARI trial is a two-part, randomized, prospective,
multi-center trial assessing multiple (3) injections of THR-149 in
DME patients. Part B is double-masked and actively controlled, with
the high dose of THR-149 having been selected from Part A of the
trial. Part B of the trial is
enrolling 108 patients who have previously shown
a suboptimal response to anti-VEGF therapy, and where THR-149 is
being evaluated against aflibercept, the current standard of care,
as the active comparator.
KALAHARI Phase 2, Part A
Part A of the KALAHARI trial demonstrated that
all dose levels of THR-149 had a favorable safety profile. All
adverse events in the study eye were mild to moderate in intensity
and no severe ocular adverse events were reported and no
inflammation observed. High-level data from Part A of the KALAHARI
trial was first presented in October 2021, which demonstrated that
the eight patients who received the highest dose of THR-149
achieved a mean BCVA gain of 6.1 letters at Month 3, the primary
endpoint.
A post-hoc analysis was performed by the masked
central reading center in February 2022 based on an OCT (Optical
Coherence Tomography) biomarker assessment. The analysis identified
two subjects with abnormalities at baseline, which could impact
responsiveness to any medical treatment. Excluding these two
subjects resulted in an improvement in mean BCVA of 9.3 letters at
Month 3, which was sustained until Month 6, the end of the trial
and four months after the last THR-149 injection. The Month 6 data
also demonstrated THR-149’s attractive safety profile and its
ability to stabilize the Central Subfield Thickness (CST). The
learnings from the Part A data were incorporated into Part B
through an amended trial design excluding patients that would not
respond to any treatment. More information can be found here:
NCT04527107
About Oxurion
Oxurion (Euronext Brussels: OXUR) is a
biopharmaceutical company developing next generation standard of
care ophthalmic therapies, which are designed to improve and better
preserve vision in patients with retinal disorders including
diabetic macular edema (DME), the leading cause of vision loss in
working-age people, as well as other conditions. Oxurion intends to
play an important role in the treatment of retinal disorders,
including the successful development of THR-149, its novel
therapeutic for the treatment of DME. THR-149 is a potent plasma
kallikrein inhibitor being developed as a potential new standard of
care for the up to 50% of DME patients showing suboptimal response
to anti-VEGF therapy. Oxurion is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium,
with corporate operations in Boston, MA. More information is
available at www.oxurion.com.
Important information about
forward-looking statements
Certain statements in this press release may be
considered “forward-looking”. Such forward-looking statements are
based on current expectations, and, accordingly, entail and are
influenced by various risks and uncertainties. The Company
therefore cannot provide any assurance that such forward-looking
statements will materialize and does not assume any obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result
of new information, future events, or any other reason. Additional
information concerning risks and uncertainties affecting the
business and other factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from any forward-looking statement is contained
in the Company’s Annual Report. This press release does not
constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of
securities or assets of Oxurion in any jurisdiction. No securities
of Oxurion may be offered or sold within the United States without
registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with
any applicable U.S. state securities laws.
For further information please
contact:
Oxurion NVTom GraneyChief Executive OfficerTel: +32 16 75 13
10tom.graney@oxurion.com Michael DillenChief Business
OfficerTel: +32 16 75 13 10michael.dillen@oxurion.com |
USConway CommunicationsMary T.
Conwaymtconway@conwaycommsir.com ICR
WestwickeChristopher BrinzeyTel: +1 617 835
9304Chris.Brinzey@westwicke.com |
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