Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces XIAFLEX Peyronie's Phase IIb Study Published In The Journal Of Urology
Results from Phase III IMPRESS Trials Expected in Late
2Q12-
MALVERN, Pa., May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AUXL), a specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that The Journal of Urology has published on its website, the Company's phase IIb clinical trial of XIAFLEX® (collagenase clostridium histolyticum or CCH) a novel, first-in-class, biologic for the potential nonsurgical treatment of Peyronie's disease. Top line data from this trial has been previously reported by the Company. The study will be included in the June 2012 print version of The Journal of Urology.
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The phase IIb study was designed to measure efficacy endpoints of improvement in penile curvature deformity and improvement in patients' psychological and physical symptoms using the Company's proprietary Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ). Overall, XIAFLEX demonstrated a statistically significant change compared to placebo at 36 weeks in both improvement in penile curvature deformity (p=0.001) and the PDQ bother domain (p=0.046). XIAFLEX was well-tolerated and the most common treatment related adverse events in the phase IIb study were consistent with adverse events reported in previous Peyronie's disease trials with XIAFLEX, which included injection site bruising, edema and pain.
"Peyronie's disease can have a devastating impact on patients and their partners, not only physically but psychologically and emotionally," said Martin Gelbard, MD, IMPRESS investigator and clinical faculty member of UCLA School of Medicine Division of Urology. "Obtaining a statistically significant reduction in penile curvature deformity and improvement in Peyronie's disease bother without the risks of surgical intervention would represent a considerable advantage for eligible patients suffering from Peyronie's disease."
A total of 145 patients evaluable for efficacy enrolled in 12 clinical sites across the U.S., with 109 patients receiving XIAFLEX as a series of intralesional injections and 36 receiving placebo in the study. A total of 137 of all eligible patients (93.2%) received all 6 injections per the protocol. The treatment and placebo arms were also randomized to test for a benefit with the addition of penile modeling versus no modeling (1:1). Modeling refers to massaging of the plaque and is intended to maximize the enzymatic effect of the XIAFLEX injection in the plaque.
"We are encouraged by the clinical profile of XIAFLEX for the potential treatment of Peyronie's disease, which emerged from this phase IIb trial. Ultimately our goal is to provide an effective and well-tolerated solution to physicians and their patients with this troubling disease. These phase IIb results further support this clinical profile," said James Tursi, M.D., Auxilium's Chief Medical Officer. "We expect that the pivotal phase III data from our IMPRESS trials, anticipated later this quarter, will continue to expand our knowledge of the treatment of this disease and hopefully will lead to an FDA-approved treatment that may help patients who have few if any effective options."
Newly Published Efficacy Data
The previously released efficacy data are summarized below in
table 1. Additionally, the baseline scores and change at 36 weeks
from baseline for the "with modeling" and "without modeling" arms,
which have not been presented before, are summarized within table
1.
At week 36 a low to moderate correlation was observed between the
degree of penile curvature deformity, and the PDQ domains of
symptom bother (r = 0.22, p = 0.01), intercourse discomfort (r =
0.2, p = 0.02) and intercourse constraint (r = 0.42, p <
0.001).
Based on a post-hoc sub-group analysis, the Company believes that
the results from the non-modeling placebo group may have been
greatly influenced by a higher relative percentage of patients with
a shorter duration of disease relative to other arms. Of the 16
patients in the non-modeling placebo group, five patients had an
apparent spontaneous resolution with a penile curvature deformity
improvement of >40 %. Four of these patients had a Peyronie's
disease history of <12 months and the fifth had a 15 month
disease history. The Company believes that this imbalance may help
to explain the higher than expected placebo response in the no
modeling arm as spontaneous resolution may be more common in the
earlier phase of the disease.
The Company believes that the PDQ has been validated for use in its
phase III IMPRESS (The I nvestigation for Maximal P eyronie's R
eduction E fficacy and S afety S tudies) trials by data from 134
patients (100 XIAFLEX; 34 placebo) following this phase IIb trial
and end of phase II discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).
Table 1: Phase IIb Efficacy Endpoints (36 weeks after First
Injection)
XIAFLEX arm
Placebo arm
p- value
Percent Change
vs. Placebo
Overall
Mean Percentage Change of
-29.7%
-11.0%
0.001*
-18.7%
Curvature Deformity (n)
(109)
(36)
Mean Change in PD Symptom
-2.6
-0.8
0.046*
-22.2%
Bother Score (n)
(100)
(34)
With Modeling Arm
Mean Percentage Change of
-32.4%
2.5%
< 0.001**
-34.9%
Curvature Deformity (n)
(54)
(20)
Mean Change in PD Symptom
-3.6
-0.1
0.004**
-40.6%
Bother Score (n)
(50)
(18)
Without Modeling Arm
Mean Percentage Change of
-27.1%
-27.9%
NS
-0.8%
Curvature Deformity (n)
(55)
(16)
Mean Change in PD Symptom
-1.5
-1.5
NS
-2.8%
Bother Score (n)
(50)
(16)
* XIAFLEX vs. placebo **XIAFLEX vs placebo, with modeling
Newly Published Adverse Events
The most common adverse events reported in the Peyronie's phase IIb
trial were injection site bruising, edema and pain (table 2). These
adverse events were consistent with previous trials. There have
been no drug related serious adverse events reported in this trial.
Although all XIAFLEX patients showed positive antibodies to AUX-I
and II by week 36, no subject reported a systemic or clinically
significant immunological event. Including data from all completed
XIAFLEX Peyronie's disease clinical studies, over 1,200 XIAFLEX
injections have been administered to more than 240 Peyronie's
patients.
Table 2: Treatment-Related AEs Occurring in > 5 Subjects in
Either Treatment Group
System Organ Class
Preferred Term
XIAFLEX (n =
111)
n (%)
Placebo (n = 36)
n (%)
P value
Patients with >1 treatment-related AEs
107 (96.4)
19 (52.8)
--
Injection site bruising(a)
96 (86.5)
16 (44.4)
<0.001
Injection site edema(a)
50 (45.0)
0 (0.0)
<0.001
Injection site pain(a)
58 (52.3)
4 (11.1)
<0.001
Injection site pruritus
6 (5.4)
0 (0.0)
0.3
Contusion(b)
16 (14.4)
1 (2.8)
0.07
ED(c)
5 (4.5)
0 (0.0)
0.3
Painful erection
5 (4.5)
0 (0.0)
0.3
Penile edema
11 (9.9)
0 (0.0)
0.07
Penile pain
11 (9.9)
0 (0.0)
0.07
(a) Statistically significant difference between XIAFLEX and
placebo based on Fisher exact test
(b) Contusion was defined as any kind of bruising/ecchymosis of the
penis
(c) Erectile function did not change over the course of the study
for 4 of the 5 patients
AEs = adverse events; ED = erectile dysfunction
Based on learnings from the XIAFLEX Peyronie's phase IIb study, the Company implemented certain changes to the design of its two pivotal phase III IMPRESS studies as outlined in Table 3 below. The IMPRESS studies enrolled over 800 patients and have completed all dosing and follow up visits per the protocol. The Company is currently compiling all data associated with the IMPRESS studies and expects to disclose top line results of these trials by the end of this quarter.
Table 3: Summary of Changes from XIAFLEX Phase IIb to the Phase III IMPRESS Studies
Phase IIb
Phase III IMPRESS Studies
Trial size
147 patients, 1 study
>800 patients, two studies
XIAFLEX Dosing
Up to 3 treatment cycles (6 doses)
Up to 4 treatment cycles (8 doses)
Modeling
Modeling arm vs. no-modeling arm
All patients receive modeling
Active to Placebo
Ratio
3:1 XIAFLEX to placebo patients
2:1 XIAFLEX to placebo patients
Placebo-controlled
Treatment Period
12 weeks dosing, 24 weeks follow-up
18 weeks dosing, 34 weeks follow-up
Time from
Diagnosis
Greater than 6 months
Greater than 12 months
Endpoints
Powered based on historical curvature
deformity data, designed to validate Patient
Reported Outcome (PRO) survey for use in
phase III
Powered to show 19% mean improvement in
curvature deformity vs. placebo and 27%
improvement in bother domain of PRO vs.
placebo (co-primary endpoints)
Trial status
Completed and reported top-line results in
December 2009; in the modeling arm, mean
curvature deformity improved 35% relative to
placebo and mean bother improved 41%
relative to placebo
Fully enrolled in March 2011
If the phase III IMPRESS results are positive, Auxilium plans to
file a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) with the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of XIAFLEX in
the treatment of Peyronie's disease by the end of 2012. If approved
by the FDA, XIAFLEX is expected to be the first injectable therapy
indicated for the treatment of Peyronie's disease.
About IMPRESS
Auxilium's late stage global development plan for XIAFLEX consists
of four clinical studies and is known by the acronym IMPRESS
– The I nvestigation for Maximal P eyronie's R eduction E
fficacy and S afety S tudies. There are two randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III studies, which enrolled
over 800 patients at approximately 70 sites in the U.S. and
Australia in less than five months, with a 2:1 ratio of XIAFLEX to
placebo. There is also one open label study, which enrolled at
least 250 patients, at approximately 30 sites in the U.S., EU and
New Zealand, and one pharmacokinetic study, which enrolled
approximately 16 patients. XIAFLEX will be administered two times a
week every six weeks for up to four treatment cycles (2 x 4). Each
treatment cycle will be followed by a penile modeling procedure.
Patients will be followed for 52 weeks post-first injection in the
double-blind studies and for 36 weeks in the open label trial.
The trials' co-primary endpoints are the change from baseline in the Peyronie's disease bother domain of the PDQ compared to placebo and percent improvement from baseline in penile curvature deformity compared to placebo. The PDQ will also have two additional domains as secondary endpoints, which include severity of psychological and physical symptoms of Peyronie's disease, and penile pain. Safety measurements include adverse event monitoring, immunogenicity testing and clinical labs. The Company is currently compiling all data associated with the two IMPRESS double-blind studies and expects to disclose top line results of these trials by the end of the second quarter of 2012.
About the Phase IIb Peyronie's Disease Trial
This phase IIb study was a randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled study designed to assess the safety and efficacy
of XIAFLEX, when administered two times a week every six weeks for
up to three treatment cycles (2 x 3), in subjects with Peyronie's
disease. The study was conducted at 12 sites throughout the U.S.,
and 145 patients were monitored for 36 weeks following the first
injection.
The trial was designed to measure the improvement in penile curvature deformity and confirm validation of the Company's proprietary PDQ, a patient reported outcome survey, which measured four domains of patients' psychological and physical symptoms of Peyronie's disease over a period of 36 weeks: penile pain, Peyronie's disease bother, intercourse discomfort and intercourse constraint.
To qualify for the study, patients must have been diagnosed with Peyronie's disease for longer than six months, have stable disease as determined by the investigator, be able to maintain a rigid erection and have a penile contracture between 30 and 90 degrees. Patients were stratified by the degree of penile curvature deformity (i.e. 30 degrees to 60 degrees versus 60 to 90 degrees) and then randomized into four treatment groups to receive either XIAFLEX or placebo with or without modeling of the penile plaque. Modeling refers to massaging of the plaque and is intended to maximize the enzymatic effect of the XIAFLEX injection in the plaque. Patients were randomized in a 3:1 ratio of XIAFLEX to placebo and a 1:1 ratio to receive penile plaque modeling or no modeling. Top-line efficacy and safety data from the trial is available at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/results/NCT00755222.
About Peyronie's Disease
Peyronie's disease is the development of collagen plaque, or scar
tissue, on the shaft of the penis that hardens and reduces
flexibility, thus occasionally causing pain and forcing the penis
to deform in a bend or arc during erection. This often can prevent
sexual intercourse. In addition to difficulty with sexual
intercourse, Peyronie's disease may also be associated with
emotional distress, loss of self-esteem and depression. Peyronie's
disease is a very heterogeneous disease with an initial
inflammatory component of a poorly understood physiological disease
course and occasional spontaneous resolutions of 13% to 50%(1). The
estimated prevalence in adult men of has been reported to be
approximately 5%(2), but in certain populations, the estimated
number of men affected by Peyronie's Disease may be as high as nine
percent in men over 60 years of age and three percent in men over
30.(1)
(1) L.A. Levine Peyronie's Disease: A Guide to Clinical
Management. Humana Press: 10-17, 2007.
(2) Bella A. Peyronie's Disease J Sex Med
2007;4:1527–1538
About Auxilium
Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty biopharmaceutical
company with a focus on developing and marketing products to
predominantly specialist audiences. Auxilium markets Testim® 1%
(testosterone gel) for the topical treatment of hypogonadism in the
U.S. and XIAFLEX® (collagenase clostridium histolyticum) for
the treatment of adult Dupuytren's contracture patients with a
palpable cord. Ferring International Center S.A. markets Testim in
certain countries of the EU and Paladin Labs Inc. markets Testim in
Canada. Pfizer has marketing rights for XIAPEX® (the EU
tradename for collagenase clostridium histolyticum) in 46 countries
in Eurasia; Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation has development and
commercial rights for XIAFLEX in Japan; and Actelion
Pharmaceuticals Ltd has development and commercial rights for
XIAFLEX in Canada, Australia, Brazil and Mexico. Auxilium has three
projects in clinical development. XIAFLEX is in phase III of
development for the treatment of Peyronie's disease, in phase IIa
of development for the treatment of Frozen Shoulder syndrome
(Adhesive Capsulitis) and is in phase Ib of development for the
treatment of cellulite (edematous fibrosclerotic panniculopathy).
Auxilium also has rights to pursue additional indications for
XIAFLEX. For additional information, visit
http://www.auxilium.com.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION
REFORM ACT OF 1995
This release contains "forward-looking-statements" within the
meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including statements regarding patients who may be candidates for
treatment with XIAFLEX for Peyronie's disease and at what stage of
disease progression; the timing and results of the IMPRESS clinical
trials; the extent to which the PDQ for Peyronie's disease may have
been or will be validated; the secondary endpoints that may be
included in the PDQ, if any; the interpretation of clinical data;
the timing of the FDA Advisory Committee to review XIAFLEX for the
treatment of Peyronie's disease; the timing of the Company's filing
of a supplemental BLA and FDA review of the BLA for XIAFLEX for
treatment of Peyronie's disease and the approval thereof; the
number of patients with Peyronie's disease; products in development
for Peyronie's disease, Frozen Shoulder syndrome, and cellulite;
and all other statements containing projections, statements of
future performance or expectations, or statements of plans or
objectives for future operations (including statements of
assumption underlying or relating to any of the foregoing). You can
identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as
"believe," "appears," "may," "could," "will," "estimate,"
"continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "plan," "expect," and
other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any
discussion of projections, future performance or expectations,
plans or objectives for future operations (including statements of
assumption underlying or relating to any of the foregoing). Actual
results may differ materially from those reflected in these
forward-looking statements due to various factors, including
further evaluation of clinical data, results of clinical trials,
decisions by regulatory authorities as to whether and when to
approve drug applications, and general financial, economic,
regulatory and political conditions affecting the biotechnology and
pharmaceutical industries and those discussed in Auxilium's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 under the
heading "Risk Factors", which is on file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and may be accessed electronically
by means of the SEC's home page on the Internet at
http://www.sec.gov or by means of Auxilium's home page on the
Internet at http://www.Auxilium.com under the heading "For
Investors -- SEC Filings." There may be additional risks that
Auxilium does not presently know or that Auxilium currently
believes are immaterial which could also cause actual results to
differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.
Given these risks and uncertainties, any or all of these
forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Therefore,
you should not rely on any such factors or forward-looking
statements.
In addition, forward-looking statements provide Auxilium's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this release. Auxilium anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Auxilium's assessments to change. However, while Auxilium may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Auxilium specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Auxilium's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this release.
CONTACT:
James E. Fickenscher
Chief Financial Officer, Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
+1-484-321-5900
jfickenscher@auxilium.com
or
William Q. Sargent Jr.
Vice-President, Investor Relations and Corporate
Communications
+1-484-321-5900
wsargent@auxilium.com
SOURCE Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.auxilium.com
Posted: May 2012
