Combined Northera (droxidopa) Data From Two Phase 3 Trials Confirm Symptom Improvement in Patients With Neurogenic OH
Seven Additional Droxidopa Posters Presented at Movement Disorder Society's Annual Congress
CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 21, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. (Nasdaq:CHTP) today announced results from an integrated dataset of two phase 3 studies, Study 301 and Study 302, which showed that patients treated with Northera(TM) (droxidopa) experienced improvements in their symptoms of Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension (also known as NOH or Neurogenic OH) as measured by the Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (OHQ) composite score (p=0.001) and a number of individual symptoms, including dizziness (p=0.004). The results, which include data from over 250 patients with symptomatic Neurogenic OH and diagnoses of Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy (MSA), pure autonomic failure (PAF), dopamine beta hydroxylase deficiency or nondiabetic autonomic neuropathy, were presented by Christopher Mathias, MD at the 16th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders in Dublin, Ireland today (Integrated Efficacy Analysis of Droxidopa in 2 Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Studies in Patients with Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension, Abstract/Poster #1296).
Investigators also presented data from a number of subgroups of patients from this integrated dataset.
-- Gregor Wenning, MD presented data showing that patients with
pure
autonomic failure and MSA showed statistically significant
improvement
in the OHQ composite score following droxidopa treatment versus
placebo
(p=0.022 and p=0.018, respectively). The data also showed that age
is an
important contributor to improvements seen in patients with
Parkinson's
disease. Parkinson's disease patients younger than 65 treated
with
droxidopa showed greater improvements versus placebo than those
over 75
(1.63 units vs. -0.04 units). (Subgroup Efficacy Analysis:
Orthostatic
Hypotension Questionnaire Composite Score in Patients with
Neurogenic
Orthostatic Hypotension Treated with Droxidopa, Abstract/Poster
#1305)
-- Phillip Low, MD presented data from a post-hoc analysis which
showed
that 94 patients taking midodrine at screening presented with
more
severe condition at baseline as measured by OHQ composite score
(6.7 vs.
5.8), yet after treatment with droxidopa, all patients had
improvement
in OHQ regardless of previous midodrine use. Those patients
previously
taking midodrine had lesser improvement in OHQ scores compared
to
placebo than those not previously taking midodrine. Among the
patients
taking midodrine at screening, there was a significantly
higher
incidence of supine hypertension (SBP > 200mmHg) compared with
after the
washout period (8.5% vs. 0%). When treated with droxidopa,
these
patients experienced a lower incidence of supine hypertension (SBP
>
200mmHg) at the end of the study compared to while on midodrine
(3.3%
vs. 8.5%). (Safety and Efficacy of Droxidopa in Patients
Previously
Treated with Midodrine, Abstract/Poster #1295)
"When we look at the combined data from Study 301 and Study 302,
one of the largest combined datasets in this rare condition, there
continues to be clear evidence of the efficacy of droxidopa in
patients with symptomatic Neurogenic OH," commented Christopher
Mathias, MBBS DPhil DSc FRCP FMedSci, Professor of Neurovascular
Medicine at Imperial College London and University College London,
University of London. "We see that many of these patients responded
well to droxidopa treatment and may now be able to resume various
activities in daily life that they previously were incapable of
carrying out."
Additional data from Dr. Mathias' integrated analysis showed that droxidopa-treated patients experienced improvements in their symptoms of Neurogenic OH as measured by the Orthostatic Hypotension Symptom Assessment (OHSA) score (p=0.007); 3 of the 6 items of the OHSA (dizziness, p=0.004; weakness, p=0.004; fatigue, p=0.013); the Orthostatic Hypotension Daily Activity Scale (OHDAS) composite score (p<0.001); and all 4 individual items of the OHDAS (standing a short time, p=0.001; standing a long time, p<0.001; walking a short time, p=0.004; walking a long time, p=0.009). Treatment with droxidopa showed low rates of supine hypertension.
Results of Study 306A (Impact of Treatment with Droxidopa in Repeat Fallers with Parkinson's Disease and Symptomatic Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension, Abstract/Poster #1287)
Robert Hauser, MD presented a preliminary post-hoc analysis on patients who were repeat fallers (more than one fall during the course of the study, in study 306A, a Phase 3 study of droxidopa in patients with Parkinson's disease. Overall, patients treated with droxidopa (n=24) experienced fewer falls compared to placebo (n=27), 79 total falls versus 197. The majority of falls occurred in a smaller group of patients who fell more frequently. The repeat fallers group (n=22) showed greater benefit from droxidopa therapy than the non-repeat fallers group (n=29) by a number of clinical measures, including dizziness (the difference favoring droxidopa over placebo was 2.1 units among repeat fallers, compared with 0.1 among non-repeat fallers).
To view these posters presented at the meeting and hear a short explanation from the studies' lead investigators, please contact Kathryn McNeil or Lauren Tortorete (emails below) for access to www.droxidopaMDS2012.com.
Additional Poster Presentations
In addition to the results from these studies, the following posters were also presented at the MDS Annual Meeting:
-- Analysis of Efficacy in Patients with Symptomatic Neurogenic
Orthostatic
Hypotension Treated with Droxidopa and Dopa-Decarboxylase
Inhibitors,
Italo Biaggioni, MD
-- A Multicenter, Open-Label Study to Assess the Long-Term Safety
of
Droxidopa in Patients with Symptomatic Neurogenic Orthostatic
Hypotension (NOH 304), Holly Shill, MD
-- Durability of Effect with Long-term, Open-Label Droxidopa
Treatment in
Patients with Symptomatic Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension (NOH
303),
Stuart Isaacson, MD
Abstract/Poster #1291
-- Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire as an Effective Patient
Reported
Outcome Scale to Assess Response in Patients with Symptomatic
Neurogenic
Orthostatic Hypotension, Horacio Kaufmann, MD Abstract/Poster
#284
About Droxidopa(TM) (droxidopa)
Droxidopa(TM) (droxidopa), the lead investigational agent in
Chelsea Therapeutics' pipeline, has been studied in two Phase III
clinical trials for the treatment of symptomatic neurogenic
orthostatic hypotension in patients with primary autonomic failure
-- a group of diseases that includes Parkinson's disease, multiple
system atrophy
(MSA) and pure autonomic failure (PAF). Droxidopa is a synthetic
catecholamine that is directly converted to norepinephrine (NE) via
decarboxylation, resulting in increased levels of NE in the nervous
system, both centrally and peripherally. The most common adverse
event (greater than or equal to 5%) during placebo controlled
trials was headache. Droxidopa is also being investigated for and
completed Phase II trials in intradialytic hypotension and adult
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and fibromyalgia.
About Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension
Neurogenic OH is a chronic neurogenic disorder resulting from deficient release of norepinephrine, the neurotransmitter used by sympathetic autonomic nerves to send signals to the blood vessels and the heart to regulate blood pressure. This deficiency results in lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, poor concentration and fainting episodes when a person assumes a standing position. Symptoms of chronic Neurogenic OH can be incapacitating, not only putting patients at high risk for falls and associated injuries, but also severely affecting the ability to perform activities of daily living that require standing or walking.
About Chelsea Therapeutics
Chelsea Therapeutics (Nasdaq:CHTP) is a biopharmaceutical development company that acquires and develops innovative products for the treatment of a variety of human diseases, including central nervous system, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases. Founded in 2004 around its library of unique anti-inflammatory and autoimmune technology, Chelsea has further expanded its product development portfolio with early- and late-stage candidates that seek to leverage the company's development expertise and accelerate the company's drug commercialization efforts. For more information about the company, visit www.chelseatherapeutics.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding
future events including our intention to pursue the development of
Northera.
These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause the actual events or results to differ materially. These
include:
risk that the FDA will not approve a resubmitted NDA for Northera;
the risks and costs of drug development and that such development
may take longer or be more expensive than anticipated; risk that we
do not achieve our recently announced cost savings initiatives; our
need to raise additional operating capital in the future; our
reliance on our lead drug candidate droxidopa; risk of regulatory
approvals of droxidopa or our other drug candidates for additional
indications; risk of volatility in our stock price, related
litigation, and analyst coverage of our stock; reliance on
collaborations and licenses; intellectual property risks; our
history of losses; competition; and market acceptance for our
products if any are approved for marketing; and reliance on key
personnel including specifically Dr. Pedder.
CONTACT: Investors:
Kathryn McNeil
Chelsea Therapeutics
704-973-4231
mcneil@chelseatherapeutics.com
Media:
Lauren Tortorete
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
212-885-0348
lauren.tortorete@hillandknowlton.com
Posted: June 2012
