REDWOOD CITY, CA, USA I April 08, 2018 I Menlo Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:MNLO), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of serlopitant for the treatment of pruritus associated with various underlying dermatologic conditions and for the treatment of refractory chronic cough, today announced top-line results from MTI-103 (ATOMIK), the Phase 2 clinical trial of serlopitant for the treatment of pruritus in adults and adolescents with a history of atopic dermatitis (AD). The study did not meet its primary or key secondary efficacy endpoints with no statistically significant difference demonstrated between the serlopitant treated groups and the placebo treated group. Numerical differences favoring the serlopitant treated group were evident at all timepoints. Serlopitant was well-tolerated in this study.
Summary Results:
| Endpoint | Placebo | Serlopitant 1 mg | Serlopitant 5 mg | |||||
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Mean Change from Baseline |
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| Absolute Change | Absolute Change | Treatment Effect(1) | Absolute Change | Treatment Effect(1) | ||||
| WI-NRS mean change from baseline at week 2 | -1.13 | -1.42 | -0.29 | -1.29 | -0.16 | |||
| WI-NRS mean change from baseline at week 4 | -1.66 | -1.79 | -0.13 | -1.78 | -0.12 | |||
| WI-NRS change mean from baseline at week 6 (Primary Endpoint) | -2.01 | -2.32 | -0.32 (p=0.11) | -2.25 | -0.23 (p=0.17) |
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Responder Rate Analysis |
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| Response Rate | Response Rate | Treatment Effect(2) | Response Rate | Treatment Effect(2) | ||||
| NRS ≥ 4-point responder rate at week 6 (Secondary Endpoint) | 16.5 | % | 22.4 | % | 5.9% (p=0.09) | 20.6 | % | 4.2% (p=0.17) |
(1) Treatment effect represents the difference between the absolute change in the serlopitant treated groups vs. the absolute change in the placebo treated group.
(2) Treatment effect represents the difference between the response rate in the serlopitant treated groups vs. the response rate in the placebo treated group.
“While we are disappointed that the results in this Phase 2 trial of pruritus associated with atopic dermatitis did not reach statistical significance and did not show the same magnitude of treatment effect as in our prior pruritus studies, we do see in the results a pattern that shows numerical improvement in each serlopitant treatment group above the placebo group at every timepoint. This is our third pruritus study of serlopitant. Reduction of pruritus has been demonstrated in two prior Phase 2 studies, one trial in patients with chronic pruritus and one trial in patients with prurigo nodularis,” stated Steve Basta, Chief Executive Officer of Menlo Therapeutics. “We are initiating Phase 3 studies in prurigo nodularis this quarter, and we are looking forward to the Phase 2 results in refractory chronic cough in the fourth quarter of this year, and the Phase 2 results in pruritus associated with psoriasis by late 2018 or early 2019.”
Serlopitant was well-tolerated in this study. No serious adverse events were assessed as likely related to serlopitant. Treatment-emergent adverse events that were assessed as possibly related to treatment were observed with similar frequency in all three study groups (9.5% for placebo, 7.5% for 1 mg, and 8.1% for 5 mg). The only treatment emergent adverse events that were reported in more than 5% of patients in any study group were worsening of atopic dermatitis (3.2% for placebo, 1.3% for 1 mg, and 5.6% for 5 mg) and worsening of pruritus (5.1% for placebo, 5.6% for 1 mg, and 1.9% for 5 mg). The consolidated safety summary for serlopitant now includes more than 1,300 patients that have been evaluated, including patients who have received treatment for up to a year.
The ATOMIK, MTI-103 study, was a multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial conducted at 52 US sites to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of serlopitant. The study enrolled 484 subjects ages 13 years of age and older with a past or present diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, pruritus for at least six weeks, and an average weekly worst-itch numeric rating scale, or WI-NRS score ≥ 6 for each of the two weeks of the screening period, as recorded in the eDiary. Patients were randomized into one of three treatment arms: once-daily doses of placebo, 1 mg serlopitant, or 5 mg serlopitant. The trial included a two-week screening period, a six‑week treatment period and a four‑week follow-up period. This trial was intended to evaluate if treatment with either 5 mg or 1 mg serlopitant daily for six weeks could reduce pruritus associated with atopic dermatitis compared with placebo. The primary efficacy analysis compared the difference between serlopitant and placebo in the mean change in WI‑NRS from baseline to week 6. A key secondary endpoint was a responder-rate analysis of a 4-point WI-NRS improvement at week 6.
Management will conduct a conference all at 4:00AM PT / 7: 00AM ET on Monday, April 9, 2018 to discuss the results. The conference call will be webcast live and can be accessed by logging on to the “Investors” section of the Menlo Therapeutics website, www.menlotherapeutics.com, prior to the event. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Company’s website for 30 days following the call.
To participate on the live call, please dial (877) 253-4330 (toll-free) or (706) 643-0896 (toll) and reference conference ID 6191407 prior to the start of the call.
About Serlopitant
Serlopitant is a once-daily NK1 receptor antagonist being developed for the treatment of pruritus, or itch, associated with atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and prurigo nodularis. Serlopitant is also being evaluated as a potential treatment for refractory chronic cough, a cough which persists for greater than eight weeks despite treatment of any identified underlying cause. Menlo Therapeutics has completed three Phase 2 studies with serlopitant showing a statistically significant reduction in pruritus compared to placebo in two of the three studies. Originally developed by Merck and licensed to Menlo Therapeutics in 2012, serlopitant has been evaluated in more than 1,300 patients and has been shown to be well-tolerated, including in patients who have received treatment for up to a year. Serlopitant is an investigational drug that is not currently approved for use in any indication.
About Menlo Therapeutics
Menlo Therapeutics Inc. is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of serlopitant, a once-daily oral NK1 receptor antagonist, for the treatment of pruritus associated with various underlying dermatologic conditions and for refractory chronic cough. The Company has a broad clinical development program for serlopitant including two ongoing Phase 2 studies for the treatment of pruritus associated with psoriasis and refractory chronic cough and expects to start Phase 3 trials for the treatment of pruritus associated with prurigo nodularis in the second quarter of 2018. Menlo Therapeutics has exclusive worldwide rights to serlopitant, excluding in Japan where Menlo Therapeutics has licensed exclusive rights to JT Torii.
SOURCE: Menlo Therapeutics
