SANTA CLARA, CA, USA I September 10, 2013 I XenoPort, Inc. (XNPT) announced today the preliminary results from two Phase 1 studies with XP23829, a novel fumaric acid ester compound that is a prodrug of monomethyl fumarate (MMF). Based on the favorable preliminary results from these studies, XenoPort intends to continue to advance the development of XP23829 as a potential treatment for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and/or psoriasis.
Ronald W. Barrett, Ph.D., chief executive officer of XenoPort, Inc., stated, “The results of these recent studies affirm our belief in the potential of XP23829 to be a next generation fumaric acid ester-based medicine. We now intend to finalize dose and formulation selection as well as other aspects of our development plans over the next few months.”
The first Phase 1 study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple ascending dose-escalation study of the pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of two formulations of XP23829 in healthy adult subjects. Five separate cohorts (12 active and three placebo subjects per cohort) were enrolled sequentially and received one of two formulations of XP23829 dosed with or without food. Following up-titration of up to five days, dosing for each cohort ranged from 400 to 1,000 mg XP23829 per day, administered either once a day (QD) or twice a day (BID), with dosing for an additional six days. On the seventh day of target dose administration, pharmacokinetic (PK) evaluations were conducted following the morning dose. Similarly, a sixth cohort of healthy subjects received 240 mg BID TECFIDERA® (dimethyl fumarate), which is also a prodrug of MMF. As a consequence of its higher molecular weight, 400 mg of XP23829 is approximately equimolar to 240 mg of dimethyl fumarate (DMF), i.e., these amounts of each compound can potentially be enzymatically converted to approximately the same amount of MMF.
The preliminary results of the first Phase 1 study showed that both formulations of XP23829 produced MMF in the plasma but with different PK profiles. The 400 mg BID XP23829 Formulation 1 dosed without food provided an MMF PK profile that was nearly identical to that of 240 mg BID TECFIDERA dosed without food. As expected, XP23829 Formulation 2, administered as 800 mg QD and 500 mg BID dosed with food, provided more extended exposure to MMF. These cohorts had a lower mean maximal plasma concentration (Cmax) of MMF, while providing a mean daily area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC) of MMF that was approximately 25% less than that seen after dosing 240 mg BID TECFIDERA. XP23829 was generally well tolerated in the study. The most common adverse events were flushing and gastrointestinal-related events, which were generally mild to moderate in severity.
The second Phase 1 study was an open-label, pharmacokinetic and mass balance study in healthy male subjects. One group of six subjects received a single dose of XP23829 that incorporated a radiolabel in the fumarate portion of the molecule and a separate group of six subjects received XP23829 with the radiolabel in the promoiety portion of the molecule. As expected, the metabolism and disposition of radioactivity from the fumarate-labeled version of XP23829 was similar to what has been publicly reported for dosing healthy subjects with DMF labeled in the same position. For the promoiety-labeled version of XP23829, 98% of the recovered radioactivity was in urine. The major metabolites of the promoiety found in humans were the same as those observed in animal studies.
XenoPort also announced today that it has completed 13-week toxicology studies of XP23829 in three species. Each study included a dose of DMF chosen to provide a similar MMF exposure to that of the highest dose of XP23829. The adverse effects of XP23829 were similar to those of DMF, except for fewer and less severe adverse effects in the stomach after dosing XP23829. The target organs for XP23829 were identical to DMF, and there was no increase in severity of any adverse effects for XP23829 compared with DMF. These preliminary results support a conclusion that all observed adverse effects of XP23829 were attributable to exposure to MMF, the common active metabolite of DMF and XP23829.
“In addition to advancing XP23829 development, we believe these new studies have generated important new intellectual property,” stated Dr. Barrett. “Over the last five years, XenoPort scientists have generated immense knowledge and experience concerning prodrugs of MMF. This has resulted in the broad filing of 15 patent applications that cover composition of matter, methods of synthesis, crystalline forms, improved formulations, methods to achieve desired PK profiles and methods to improve tolerability, that in some cases are applicable to MMF prodrugs in general. We believe we are in a leadership position with regard to development of patent-protected, next-generation fumaric-acid ester medicines.”
Conference Call
XenoPort will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time today to discuss its XP23829 study results. To access the conference call via the Internet, go to www.XenoPort.com. To access the live conference call via phone, dial 1-888-275-3514. International callers may access the live call by dialing 706-679-1417. The reference number to enter the call is 58004727.
The replay of the conference call will be available for one week and may be accessed after 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Internet, at www.XenoPort.com, or via phone at 1-855-859-2056 for domestic callers, or 404-537-3406 for international callers. The reference number to enter the replay of the call is 58004727.
About XenoPort
XenoPort, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a portfolio of internally discovered product candidates for the potential treatment of neurological disorders. XenoPort is currently commercializing HORIZANT® (gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release Tablets in the United States and developing its novel fumaric acid ester product candidate, XP23829, as a potential treatment for RRMS and/or psoriasis. REGNITE® (gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release Tablets is being marketed in Japan by Astellas Pharma Inc. XenoPort’s pipeline of product candidates also includes potential treatments for patients with spasticity related to spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s disease. To learn more about XenoPort, please visit the company Website at www.XenoPort.com.
SOURCE: Xenoport
Post Views: 123
SANTA CLARA, CA, USA I September 10, 2013 I XenoPort, Inc. (XNPT) announced today the preliminary results from two Phase 1 studies with XP23829, a novel fumaric acid ester compound that is a prodrug of monomethyl fumarate (MMF). Based on the favorable preliminary results from these studies, XenoPort intends to continue to advance the development of XP23829 as a potential treatment for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and/or psoriasis.
Ronald W. Barrett, Ph.D., chief executive officer of XenoPort, Inc., stated, “The results of these recent studies affirm our belief in the potential of XP23829 to be a next generation fumaric acid ester-based medicine. We now intend to finalize dose and formulation selection as well as other aspects of our development plans over the next few months.”
The first Phase 1 study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple ascending dose-escalation study of the pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of two formulations of XP23829 in healthy adult subjects. Five separate cohorts (12 active and three placebo subjects per cohort) were enrolled sequentially and received one of two formulations of XP23829 dosed with or without food. Following up-titration of up to five days, dosing for each cohort ranged from 400 to 1,000 mg XP23829 per day, administered either once a day (QD) or twice a day (BID), with dosing for an additional six days. On the seventh day of target dose administration, pharmacokinetic (PK) evaluations were conducted following the morning dose. Similarly, a sixth cohort of healthy subjects received 240 mg BID TECFIDERA® (dimethyl fumarate), which is also a prodrug of MMF. As a consequence of its higher molecular weight, 400 mg of XP23829 is approximately equimolar to 240 mg of dimethyl fumarate (DMF), i.e., these amounts of each compound can potentially be enzymatically converted to approximately the same amount of MMF.
The preliminary results of the first Phase 1 study showed that both formulations of XP23829 produced MMF in the plasma but with different PK profiles. The 400 mg BID XP23829 Formulation 1 dosed without food provided an MMF PK profile that was nearly identical to that of 240 mg BID TECFIDERA dosed without food. As expected, XP23829 Formulation 2, administered as 800 mg QD and 500 mg BID dosed with food, provided more extended exposure to MMF. These cohorts had a lower mean maximal plasma concentration (Cmax) of MMF, while providing a mean daily area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC) of MMF that was approximately 25% less than that seen after dosing 240 mg BID TECFIDERA. XP23829 was generally well tolerated in the study. The most common adverse events were flushing and gastrointestinal-related events, which were generally mild to moderate in severity.
The second Phase 1 study was an open-label, pharmacokinetic and mass balance study in healthy male subjects. One group of six subjects received a single dose of XP23829 that incorporated a radiolabel in the fumarate portion of the molecule and a separate group of six subjects received XP23829 with the radiolabel in the promoiety portion of the molecule. As expected, the metabolism and disposition of radioactivity from the fumarate-labeled version of XP23829 was similar to what has been publicly reported for dosing healthy subjects with DMF labeled in the same position. For the promoiety-labeled version of XP23829, 98% of the recovered radioactivity was in urine. The major metabolites of the promoiety found in humans were the same as those observed in animal studies.
XenoPort also announced today that it has completed 13-week toxicology studies of XP23829 in three species. Each study included a dose of DMF chosen to provide a similar MMF exposure to that of the highest dose of XP23829. The adverse effects of XP23829 were similar to those of DMF, except for fewer and less severe adverse effects in the stomach after dosing XP23829. The target organs for XP23829 were identical to DMF, and there was no increase in severity of any adverse effects for XP23829 compared with DMF. These preliminary results support a conclusion that all observed adverse effects of XP23829 were attributable to exposure to MMF, the common active metabolite of DMF and XP23829.
“In addition to advancing XP23829 development, we believe these new studies have generated important new intellectual property,” stated Dr. Barrett. “Over the last five years, XenoPort scientists have generated immense knowledge and experience concerning prodrugs of MMF. This has resulted in the broad filing of 15 patent applications that cover composition of matter, methods of synthesis, crystalline forms, improved formulations, methods to achieve desired PK profiles and methods to improve tolerability, that in some cases are applicable to MMF prodrugs in general. We believe we are in a leadership position with regard to development of patent-protected, next-generation fumaric-acid ester medicines.”
Conference Call
XenoPort will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time today to discuss its XP23829 study results. To access the conference call via the Internet, go to www.XenoPort.com. To access the live conference call via phone, dial 1-888-275-3514. International callers may access the live call by dialing 706-679-1417. The reference number to enter the call is 58004727.
The replay of the conference call will be available for one week and may be accessed after 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Internet, at www.XenoPort.com, or via phone at 1-855-859-2056 for domestic callers, or 404-537-3406 for international callers. The reference number to enter the replay of the call is 58004727.
About XenoPort
XenoPort, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a portfolio of internally discovered product candidates for the potential treatment of neurological disorders. XenoPort is currently commercializing HORIZANT® (gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release Tablets in the United States and developing its novel fumaric acid ester product candidate, XP23829, as a potential treatment for RRMS and/or psoriasis. REGNITE® (gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release Tablets is being marketed in Japan by Astellas Pharma Inc. XenoPort’s pipeline of product candidates also includes potential treatments for patients with spasticity related to spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s disease. To learn more about XenoPort, please visit the company Website at www.XenoPort.com.
SOURCE: Xenoport
Post Views: 123
