OXFORD, UK I June 17, 2016 I Summit Therapeutics plc (SMMT) (SUMM.L), the drug discovery and development company advancing therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (‘DMD’) and Clostridium difficile infection, today announces that it has enrolled the first patient in PhaseOut DMD, a Phase 2 proof of concept clinical trial of ezutromid (formerly SMT C1100) in patients with DMD. Ezutromid dosing is expected to follow a screening period of up to 28 days.
Ezutromid is an orally administered small molecule that is designed to modulate utrophin, a protein that is structurally and functionally similar to the dystrophin protein. Dystrophin is essential for the healthy function of all muscles but is missing in patients with DMD. Utrophin modulation is a potential disease-modifying approach that could treat all boys and young men with DMD, regardless of their underlying dystrophin gene mutation.
“Ezutromid has garnered considerable interest from the patient, family and healthcare communities, which we believe is due to its potential to slow or stop progression of DMD regardless of the underlying dystrophin gene mutation,” said Ralf Rosskamp, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Summit. “The enrolment of the first patient in PhaseOut DMD is a significant milestone in the clinical development of ezutromid, with the aim of studying long-term dosing of ezutromid in boys with DMD. We look forward to the possibility of demonstrating ezutromid’s effect on utrophin with the initial set of 24-week biopsy data.”
The Company anticipates reporting data periodically during this trial with 24-week muscle biopsy data from the first group of patients enrolled expected to be reported in January 2017.
About PhaseOut DMD
PhaseOut DMD aims to provide proof of concept for ezutromid and utrophin modulation by measuring muscle fat infiltration, as well as by measuring utrophin protein and muscle fibre regeneration in muscle biopsies. The primary endpoint of the open-label trial is the change from baseline in magnetic resonance imaging parameters related to fat infiltration and inflammation of the leg muscles. Exploratory endpoints include the six-minute walk distance, the North Star Ambulatory Assessment and patient reported outcomes. PhaseOut DMD is a 48-week open-label trial expected to enrol up to 40 boys ranging in age from their fifth to their tenth birthdays at sites in the UK and the US.
Further information is available at: https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/trial/2015-004333-27/GB.
About Utrophin Modulation in DMD
DMD is a progressive muscle wasting disease that affects around 50,000 boys and young men in the developed world. The disease is caused by different genetic faults in the gene that encodes dystrophin, a protein that is essential for the healthy function of all muscles. There is currently no cure for DMD and life expectancy is into the late twenties. Utrophin protein is functionally and structurally similar to dystrophin. In preclinical studies, the continued expression of utrophin has a meaningful, positive effect on muscle performance. Summit believes that utrophin modulation has the potential to slow down or even stop the progression of DMD, regardless of the underlying dystrophin gene mutation. Summit also believes that utrophin modulation could potentially be complementary to other therapeutic approaches for DMD. The Company’s lead utrophin modulator, ezutromid, is an orally administered, small molecule. DMD is an orphan disease, and the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency have granted orphan drug status to ezutromid. Orphan drugs receive a number of benefits including additional regulatory support and a period of market exclusivity following approval.
About Summit Therapeutics
Summit is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialisation of novel medicines for indications for which there are no existing or only inadequate therapies. Summit is conducting clinical programs focused on the genetic disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the infectious disease C. difficile infection. Further information is available at www.summitplc.com and Summit can be followed on Twitter (@summitplc).
SOURCE: Summit Therapeutics
Post Views: 34
OXFORD, UK I June 17, 2016 I Summit Therapeutics plc (SMMT) (SUMM.L), the drug discovery and development company advancing therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (‘DMD’) and Clostridium difficile infection, today announces that it has enrolled the first patient in PhaseOut DMD, a Phase 2 proof of concept clinical trial of ezutromid (formerly SMT C1100) in patients with DMD. Ezutromid dosing is expected to follow a screening period of up to 28 days.
Ezutromid is an orally administered small molecule that is designed to modulate utrophin, a protein that is structurally and functionally similar to the dystrophin protein. Dystrophin is essential for the healthy function of all muscles but is missing in patients with DMD. Utrophin modulation is a potential disease-modifying approach that could treat all boys and young men with DMD, regardless of their underlying dystrophin gene mutation.
“Ezutromid has garnered considerable interest from the patient, family and healthcare communities, which we believe is due to its potential to slow or stop progression of DMD regardless of the underlying dystrophin gene mutation,” said Ralf Rosskamp, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Summit. “The enrolment of the first patient in PhaseOut DMD is a significant milestone in the clinical development of ezutromid, with the aim of studying long-term dosing of ezutromid in boys with DMD. We look forward to the possibility of demonstrating ezutromid’s effect on utrophin with the initial set of 24-week biopsy data.”
The Company anticipates reporting data periodically during this trial with 24-week muscle biopsy data from the first group of patients enrolled expected to be reported in January 2017.
About PhaseOut DMD
PhaseOut DMD aims to provide proof of concept for ezutromid and utrophin modulation by measuring muscle fat infiltration, as well as by measuring utrophin protein and muscle fibre regeneration in muscle biopsies. The primary endpoint of the open-label trial is the change from baseline in magnetic resonance imaging parameters related to fat infiltration and inflammation of the leg muscles. Exploratory endpoints include the six-minute walk distance, the North Star Ambulatory Assessment and patient reported outcomes. PhaseOut DMD is a 48-week open-label trial expected to enrol up to 40 boys ranging in age from their fifth to their tenth birthdays at sites in the UK and the US.
Further information is available at: https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/trial/2015-004333-27/GB.
About Utrophin Modulation in DMD
DMD is a progressive muscle wasting disease that affects around 50,000 boys and young men in the developed world. The disease is caused by different genetic faults in the gene that encodes dystrophin, a protein that is essential for the healthy function of all muscles. There is currently no cure for DMD and life expectancy is into the late twenties. Utrophin protein is functionally and structurally similar to dystrophin. In preclinical studies, the continued expression of utrophin has a meaningful, positive effect on muscle performance. Summit believes that utrophin modulation has the potential to slow down or even stop the progression of DMD, regardless of the underlying dystrophin gene mutation. Summit also believes that utrophin modulation could potentially be complementary to other therapeutic approaches for DMD. The Company’s lead utrophin modulator, ezutromid, is an orally administered, small molecule. DMD is an orphan disease, and the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency have granted orphan drug status to ezutromid. Orphan drugs receive a number of benefits including additional regulatory support and a period of market exclusivity following approval.
About Summit Therapeutics
Summit is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialisation of novel medicines for indications for which there are no existing or only inadequate therapies. Summit is conducting clinical programs focused on the genetic disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the infectious disease C. difficile infection. Further information is available at www.summitplc.com and Summit can be followed on Twitter (@summitplc).
SOURCE: Summit Therapeutics
Post Views: 34
