Combination of subcutaneous ELX-02 with ivacaftor did not achieve statistical significance for efficacy endpoints in Phase 2 study in Class 1 CF

ELX-02 was well tolerated with no drug-related serious adverse events observed

Evidence of activity for ELX-02 observed; efficacy signal potentially confounded by variability due to low drug exposure

Path forward for ELX-02 for the treatment of Class 1 CF to be determined together with CF Foundation

WATERTOWN, MA, USA I September 14, 2022 I Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELOX), a leader in ribosomal RNA-targeted genetic therapies for rare diseases, today announced topline results from the Phase 2 clinical trial of ELX-02 in combination with ivacaftor in Class 1 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with at least one nonsense mutation. The combination trial of ELX-02 with ivacaftor was well tolerated but did not achieve statistical significance for efficacy endpoints, including changes from baseline in sweat chloride concentration (SCC) and percent forced expiratory volume (FEV1).

“We are disappointed that ELX-02 failed to achieve statistical significance for its key efficacy endpoints in this Phase 2 trial in combination with ivacaftor for the treatment of Class 1 CF. Despite this setback, we were pleased to observe that ELX-02 was well tolerated and demonstrated additional evidence of activity in this underserved patient population. We will work closely with the CF Foundation, as it has generously supported this trial, to determine the next steps in the development of ELX-02 for CF,” said Sumit Aggarwal, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eloxx.

Mr. Aggarwal continued, “Given the safety and evidence of activity we have observed to date with ELX-02, including in this trial, we look forward to initiating a proof-of-concept trial for ELX-02 in Alport syndrome, a rare kidney disease, later this year. Given the likelihood of increased drug exposure, as ELX-02 is preferentially taken up in the kidneys, we believe ELX-02 is well suited to potentially deliver transformative results in these patients.”

Topline Results of ELX-02 Phase 2 Combination Trial in Class 1 CF Patients

The Phase 2 combination clinical trial of ELX-02 was designed to evaluate safety and assess biological activity in G542X nonsense mutation Class 1 CF patients as monotherapy and in combination with ivacaftor. The trial included a 1-week monotherapy period (1.5 mg/kg daily subcutaneous) followed by a four week combination period (1.5 mg/kg daily subcutaneous and 150 mg ivacaftor twice daily). Topline results are summarized below:

  • ELX-02 was generally well tolerated in the trial, with no treatment-related serious adverse events noted.
  • Overall, the study did not achieve statistical significance for efficacy endpoints in the Phase 2 study in Class 1 CF for efficacy endpoints, including changes from baseline in SCC and FEV1.
    • No incremental improvement was observed with ivacaftor combination.
  • Evidence of activity for ELX-02 was observed, as patients with higher baseline sweat chloride levels demonstrated increased responses as indicated by SCC (p=0.00013 at Day 35).
  • Trial results were potentially confounded by high variability in sweat chloride and lung function measurement.
  • Eloxx believes this variability could have been caused by very low drug exposures in the lung. Steady state lung drug levels in patients from this trial were on average 20%, or 2μM, of the lowest levels at which drug activity has previously been seen in preclinical testing.
    • Lung drug exposure with inhaled delivery of ELX-02 expected to be at least 50-fold greater than with subcutaneous delivery.

About Class 1 CF

CF patients with a Class 1 nonsense mutation remain highly underserved with no approved disease modifying therapies. An estimated 10-12% of CF patients are Class 1 patients with one or both alleles harboring nonsense mutations, leading to less than full length CFTR proteins on the cell membrane in these patients.

About Eloxx Pharmaceuticals

Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is engaged in the science of ribosome modulation, leveraging its innovative TURBO-ZM™ chemistry technology platform in an effort to develop novel Ribosome Modulating Agents (RMAs) and its library of Eukaryotic Ribosome Selective Glycosides (ERSGs). Eloxx’s lead investigational product candidate, ELX-02, is a small molecule drug candidate designed to restore production of full-length functional proteins. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for ELX-02 for the treatment of CF patients with nonsense mutations. In addition, ELX-02 has also been granted Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of CF patients with nonsense mutations by the FDA and orphan medicinal product designation by the European Commission. ELX-02 is in clinical development, focusing on cystic fibrosis (US Trial NCT04135495, EU/IL Trial NCT04126473). Eloxx also has preclinical programs focused on select rare diseases, including inherited diseases, cancer caused by nonsense mutations, kidney diseases, including autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, as well as rare ocular genetic disorders.

For more information, please visit www.eloxxpharma.com.

SOURCE: Eloxx Pharmaceuticals