• The last patient has been enrolled in the Phase IIa, proof-of-concept clinical study evaluating RHB-104 as an add-on therapy to interferon beta-1a in patients treated for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (the CEASE-MS study)
  • Interim results from the Phase IIa CEASE-MS study are expected in Q4/2015 – Q1/16
  • RHB-104 is also being evaluated as a treatment for Crohn’s disease with an ongoing Phase III clinical study (the MAP US study) and a second Phase III study being planned (the MAP EU study)

TEL-AVIV, Israel I June 9, 2015 I RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (RDHL) (RDHL) (“RedHill” or the “Company”), an Israeli biopharmaceutical company focused on late clinical-stage, proprietary, orally-administered, small molecule drugs for inflammatory and gastrointestinal diseases, including gastrointestinal cancers, today announced that the last patient has been enrolled in the Phase IIa, proof-of-concept clinical study evaluating RHB-104 as an add-on therapy to interferon beta-1a in patients treated for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). RHB-104 is a proprietary and potentially groundbreaking antibiotic combination therapy in oral capsule formulation, with potent intracellular, anti-mycobacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Seventeen patients were enrolled in the open label Phase IIa study (the CEASE-MS study), which is designed to assess the efficacy and safety of RHB-104 as an add-on therapy to interferon beta-1ain patients suffering from RRMS following 24 weeks of treatment. Patients are evaluated for an additional term of 24 weeks after completing treatment with RHB-104. The primary endpoint of the study is the number of combined unique active lesions after 24 weeks of treatment, as compared to baseline, and secondary endpoints include changes in cytokine levels, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) status, relapse rate, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and safety and tolerability of RHB-104. The CEASE-MS study is being conducted at two medical centers in Israel and interim results are expected either in the fourth quarter of 2015 or the first quarter of 2016.

Clara Fehrmann, RedHill’s Director of Clinical Operations, said: “We are very pleased to have completed patient enrollment in the Phase IIa CEASE-MS study with RHB-104. The CEASE-MS study was initiated following four successful pre-clinical studies and is based on the hypothesis that a bacterially induced dysregulated immune system plays a role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. We are hopeful that the interim results from the CEASE-MS study, expected in late 2015 or early 2016, will contribute to the understanding of the development of multiple sclerosis and will provide new treatment alternatives for patients suffering from this disease.”

RHB-104 is also being evaluated as a treatment for Crohn’s disease and is currently undergoing a first Phase III clinical study in the U.S. and other countries (the MAP US study). Interim analysis of the MAP US study is expected in the second half of 2016. The primary endpoint is remission at week 26 of treatment. A second Phase III study with RHB-104 for Crohn’s disease is planned in Europe (the MAP EU study) and clinical trial applications have been submitted.

About RHB-104:

Currently in a first Phase III study for the treatment of Crohn’s disease (the MAP US study), RHB-104 is a proprietary and potentially groundbreaking antibiotic combination therapy in oral capsule formulation, with potent intracellular, anti-mycobacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. RHB-104 is based on increasing evidence supporting the hypothesis that Crohn’s disease is caused by the Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection in susceptible patients. Clinical trials conducted with earlier formulations of RHB-104, include an Australian Phase III study conducted by Pfizer. RedHill has conducted several supportive studies with the current formulation of RHB-104 and a long-term population pharmacokinetic (Pop-PK) study is ongoing as part of the Phase III MAP US study. RHB-104 is covered by several issued and pending patents. RedHill is also conducting a Phase IIa, proof-of-concept clinical study, evaluating RHB-104 as an add-on therapy to interferon beta-1a in patients treated for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

About RedHill Biopharma Ltd.:

RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (RDHL) (RDHL) is an emerging Israeli biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of late clinical-stage, proprietary, orally-administered, small molecule drugs for the treatment of inflammatory and gastrointestinal diseases, including gastrointestinal cancers. RedHill’s current pipeline of proprietary products includes: (i) RHB-105 an oral combination therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection, with an ongoing first Phase III study; (ii) RHB-104 an oral combination therapy for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, with an ongoing first Phase III study; (iii) BEKINDA(TM) (RHB-102) a once-daily oral pill formulation of ondansetron with an ongoing Phase III study in the U.S. for acute gastroenteritis and gastritis and a European marketing application for chemotherapy and radiotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting submitted in December 2014; (iv) RHB-106 an encapsulated formulation for bowel preparation licensed to Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.; (v) ABC294640 — a Phase II-stage orally-administered SK2 inhibitor targeting multiple inflammatory-GI diseases and related oncology indications; (vi) MESUPRON(R)a Phase II-stage uPA inhibitor, administered by oral capsule, targeting gastrointestinal and other solid tumor cancers; (vii) RP101 currently subject to an option-to-acquire by RedHill, RP101 is a Phase II-stage Hsp27 inhibitor, administered by oral tablet, targeting pancreatic and other gastrointestinal cancers; (viii) RIZAPORT(TM) (RHB-103) an oral thin film formulation of rizatriptan for acute migraines with a U.S. NDA currently under discussions with the FDA and a European marketing application submitted in October 2014; and (ix) RHB-101 a once-daily oral pill formulation of the cardio drug carvedilol.

SOURCE: RedHill Biopharma