Alignment with FDA on a single, pivotal, 12-week, placebo-controlled,
Phase 3 clinical trial to initiate in the second half of 2019
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ra Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:RARX) today announced the successful
completion of End-of-Phase 2 interactions with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for its Phase 3 clinical trial of zilucoplan for
the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG).
Based on feedback provided by the FDA, Ra Pharma plans to initiate a
single, pivotal, Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
trial evaluating the efficacy of a once-daily, subcutaneously (SC)
self-administered dose of 0.3 mg/kg of zilucoplan versus placebo. The
trial is expected to enroll approximately 130 patients with gMG who are
acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-antibody-positive, regardless of their
prior therapies. The primary endpoint will be the change in the MG
Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score from baseline to week 12.
Following completion of the Phase 3 clinical trial, patients will have
the option to enroll into an open-label, long-term extension study. Ra
Pharma anticipates initiating the Phase 3 clinical trial in the second
half of 2019.
With alignment reached on a single, 12-week, pivotal Phase 3 trial, Ra
Pharma has decided to prioritize gMG as the lead indication for
zilucoplan as part of its goal to build a leading complement-focused
neurology franchise. Leveraging the unique properties of a small peptide
C5 inhibitor, the Company plans to expand development into other
tissue-based, complement-mediated disorders with high unmet medical
need. This effort includes the initiation of a Phase 2 study in an
undisclosed neuromuscular indication in the second half of 2019. As a
result, the Company has decided to postpone further clinical development
of zilucoplan in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Dosing will
continue in the Company’s long-term extension of the Phase 2 PNH
program. In addition, the Company continues to advance development of
zilucoplan extended release (XR) and its first-in-class oral small
molecule C5 inhibitor.
“We’re delighted by the feedback we received from the FDA regarding our
Phase 3 clinical trial design for zilucoplan in gMG, which is a major
step forward in our efforts to expand patient access to convenient
complement inhibition in this disease. We look forward to working
closely with regulators as we advance zilucoplan through Phase 3
clinical development in gMG, with initiation planned for the second half
of this year,” said Doug Treco, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive
Officer of Ra Pharma. “With a Phase 3 design that includes a 12-week
trial duration and a primary efficacy endpoint that zilucoplan
previously met in our completed Phase 2 study, we are well-positioned to
rapidly advance this registrational program. We plan to focus our
resources on accelerating this program as we aim to build a leading
complement-focused neurology franchise.”
The End-of-Phase 2 interactions with the FDA follow the successful
completion of a Phase 2, multi-center, randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating zilucoplan for the
treatment of gMG. Rapid, clinically meaningful, and statistically
significant improvements in the pre-specified primary and key secondary
endpoints were observed for both zilucoplan dose groups tested versus
placebo at 12 weeks. Zilucoplan dosed at 0.3 mg/kg SC daily achieved a
mean reduction from baseline of 6.0 points in the Quantitative
Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) score (placebo-corrected change = -2.8; p=0.05)
and a mean reduction from baseline of 3.4 points in the MG-ADL score
(placebo-corrected change = -2.3; p=0.04). No patients treated with the
0.3 mg/kg dose of zilucoplan required rescue therapy compared with 20%
in the placebo arm. Treatment with zilucoplan had a favorable safety and
tolerability profile in the study, consistent with previously-completed
Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies. The majority of adverse events (AEs)
reported were mild and were not considered by the investigators to be
related to study drug. There were no serious AEs observed related to
treatment with zilucoplan.
About Zilucoplan
Ra Pharma is developing zilucoplan for generalized myasthenia gravis
(gMG) and other tissue-based, complement-mediated disorders with high
unmet medical need. The product candidate is designed for convenient,
once-daily, subcutaneous (SC) self-administration. Zilucoplan is a
synthetic, macrocyclic peptide discovered using Ra Pharma’s powerful
proprietary drug discovery technology. The peptide binds complement
component 5 (C5) with sub-nanomolar affinity and allosterically inhibits
its cleavage into C5a and C5b upon activation of the classical,
alternative, or lectin pathways.
About Ra Pharmaceuticals
Ra Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused
on leading the field of complement biology to bring innovative and
accessible therapies to patients with rare diseases. The Company
discovers and develops peptides and small molecules to target key
components of the complement cascade. For more information, please
visit: www.rapharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including, but not limited to, statements regarding the design and
timing of initiation of the Phase 3 clinical trial of zilucoplan for the
treatment of gMG, anticipated interactions with regulators, plans
regarding the development of zilucoplan for the treatment of other
indications, our intent to postpone development of zilucoplan for the
treatment of PNH, building a leading complement-focused neurology
franchise, and bringing innovative and accessible therapies to patients
with rare diseases. All such forward-looking statements are based on
management’s current expectations of future events and are subject to a
number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by
such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include
the risks that Ra Pharma’s product candidates, including zilucoplan,
will not successfully be developed or commercialized, in the timeframe
we expect or at all; as well as the other factors discussed in the “Risk
Factors” section in Ra Pharma’s most recently filed Annual Report on
Form 10-K, as well as other risks detailed in Ra Pharma’s subsequent
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There can be no
assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by Ra
Pharma will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they
will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Ra Pharma. All
information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and
Ra Pharma undertakes no duty to update this information unless required
by law.
Contacts
Investors:
Ra Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Natalie Wildenradt,
617-674-9874
nwildenradt@rapharma.com
Media:
Argot
Partners
David Rosen, 212-600-1902
david.rosen@argotpartners.com