Amicus Therapeutics Advances Chaperone-Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) Combination Platform in Pompe Disease
Phase 2
Next-Generation ERT Advancing in Preclinical Studies
Conference Call on
Chaperone-ERT Combinations for Pompe Disease
AT2220 Co-Administered with Marketed ERTs
Positive results from a Phase 2 study (Study 010) established human proof-of-concept that co-administration of AT2220 just prior to infusing ERT (Myozyme/Lumizyme, or rhGAA enzymes) increases GAA enzyme activity in muscle tissue compared to ERT alone. These results appear in a poster1 and will be featured in an oral platform presentation at LDN WORLD on
Based on these results, Amicus plans to initiate a repeat-dose clinical study in the third quarter of 2013 to evaluate a novel intravenous formulation of AT2220 (AT2220-IV) co-administered with Myozyme/Lumizyme. AT2220-IV when co-administered with ERT is designed to have an improved pharmacokinetic (PK) profile compared to oral AT2220 for all Pompe patients, many of whom are unable to swallow an oral small molecule. The upcoming clinical study will investigate multiple doses of AT2220-IV co-administered with Myozyme/Lumizyme every two weeks in Pompe patients. Objectives of the study are to characterize safety and PK for later evaluation of infants and special populations. Key parameters are expected to include GAA enzyme activity and AT2220 levels in plasma and muscle, as well as rhGAA antibody titers.
Next-Generation ERT (AT2220 Co-Formulated with a Proprietary Amicus ERT)
Preclinical studies of AT2220 co-formulated with rhGAA enzyme (Myozyme/Lumizyme) were presented for the first time in a poster2 at LDN WORLD. This chaperone-ERT co-formulation resulted in up to 2.5-fold greater enzyme uptake in multiple disease-relevant tissues and led to greater glycogen reduction compared to rhGAA alone in GAA knock-out mice. Collectively these data suggest that AT2220 directly binds to and stabilizes rhGAA, potentially leading to a larger amount of properly folded, active enzyme available for uptake into tissue. AT2220 co-formulated with ERT may also mitigate Pompe ERT-related immunogenicity since properly-folded proteins are less prone to aggregation and less immunogenic.
Following the completion of these preclinical studies, Amicus entered into a contract with
Conference Call and Webcast
About
About AT2220 for Pompe Disease
AT2220 is an investigational, orally-administered pharmacological chaperone owned exclusively by Amicus. In published preclinical studies, AT2220-ERT co-administration resulted in significant increases in muscle rhGAA levels and decreases in glycogen levels in a mouse model of Pompe disease. Preclinical results to date also suggest that AT2220-ERT co-administration may mitigate ERT-induced immunogenicity by stabilizing the enzyme in its properly folded and active form. Initial ex vivo studies using T cells derived from blood from 50 healthy donors demonstrated that the addition of AT2220 may significantly reduce the immunogenicity of Myozyme and Lumizyme.
Pompe disease is a lysosomal storage disease characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness and respiratory insufficiency. It is caused by a deficiency in GAA activity, which leads to accumulation of glycogen in tissues affected by the disease (primarily muscle). Pompe disease affects an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 individuals worldwide and is clinically heterogeneous in the age of onset, the extent of organ involvement, and the rate of progression.
1 Kishnani, et al., A Phase 2a Study to Investigate Drug-Drug Interactions between Escalating Doses of AT2220 (Duvoglustat Hydrochloride) and Acid Alfa-Glucosidase in Subjects with Pompe Disease, LDN WORLD 2013
2 Khanna, et al., Exploring the Use of a Co-formulated Pharmacological Chaperone AT2220 with Recombinant Human Acid Alpha-Glucosidase for Pompe Disease, LDN WORLD 2013
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to clinical development of Amicus' candidate drug products and the timing and reporting of results from clinical trials evaluating Amicus' candidate drug products. Words such as, but not limited to, "look forward to," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "targets," "likely," "will," "would," "should" and "could," and similar expressions or words identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions and uncertainties. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Amicus that any of its plans will be achieved. Any or all of the forward-looking statements in this press
release may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions Amicus might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. For example, with respect to statements regarding the goals, progress, timing and outcomes of discussions with regulatory authorities and the potential goals, progress, timing and results of clinical trials, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the business of Amicus, including, without limitation: the potential that results of clinical or pre-clinical studies indicate that the product candidates are unsafe or ineffective; the potential that it may be difficult to enroll patients in our clinical trials; the potential that regulatory authorities may not grant or may delay approval for our product candidates; the potential that preclinical and clinical studies
could be delayed because we identify serious side effects or other safety issues; the potential that we will need additional funding to complete all of our studies and, our dependence on third parties in the conduct of our clinical studies. Further, the results of earlier preclinical studies and/or clinical trials may not be predictive of future results. In addition, all forward looking statements are subject to other risks detailed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
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