Inventiva announces positive outcomes of biomarker study measuring intracellular GAGs in leukocytes from MPS VI patients
Inventiva announces positive outcomes of biomarker study measuring intracellular GAGs in leukocytes from MPS VI patients
February 26, 2018
Data confirm highly promising biomarker for MPS VI and limited enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) efficacy in reducing leukoGAGs
Daix (France), February 26, 2018 – Inventiva, a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), systemic sclerosis (SSc) and mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS), today announced the positive outcomes of a biomarker study to evaluate intracellular glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) levels in leukocytes as a disease activity biomarker in MPS VI. Conducted at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland, California by Dr Paul R. Harmatz, and analyzed by the Greenwood Genetic Center Biochemical Genetics Laboratory in South Carolina, an international leader in the diagnosis of lysosomal storage disorders, this biomarker study has enabled the development of a new and robust quantification method of intracellular heparan sulfate (HS), chondroitin sulfate (CS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) in leukocytes (leukoGAG). These leukoGAGs may provide compelling surrogate markers to be used in clinical trials, and for patient monitoring. In addition, patients treated with galsulfase, the enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) approved for MPS VI patients, maintained a high level of leukoGAGs compared to age-matched healthy volunteers suggesting the possibility to further reduce this level with a new treatment such as odiparcil.
The study enrolled 12 subjects: six MPS VI patients, who have been treated with galsulfase for 10 ± 3.1 years (range 6-14 years), and six age-matched control subjects not affected with MPS. Urinary GAGs (uGAGs) and leukoGAGs were measured and the results show that all MPS VI patients receiving ERT have total uGAGs above the upper limit of normal (ULN) and leukoGAGs above control subjects values. In MPS VI patients receiving ERT, the most abundant GAG components are DS and CS in urine and CS in leucocytes. These two forms of GAGs are reduced in MPS VI patient cells treated with odiparcil. Finally, data on the arylsulfatase B activity (the deficient enzyme in MPS VI) in leukocytes, showed that one hour after completion of galsulfase infusion, enzyme activity is increased nearly eightfold but that the CS content in leucocytes remains more than 12-fold above basal level.
Dr. Paul R. Harmatz, the principal investigator of this study, said: “The high level of leukoGAG in patients receiving ERT is a clear signal of the limitations of this therapeutic strategy. Our ability to use a new and robust quantification method to measure intracellular HS/CS/DS will enrich our analysis of the Phase IIa iMProveS trial and are suggestive of the high medical need that can be addressed by odiparcil.”
About odiparcil
Odiparcil is the first new treatment in development for MPS VI in over a decade. The current standard of care is ERT, which requires weekly infusions. An orally available therapeutic such as odiparcil would greatly increase the quality of life of patients. More importantly, thanks to its optimal distribution in the body, odiparcil has shown efficacy in tissues and organs where current ERT is not effective. Inventiva believes odiparcil could meaningfully improve the lives of MPS VI patients, and become the new standard of care. On December 30th, 2017, the first patient was enrolled in the Phase IIa iMProveS (improve MPS treatment) trial of odiparcil in MPS VI patients. Results from this study are expected in 1H 2019. Odiparcil has received orphan drug designation for MPS VI in the United States and Europe in August 2017. Given its mechanism of action, odiparcil could address several forms of MPS where dermatan and/or chondroïtin sulfates GAGs accumulate: MPS I or Hurler/Scheie syndromes, MPS II or Hunter syndrome, MPS IVa or Morquio syndrome, MPS VI or Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome and MPS VII or Sly syndrome.
About MPS VI
MPS VI (Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome), is a rare, pediatric, genetic, degenerative disease characterized by the abnormal functioning of the enzyme N-acetylgalactosamine 4-sulphatase (arylsulphatase B; ASB) leading to the accumulation of chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate in the cells, tissues and organs. Patients suffer from short stature, corneal clouding, hearing loss, dysostosis multiplex, hepatosplenomegaly, cardiac valve disease and reduced pulmonary function without intellectual deficit. As with other MPS, the time of onset, rate of progression and extent of the disease may vary between the affected individuals. The life expectancy of MPS VI patients, if untreated, is approximately 20 years in patients with severe forms of the disease, or longer in patients with less severe forms. The prevalence of MPS VI is estimated to be 1 in 225,000 live births and varies between countries. There is no cure for MPS VI and current treatment options such as ERT or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) leave the patients with high unmet medical needs.
Contacts
Inventiva
Frédéric Cren
Chief Executive Officer
info@inventivapharma.com
+33 3 80 44 75 00
Brunswick
Julien Trosdorf / Yannick Tetzlaff
Media relations
inventiva@brunswickgroup.com
+33 1 53 96 83 83
LifeSci Advisors
Monique Kosse
Investor relations
monique@lifesciadvisors.com
Lanifibranor, its lead product, is an anti-fibrotic treatment acting on the three alpha, gamma and delta PPARs (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors), which play key roles in controlling the fibrotic process. Its anti-fibrotic action targets two initial indications with substantial unmet medical need: NASH, a severe and increasingly prevalent liver disease already affecting over 30 million people in the United States, and systemic sclerosis, a disease with a very high mortality rate and for which there is no approved treatment to date.
Inventiva is also developing a second clinical program with odiparcil (IVA 336) for the treatment of patients with mucopolysaccaridosis type VI (or Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome), a rare and severe gene disease affecting children. Odiparcil has also the potential to address other MPS types, characterized by the accumulation of chondroitin or dermatan sulfate (MPS I or Hurler/Sheie syndrome, MPS II or Hunter syndrome, MPS IVa or Morquio syndrome and MPS VII or Sly syndrome). Inventiva is also developing a portfolio of early research projects in the field of oncology.
Inventiva benefits from partnerships with world-leading research entities such as the Institut Curie in the field of oncology. Two strategic partnerships have also been established with world-class major pharmaceutical companies AbbVie and Boehringer Ingelheim in the fields of autoimmune diseases (specifically in psoriasis) and fibrosis respectively. These partnerships provide milestone payments to Inventiva upon the achievement of pre-clinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones, in addition to royalties on the products resulting from the partnerships.
Inventiva employs over 100 employees and owns R&D facilities near Dijon, acquired from the international pharmaceutical group Abbott. The Company owns, a proprietary chemical library of over 240,000 molecules as well as integrated biology, chemistry, ADME and pharmacology platforms.[/lvca_panel][lvca_panel panel_id=”panel-5bc0ba5831260″ panel_title=”Important Notice”]This press release contains forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates with respect to the clinical development
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There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline product candidates that the candidates will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. Therefore, actual results may turn out to be materially different from the anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements, forecasts and estimates. Given these uncertainties, no representations are made as to the accuracy or fairness of such forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates. Furthermore, forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates only speak as of the date of this press release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements.
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