Entera Bio Ltd. (NASDAQ: ENTX), a leader in the development of orally delivered large molecule therapeutics, held a conference call on June 30th on results from its successfully completed Phase 2 clinical trial of EB613 for the treatment of osteoporosis. EB613 is an oral formulation of human parathyroid hormone (1-34), or PTH, and is positioned to be the first oral bone building (anabolic) product to treat osteoporosis patients.
Participating was osteoporosis expert and Principal Investigator of the Phase 2 study Dr. Liana Tripto-Shkolnik, Sheba Medical Center, Institute of Endocrinology, who presented the results of the study and the benefits of an oral drug to treat osteoporosis. Entera CEO, Spiros Jamas; President of R&D, Phillip Schwartz; Chief Medical Officer, Art Santora; and CFO, Ramesh Ratan also participated in the June 30th conference call.
Results from the final 6-month bone mineral density (BMD) were presented from the completed Phase 2 clinical trial of EB613 for the treatment of osteoporosis. EB613 is an oral formulation of human parathyroid hormone (1-34), or PTH, positioned to be the first oral bone building (anabolic) product to treat osteoporosis patients. Currently, fewer than 5% of osteoporosis patients on any form of therapy are treated with an injectable anabolic agent, widely accepted as the most effective form of treatment1. The Phase 2 clinical trial of EB613 was a 6-month double blind, dose-ranging, placebo-controlled study in 161 postmenopausal female subjects with osteoporosis, or with low bone mineral density (BMD). This study was conducted at four leading medical centers in Israel to evaluate the safety and efficacy of varying doses of EB613. All lab tests including biomarkers and safety monitoring were performed at a certified central laboratory, and BMD data from clinical sites was analyzed at an independent certified global imaging center.
The most important BMD endpoint — change in lumbar spine (LS) BMD after 6 months — was met. There were statistically significant dose-related trends in the increases in LS BMD as well as femoral neck and total hip BMD, with the largest increases observed in subjects treated with EB613 2.5 mg. Dose dependent increases in biochemical markers of bone formation were previously reported. A significant increase in lumbar spine (LS) BMD was observed in the 1.5 mg group, the non-titrated 2.5 mg group (those who received 2.5 mg for the full 6 months) and the titrated 2.5 mg group (who received lower doses during titration and 2.5 mg for 4 months). An increase in LS BMD is the primary endpoint for the 505(b)(2) pathway as was described by the FDA in Entera’s pre-IND meeting. At present it is believed that the single Phase 3 Pivotal study necessary under the 505b2 pathway would require a 12-month head-to-head study against Forteo® (the “reference drug”), designed to achieve non inferiority for increase in BMD of the lumbar spine.
Increases in LS BMD versus placebo observed at 6 months in previous Forteo® studies conducted with similar patient populations, were in the 3.9% range2. In the current study LS BMD increased 3.78% (p<0.008) in the group treated with 2.5 mg for the full 6 months. When this group was combined with the titrated 2.5 mg group (who received lower doses during titration and 2.5 mg for just 4 months) LS spine BMD increased, 2.73% (p<0.002).
Furthermore, EB613 had a significant impact on both femoral neck and total hip BMD at 6 months. The 2.5 mg EB613 treatment group had a 2.76% (p<0.002) increase in femoral neck, and a 1.84% (p<0.02) increase in total hip at 6 months, as compared to placebo. In contrast, significant increases in BMD of the femoral neck and total hip are usually not observed with Forteo® treatment at 6 months. Increases in hip BMD have been shown to correlate with decreases in non-vertebral fracture risk3.
In this dose-ranging study, various doses of EB613 were tested for their effect on markers of bone metabolism after 3 months and BMD of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip after 6 months. Subjects were initially randomized to receive oral EB613 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.5 mg, or matching placebo once daily. The study utilized an adaptive design with a limited interim analysis of 3-month biomarker changes in the first 80 subjects treated that demonstrated significant, dose-related increases in P1NP (a bone formation marker) after 1 month of treatment. Based on the analysis of the interim data the 2.5 mg dose was introduced.
As previously reported, the trial’s primary endpoint was met – the complete 3-month results from the trial showed a significant increase in the P1NP biomarker in the 2.5 mg dose group after 3 months of treatment (P <0.04) as compared to placebo. P1NP is a biomarker that indicates the rate of new bone formation.
Secondary endpoints in the trial included the effect of treatment on several additional serum bone biomarkers at 3 months including, Osteocalcin and CTX. Similar to P1NP, Osteocalcin is a biomarker for bone formation by osteoblasts, the cells that build new bone. CTX is a biomarker that indicates the rate of bone resorption by osteoclasts, the cells that remove old bone. An osteoanabolic, or bone building effect, is based on the difference in bone formation and bone resorption. An increase in P1NP or Osteocalcin, for example, associated with a smaller increase (or decrease) in CTX, usually results in an increase in bone mass.
The decrease in CTX taken together with the increase in P1NP and Osteocalcin would indicate a potential positive impact on BMD and a reduced risk of fractures, which is the goal of an anabolic osteoporosis treatment, as reflected in the 6-month BMD results.
The study medication, EB613, was generally well tolerated throughout the 6 months of treatment. There were no adverse events that were severe in intensity in any treatment group and no serious drug-related adverse events. However, subjects randomized to the 2.5 mg dose of EB613 presented a higher rate of adverse events (AEs), which are in line with AEs known to be associated with daily injections of PTH, such as nausea, headaches, and dizziness (or presyncope). In the clinical study setting, with subjects who are not severely osteoporotic and the COVID pandemic resulting in greater hesitation to remain in a clinical study, some of these expected AEs were resulting in subjects withdrawing their consent. Exploiting one of the advantages of an oral treatment, a novel titration regimen was introduced through a protocol amendment. Subjects randomized to the 2.5 mg dose (or matched placebo) initiated their treatment with a 1.5 mg dose followed by a 2.0 mg dose at their month 1 clinic visit and ultimately starting the 2.5 mg dose at the Month 3 clinic visit. This titration regimen minimized adverse events resulting in subjects’ drop-outs, which were within the projected rate of 20% overall, despite the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“We are very excited and encouraged by these great results which will support advancing discussions with potential strategic partners. These results are in line with our previously reported biomarker results and further validate Entera’s platform technology and its potential to enable oral formulation of various large molecules for a range of indications that could benefit from an oral drug,” said Spiros Jamas, CEO of Entera Bio. “We are looking forward to an end of Phase 2 meeting with the FDA. More detailed results will also be presented in a future scientific conference and publications. The company will evaluate potential additional osteoporosis market opportunities specifically related to increases in hip BMD.”
Entera Bio Receives Foundational Patent for its Oral PTH using its Platform Oral Protein Delivery Technology in European Union
Also, in June 2021, The European Patent Office granted Entera Bio a patent titled “Methods and Compositions for Oral Administration of Proteins” to Entera, which addresses Entera’s oral PTH (Parathyroid hormone) formulations currently in advanced clinical stages for osteoporosis and hypoparathyroidism.
“This is a critical patent that covers lead PTH products utilizing Entera’s platform technology. This European Union patent, along with a variety of other patents covering oral formulations and target indications, granted and pending, provide Entera with robust protection of its intellectual property. This granted patent comes in addition to numerous issued patents in strategic countries including the USA, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. We are particularly pleased to have successfully completed the nine-month time window in which the patent could have been opposed. Entera has fortified its leadership position in the oral delivery of proteins as we look forward to reporting the full 6 month BMD results from our Phase 2 study, as planned this Q2/2021 and potentially initiating a pivotal Phase 3 study with our oral PTH for the treatment of osteoporosis next year,” stated Entera Bio CEO Spiros Jamas. “We continuously strive to strengthen our portfolio with new patents addressing specific applications as well as novel improvements to our platform.”
About Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, which leads to greater fragility and an increase in fracture risk. Osteoporosis is also a silent disease, often displaying no signs or symptoms until a fracture occurs, leaving the majority of patients undiagnosed and untreated, representing a high unmet medical need. The debilitating effects of osteoporosis have substantial costs and osteoporotic fractures create a significant healthcare burden. An estimated two million osteoporotic fractures occur annually in the United States, and this number is projected to grow to three million by 2025. The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) has estimated that eight million women already have osteoporosis, and another approximately 44 million may have low bone mass placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis. In US women 55 years of age and older, the hospitalization burden of osteoporotic fractures and population facility-related hospital costs is greater than that of myocardial infarction, stroke, or breast cancer.
About EB613
EB613 is an orally delivered human parathyroid hormone (1-34), or PTH, drug candidate positioned as the first potential once-daily, oral, bone-building (anabolic) treatment for osteoporosis patients. Teriparatide for injection (marketed under the brand name Forteo®) was approved in the U.S. in 2002 for the treatment of osteoporosis in men and postmenopausal women who are at high risk for having a fracture and is taken daily via a subcutaneous injection.
About Entera Bio
Entera is a leader in the development of orally delivered large molecule therapeutics for use in areas with significant unmet medical needs where adoption of injectable therapies is limited due to cost, convenience, and compliance challenges for patients. The Company’s proprietary, oral drug delivery technology is designed to address the technical challenges of poor absorption, high variability, and the inability to deliver large molecules to the targeted location in the body through the use of a synthetic absorption enhancer to facilitate the absorption of large molecules, and protease inhibitors to prevent enzymatic degradation and support delivery to targeted tissues. The Company’s most advanced product candidates, EB613 for the treatment of osteoporosis and EB612 for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism are in Phase 2 clinical development. Entera Bio also licenses its technology to biopharmaceutical companies for use with their proprietary compounds and, to date, has established a collaboration with Amgen Inc. For more information on Entera Bio, visit www.enterabio.com.
Contact: Spiros Jamas, Entera Bio CEO Tel: +001 617-362-3579 spiros AT enterabio.com
Source Entera Bio https://investors.enterabio.com/news-releases/news-release-details/entera-bio-conduct-conference-call-june-30-discuss-phase-2
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