- First patient has been recruited and dosed in the MAP US study - a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III clinical study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of RHB-104 for treatment of Crohn's disease
- The Phase III study is expected to enroll 240 subjects in over 50 clinical sites in the U.S., Canada and Israel. Subjects will be treated for 52 weeks with a primary endpoint of remission at week 26
- An independent data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) will perform a futility analysis when half the subjects complete the first 26 weeks of blinded treatment
TEL-AVIV, Israel, Nov. 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (Nasdaq: RDHL ) (TASE: RDHL ) (the "Company" or "RedHill"), an emerging Israeli biopharmaceutical company focused primarily on the development and acquisition of late clinical-stage, proprietary formulations and combinations of existing drugs, today announced that the first patient has been recruited and dosed in the MAP US study - a Phase III clinical study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of fixed-dose RHB-104 in patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease.
RHB-104 is a proprietary and potentially groundbreaking combination antibiotic therapy in oral capsule formulation, with potent intracellular, antimycobacterial 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.
" RHB-104 presents a new and innovative approach to treating Crohn's disease, as it targets a specific pathogen believed to be the cause for the disease, rather than targeting only the symptoms like most standard therapies. We believe that RHB-104 is uniquely positioned due to its dual antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties," said Ira Kalfus MD, RedHill's Medical Director . "Our efforts are currently focused on subject recruitment, and we are excited by the level of interest in this study by both investigators and patients."
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III clinical study is expected to enroll 240 subjects with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease in over 50 clinical sites in the U.S., Canada and Israel. Subjects are randomized 1:1 to receive up to five capsules of either RHB-104 or the placebo twice daily for 52 weeks and will be assessed for remission at 26 weeks. Unblinding and assessment of primary and secondary endpoints will be performed after all subjects complete the study.
The primary endpoint for the study is the state of remission at week 26 in subjects randomized to receive RHB-104, compared to subjects randomized to receive the placebo. Secondary and exploratory endpoints include, among others, state of response at 26 weeks, maintenance of remission through week 52, and efficacy outcome measures in relation to the presence of MAP bacterial infection. The study is exploratory with respect to the clinical validation of the Company's proprietary Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay used to detect MAP. The MAP US Phase III study is registered on www.ClinicalTrials.gov , a web-based service by the U.S. National Institute of Health which provides public access to information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies.
An independent data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) will review safety intermittently throughout the study and will perform a futility analysis when half the subjects complete the first 26 weeks of blinded treatment.
The Company is planning to commence a second Phase III study with RHB-104 for Crohn's disease in Europe (the MAP Europe study) following successful Scientific Advice Meetings with the UK and Swedish pharmaceutical regulatory agencies earlier this year. The MAP Europe study is planned to commence in the first half of 2014 and to be conducted in parallel with the ongoing MAP US study.
RHB-104 is also being evaluated in multiple sclerosis - with an ongoing Phase IIa proof of concept study in Israel, and further clinical studies are being considered for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, following successful pre-clinical studies in these indications.
About RHB-104:
RHB-104 is a proprietary and potentially groundbreaking combination antibiotic therapy in oral pill formulation, with potent intracellular, antimycobacterial 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. The RHB-104 formulation was originally developed by Professor Thomas Borody, a leading innovator of therapeutic approaches to gastrointestinal tract diseases, who also developed the original triple therapy for peptic ulcer disease associated with H. pylori . Several clinical trials were conducted with earlier formulations of the drug, including two Phase II studies, an Australian Phase III study published by Pfizer and several supplementary studies. The formulation of RHB-104 is covered by several issued and pending patents.
About RedHill Biopharma Ltd.:
RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (Nasdaq: RDHL ) (TASE: RDHL ) is an emerging Israeli biopharmaceutical company focused primarily on the development and acquisition of late clinical-stage, proprietary formulations and combinations of existing drugs. The Company's current pipeline of proprietary products includes: (i) RHB-103 - an oral thin film formulation of a leading drug for the treatment of acute migraines, with a U.S. NDA accepted for review by the FDA in June 2013 and a PDUFA date of February 3, 2014, (ii) RHB-102 - a once-daily oral pill formulation of a leading chemotherapy and radiotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting prevention drug, planned for U.S. NDA submission in the first quarter of 2014, (iii) RHB-104 - a combination antibiotic therapy in oral capsule formulation, with potent intracellular, antimycobacterial and anti-inflammatory properties for the treatment of (a) Crohn's disease, with a first Phase III trial currently underway, (b) multiple sclerosis (MS), with a Phase IIa proof of concept trial currently underway, (c) rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with plans for a Phase IIa proof of concept trial, and (d) systemic lupus erythematosus, (iv) RHB-105 - a combination therapy in oral capsule formulation for Helicobacter pylori infection, with a Phase III trial currently underway, (v) RHB-106 - an encapsulated formulation for bowel preparation (laxative) ahead of colonoscopy and other GI procedures, and (vi) RHB-101 - a once-daily formulation of a leading congestive heart failure and high blood pressure drug. For more information please visit: www.redhillbio.com
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and the Company's current and best understanding of the regulatory status and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) the initiation, timing, progress and results of the Company's preclinical studies, clinical trials, and other therapeutic candidate development efforts; (ii) the Company's ability to advance its therapeutic candidates into clinical trials or to successfully complete its preclinical studies or clinical trials; (iii) the extent and number of additional studies that the Company may be required to conduct and the Company's receipt of regulatory approvals for its therapeutic candidates, and the timing of other regulatory filings and approvals; (iv) the clinical development, commercialization, and market acceptance of the Company's therapeutic candidates; (v) the Company's ability to establish and maintain corporate collaborations; (vi) the interpretation of the properties and characteristics of the Company's therapeutic candidates and of the results obtained with its therapeutic candidates in preclinical studies or clinical trials; (vii) the implementation of the Company's business model, strategic plans for its business and therapeutic candidates; (viii) the scope of protection the Company is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering its therapeutic candidates and its ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; (ix) parties from whom the Company licenses its intellectual property defaulting in their obligations to the Company under their respective licensing agreements; (x) estimates of the Company's expenses, future revenues capital requirements and the Company's needs for additional financing; (xi) competitive companies, technologies and the Company's industry; and (xii) the impact of the political and security situation in Israel on the Company's business. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on From 20-F filed with the SEC on February 19, 2013, and its Reports on Form 6-K. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov . All forward-looking statements included in this Press Release are made only as of the date of this Press Release. We assume no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement made by us or on our behalf as a result of new information, future events or other factors.
Company contact: Adi Frish Senior VP Business Development & Licensing RedHill Biopharma +972-54-6543-112 PR contact (U.S.): Lauren Glaser Vice President The Trout Group +1-646-378-2972
