CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 04, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTA ), a biotechnology company specializing in the characterization and engineering of complex drugs, today announced that the Company has discontinued further accrual in its Phase 2 trial evaluating necuparanib in combination with Abraxane ® and gemcitabine in patients with advanced metastatic pancreatic cancer.
The decision to discontinue enrollment into the study was based on the recommendation from the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) following a planned interim futility analysis conducted once 57 deaths (50% of the target number of 114 events required for trial completion) had occurred. Data were assessed from 120 randomized patients as of July 20, 2016. While no new safety signals were observed and the toxicity profile was considered manageable, the DSMB determined that necuparanib in combination with Abraxane and gemcitabine did not show a sufficient level of efficacy to warrant continued enrollment. Additionally, no new toxicities were observed that necessitate immediate discontinuation of study drug in patients currently active on protocol. The DSMB also recommended that the company consider unblinding the data to provide more information to determine how best to address ongoing patients.
“We are extremely disappointed with the outcome of the futility analysis – in particular, for those patients with pancreatic cancer where there is still so much unmet need for safe and effective therapy,” said Jim Roach, M.D., Senior Vice President of Development and Chief Medical Officer of Momenta Pharmaceuticals. “We agree with the DSMB recommendations and plan to confirm the futility analysis and determine next steps for the necuparanib program.”
“We are saddened that necuparanib did not produce the outcome we had hoped for in this patient population,” said Craig A. Wheeler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Momenta Pharmaceuticals. “We would like to thank the investigators and their brave patients for participating in this trial as well as our staff and external advisors for their support throughout this program.”
The Phase 1/2 necuparanib trial is a two-part study in patients with advanced metastatic pancreatic cancer. Part A was a Phase 1, open-label, multiple ascending dose study of necuparanib given first as a single dose and then daily in combination with Abraxane and gemcitabine; final data from Part A was reported at the 2016 ASCO Annual Meeting. Part B is a Phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study investigating the antitumor activity of necuparanib combined with Abraxane and gemcitabine compared with placebo combined with Abraxane and gemcitabine.
About Necuparanib Necuparanib (M402) is a novel oncology drug candidate engineered to have a broad range of effects on tumor cells. The use of heparins to treat venous thrombosis in cancer patients has generated numerous reports of antitumor activity; however, the dose of these products has been limited by their anticoagulant activity. Leveraging its experience in deciphering the structure-function relationships of complex therapeutics, Momenta engineered necuparanib from unfractionated heparin to have significantly reduced anticoagulant activity while preserving relevant antitumor properties associated with heparins.
About Momenta Momenta Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company specializing in the detailed structural analysis of complex drugs and is headquartered in Cambridge, MA. Momenta is applying its technology to the development of generic versions of complex drugs, biosimilar and potentially interchangeable biologics, and to the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for oncology and autoimmune indications.
To receive additional information about Momenta, please visit the website at www.momentapharma.com , which does not form a part of this press release. The company’s logo, trademarks, and service marks are the property of Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All other trade names, trademarks, or service marks are property of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release regarding management's future expectations, beliefs, intentions, goals, strategies, plans or prospects, including without limitation statements regarding confirmation of the futility analysis and the next steps for the necuparanib program, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "plan" or similar terms, variations of such terms or the negative of those terms. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors referred to in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the section "Risk Factors," as well as other documents that may be filed by Momenta from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of such risks, uncertainties and factors, the Company's actual results may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements discussed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Momenta is providing the information in this press release as of this date and assumes no obligations to update the information included in this press release or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Investor Relations: Sarah Carmody Momenta Pharmaceuticals 1-617-395-5189 IR@momentapharma.com Media Relations: Karen Sharma MacDougall Biomedical Communications 1-781-235-3060 Momenta@macbiocom.com
