PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:
Abivax (Euronext Paris: FR0012333284 – ABVX) (Paris:ABVX), a biotechnology company harnessing the immune system to develop treatments for inflammatory/autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cancer, today announced that its abstract has been accepted for oral presentation at the 14th Congress of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO) – Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 2019, which will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark from March 6-9, 2019. Abivax will be presenting a summary of the final data of its completed randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2a induction trial, ABX464-101, as well as interim data from its ongoing 12-month open-label “maintenance” extension study, ABX464-102.
Presentation details:
Title: |
ABX464 is safe and efficacious in a proof of concept study in ulcerative colitis patients | ||||
Session #: |
8: IBD Horizons |
||||
Location: |
Bella Center, Plenary Hall | ||||
Date: |
March 8, 2019 | ||||
Time: |
3:55-4:05 p.m. |
“We are very pleased that our abstract has been selected as a plenary presentation by ECCO’s scientific program committee,” said Jean-Marc Steens, Chief Medical Officer of Abivax. “This is a great scientific validation of the importance of these data and we are eager to share these promising results with the medical community, including many key IBD specialists who may be interested to participate in our upcoming phase 2b clinical trial.”
ABX464-101 was conducted with 32 patients for induction treatment of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC), refractory to anti-TNF monoclonal antibodies or corticosteroids. The final data from this 2-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study indicated that ABX464 was safe, well-tolerated, and demonstrated statistically significant efficacy based on both clinical and endoscopic endpoints. The difference between ABX464 and placebo in colorectal mucosal healing was statistically significant (p<0.03). Furthermore, the onset of the therapeutic effect of ABX464 was rapid, with a difference in the reduction of the partial Mayo score1 between ABX464 and placebo being observed at the first assessment following treatment for two weeks, which became significant (p<0.02) at eight weeks (likelihood ratio CHI-square test). Similarly, the difference of the reduction of the total Mayo score2 after eight weeks was statistically significant (p<0.03)3.
At the end of the completed 2-month induction treatment study, 22 Patients (15 previously treated with ABX464 and 7 on placebo) were transferred to the 12-month open-label maintenance study with ABX464. A 6-month interim analysis of the maintenance study will be part of the ECCO presentation.
“Patients with this devastating disease are in urgent need of innovative treatments, as too many of them do not respond or stop responding to current drugs,” said Prof. Hartmut J. Ehrlich, M.D., CEO of Abivax. “We are dedicated to advancing the clinical development of ABX464 in ulcerative colitis as well as in other inflammatory diseases including Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. The completed clinical protocol for our phase 2b dose-ranging study in 232 patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis will be submitted to regulatory authorities in January 2019, followed by two phase 2a clinical trial submissions in rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease.”
About Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a
debilitating inflammatory bowel disease in adults and children, with
limited therapeutic management options for many patients. It is
estimated that close to 1 million patients with ulcerative colitis live
in the United States, 650,000 in the EU and >2.7 million globally4.
Pharmaceutical sales for this disease in the major global markets are
estimated to be around $5.5 billion in 2017. For IBD (inflammatory bowel
disease), which includes both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease,
the sales in the major global markets are estimated to be around $15
billion for the same period. The financial potential of treatments in
the anti-inflammatory space are exemplified by anti-TNF monoclonal
antibodies (Humira, Remicade, Simponi) with estimated global annual
sales of > $30 billion, including at least $2.5 billion for ulcerative
colitis.
About ABX464
Inflammation is a cornerstone of inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD), more specifically in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s
disease. When evaluated in a mouse model of IBD, ABX464 demonstrated a
long-lasting effect in preventing the typical symptoms of inflammatory
colitis, including histological improvements5. A ten-fold
increase of miR124, a micro-RNA with potent anti-inflammatory properties
in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was observed. ABX464 was
shown to target the cap binding complex (CBC), which is a novel
mechanism of action for anti-inflammatory drugs. By ABX464 binding to
the CBC, it reinforces the biological functions of this complex in
cellular RNA biogenesis including splicing. Therefore, the molecule acts
inside injured immune cells to preserve the integrity of newly
synthesized RNA. ABX464 enhanced the expression and splicing of a single
long non-coding RNA to generate the anti-inflammatory miR-124. This work
was conducted by the cooperative laboratory between Abivax and the CNRS
(Centre National de Recherche Scientifique) in Montpellier, France,
headed by Prof. Jamal Tazi.
About ABIVAX (www.abivax.com)
ABIVAX
is mobilizing the body’s natural immune machinery to treat patients with
inflammatory/autoimmune diseases, viral diseases and cancer. A
clinical-stage company, ABIVAX leverages its anti-inflammatory/antiviral
and immune enhancing platforms to optimize candidates to treat
inflammatory diseases, HIV and liver cancer. ABIVAX is listed on
Euronext compartment B (ISIN: FR0012333284 – Mnémo: ABVX). More
information on the company is available at www.abivax.com/en.
Follow us on Twitter @ABIVAX_
DISCLAIMER
This press release contains forward-looking
statements, forecasts and estimates with respect to certain of the
Company's programs. Although the Company believes that its
forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates are based on
assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors that have been deemed reasonable, such forward-looking
statements, forecasts and estimates are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, forecasts and
estimates. A description of these risks, contingencies and uncertainties
can be found in the documents filed by the Company with the
French Autorité des Marchés Financiers pursuant to its legal obligations
including its registration document (Document de Référence).
Furthermore, these forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates
are only as of the date of this press release. Readers are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. ABIVAX
disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements,
forecasts or estimates to reflect any subsequent changes that the
Company becomes aware of, except as required by law.
This press release is for information purposes only, and the information contained herein does not constitute either an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe securities of the Company in any jurisdiction, in particular in France. Similarly, it does not give and should not be treated as giving investment advice. It has no connection with the investment objectives, financial situation or specific needs of any recipient. It should not be regarded by recipients as a substitute for exercise of their own judgement. All opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. The distribution of this document may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Persons into whose possession this document comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.
1 The partial Mayo Score is composed of stool frequency,
rectal bleedings and the physician’s global assessment of disease
severity.
2 The total Mayo score is composed of the 3
parameters listed above, plus mucosal appearance at endoscopy
3
See
press release dated September 4,2018
4 Company
estimate based on Global Data
5 K Chebli et al., The
Anti-HIV Candidate ABX464 Dampens Intestinal Inflammation by Triggering
Il-22 Production in Activated Macrophages. Nature Scientific Reports
2017, DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-04071-3