Antiviral activity seen at all dose levels tested
Results support moving to dose-ranging Phase II studies in treatment-naïve HCV patients
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) and ZymoGenetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGEN) today presented final results from a Phase 1b clinical trial of PEG-Interferon lambda administered with ribavirin in relapsed and treatment-naïve hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. The poster included data on 56 patients in the study. Antiviral activity was observed at all dose levels tested. The results will be presented at the American Association for the Study of the Liver Diseases annual meeting in Boston on November 3. Interim results were previously presented at the European Association for the Study of the Liver annual meeting in April 2009.
“There is a strong need for additional options for hepatitis C patients,” said Brian Daniels, M.D., senior vice president, Global Development & Medical Affairs, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “We are pursuing this investigational pathway to address the fact that although current interferons have been the backbone of therapy with meaningful efficacy, they are often poorly tolerated, leading to dose reductions, poor compliance and avoidance of treatment.”
“We are excited about the prospects for PEG-Interferon lambda as a potential HCV treatment,” said Eleanor L. Ramos, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer of ZymoGenetics. “There is a clear unmet medical need for an interferon with improved safety and tolerability. We look forward to obtaining additional clinical data on this promising investigational medicine.”
The Phase 1b clinical trial was designed to evaluate the safety and antiviral activity of PEG-Interferon lambda when given as a single agent or in combination with ribavirin in genotype 1 HCV patients with relapsed disease and in treatment-naïve patients.
In the single agent arm of the study with treatment-relapsed patients (n=24), PEG-Interferon lambda was administered subcutaneously at 1.5 mcg/kg and 3.00mcg/kg weekly for four weeks, and 1.5 mcg/kg and 3.00 mcg/kg every two weeks. In the combination arm of the study with treatment-relapsed patients (n=24), PEG-Interferon lambda was administered subcutaneously weekly at 0.5 mcg/kg, 0.75 mcg/kg, 1.5 mcg/kg and 2.25 mcg/kg for four weeks, with daily oral ribavirin administered consistent with the package insert. Patients in the cohort of treatment-naïve patients (n=7) were given 1.5 mcg/kg of PEG-Interferon lambda and ribavirin.
PEG-Interferon lambda demonstrated antiviral activity at all dose levels tested in both relapse and treatment naïve HCV patients. A majority of patients across all treatment arms achieved a greater than 2 log reduction in HCV RNA.
Of the patients in the single agent arm of the study, all 12 of those patients receiving 1.5 mcg/kg and 3.0mcg/kg weekly for four weeks achieved a greater than 2 log decrease in HCV RNA. Five of the 12 patients receiving 1.5 mcg/kg and 3.00mcg/kg every two weeks for four weeks achieved a greater than 2 log decrease in HCV RNA.
At PEG-Interferon lambda doses of 0.75 mcg/kg, 1.5 mcg/kg and 2.25 mcg/kg administered in combination with ribavirin in treatment-relapsed patients (n=18), a greater than 3 log mean maximum decrease in viral load was observed. Of those patients, eleven (61%) had less than 1,000 HCV RNA copies at Day 29.
Treatment-naive patients, who were treated with 1.5 mcg/kg of PEG-Interferon lambda in combination with ribavirin (n=7), also had a greater than 3 log mean maximum decrease in viral load and two patients (29%) achieved a rapid virologic response (RVR), or undetectable HCV RNA copies, at 4 weeks.
The most common adverse events were fatigue (29%) and nausea (13%). There were minimal effects on neutrophil counts. Minimal constitutional symptoms or hematologic effects were observed with PEG-Interferon lambda given as a single agent or in combination with ribavirin. The majority of adverse events and laboratory changes were grade 1 or 2. Dose-limiting elevations in ALT or AST, with or without an increase in bilirubin, were dose-dependent and reversible.
Overall, the results of the study support moving to dose-ranging Phase 2 studies in treatment-naïve HCV patients.
About Interferon lambda
Interferon lambda (IL-29) is a type 3 interferon that binds to a unique receptor with more restricted distribution than the receptors targeted by type 1 interferons, such as interferon alpha. It is in development for hepatitis C. The native human protein Interferon lambda is generated by the immune system in response to viral infection. IL-29 is a member of the type 3 Interferon family, which includes IL-28A and IL-28B, and signals through the same receptor as IL-28A and IL-28B.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing and delivering innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information, please visit www.bms.com.
About ZymoGenetics
ZymoGenetics is focused on the creation of novel protein drugs to improve patient care and address unmet medical needs. The company's strategy is to discover, develop and commercialize its products independently, in collaboration with partner companies or through out-licensing. ZymoGenetics developed and markets RECOTHROM® Thrombin, topical (Recombinant), a synthetic version of a human blood-clotting enzyme used to stop bleeding during surgery. The company is developing a proprietary portfolio of immune-based product candidates. PEG-Interferon lambda is a novel type-3 interferon in clinical development for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection. Interleukin-21 is a novel cytokine in clinical development for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. Several other proprietary product candidates are in preclinical development. In addition, ZymoGenetics has licensed rights to multiple clinical and preclinical drug candidates being developed by other companies. For further information, visit www.zymogenetics.com.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products.Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations.No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed.Among other risks, there can be no guarantee that the compound described in this release will move from early stage development into full product development, that clinical trials of this compound will support a regulatory filing, or that the compound will receive regulatory approval or become a commercially successful product. Forward-looking statements in the press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Bristol-Myers Squibb's business, particularly those identified in the cautionary factors discussion in Bristol-Myers Squibb's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K.Bristol-Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
ZymoGenetics Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.These forward-looking statements are based on the current intent and expectations of the management of ZymoGenetics.These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. ZymoGenetics' actual results and the timing and outcome of events may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements because of risks and uncertainties associated with clinical development.For example, the results of preliminary studies do not predict clinical success, and larger and later-stage clinical trials may not produce the same results as earlier-stage trials.In addition, the forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to the other risks detailed in the company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. Except as required by law, ZymoGenetics undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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