Albireo Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALBO), a clinical-stage rare liver
disease company developing novel bile acid modulators, today
announced new data in nine accepted abstracts to be presented at
EASL International Liver Congress™ 2021 on June 23 – 26. Data being
presented demonstrate Albireo’s leading position in the science of
bile acid modulation with further evidence of efficacy and
tolerability of Bylvay (odevixibat), as well as advancement in the
characterization of A3907 in adult liver disease. Highlights from
the Phase 3 PEDFIC studies show further evidence of a sustained and
durable effect with Bylvay, while also showing improvements in
sleep, growth and hepatic parameters in patients with progressive
familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC). The Company will also
have a presentation and poster on Phase 1 candidate, A3907, with
pre-clinical data showing efficacy on markers of cholestatic
disease.
“We are pleased to follow-up the statistically significant
PEDFIC Phase 3 results with additional detailed data that
reinforces the rapid, as well as longer term benefits of Bylvay for
patients with PFIC,” said Ron Cooper, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Albireo. “The PEDFIC program is the largest body of
prospective data collected in patients with PFIC and provides
further proof of Albireo’s scientific expertise in applying bile
acid modulation to treat rare cholestatic liver diseases.”
Bylvay Treatment in Pediatric Liver
DiseasesBylvay is a potent, once-daily, non-systemic ileal
bile acid transport inhibitor (IBATi) currently being developed for
the treatment of PFIC, biliary atresia, and Alagille syndrome.
PEDFIC 1 was the first and largest, global, pivotal Phase 3 study
conducted in PFIC, which evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of
Bylvay in reducing pruritus and serum bile acids in a randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, and PEDFIC 2 is a
long-term, open-label Phase 3 extension study. Data being presented
includes a pooled analysis of 77 patients treated with Bylvay. Key
findings include:
- Affirms Improvement in Clinically Meaningful
Endpoints: Patients with PFIC treated with Bylvay for up
to 48 weeks experienced clinically meaningful effects on serum bile
acids (sBAs), pruritus, growth and sleep parameters.
- At baseline, sBAs score was 250 μmol/L and pruritus score was
2.9. Four weeks after starting Bylvay, sBAs had decreased by 88
μmol/L and pruritus score decreased by 0.7. At the end of the
analysis period, sBAs had decreased from baseline by 213 μmol/L in
patients with available data and pruritus score dropped by
1.4.
- Height Z scores increased from –1.9 at baseline to –0.8 at
week 48 and similar improvements were observed for weight Z scores
(baseline: –1.1; week 48: –0.0).
- Bylvay-treated patients had changes from baseline to weeks
37–48 in observer-reported percentage of days seeing blood due to
reductions in scratching (–25%), needing help falling asleep
(–52%), needing soothing (–51%) and sleeping with caregiver
(–40%).
- The observed safety and tolerability profile of Bylvay was
consistent across studies, treatment groups and doses. No
drug-related serious adverse events were reported in either PEDFIC
1 or PEDFIC 2. One patient in PEDFIC 1 and 3 patients in PEDFIC 2
treated with Bylvay withdrew due to an adverse event. There were
low numbers of gastrointestinal adverse events; treatment-related
diarrhea/frequent bowel movements was reported in 10% of Bylvay
treated patients in PEDFIC 1 and 5% of placebo-treated
patients.
- Rapid and Durable Effect: Results of this
pooled analysis in children with PFIC from two Phase 3 studies show
that Bylvay was associated with rapid reductions in serum bile acid
levels and improvements in pruritus severity, with durable clinical
benefits sustained through 48 weeks of treatment.
- By week 4, 31% of patients treated with Bylvay were serum bile
acid responders. At weeks 46−48, 67% of patients were serum bile
acid responders.
- From baseline to week 4 and baseline to week 48, the proportion
of positive pruritus assessments at the patient level with Bylvay
treatment was 54% and 66%, respectively.
- A rapid reduction in autotaxin levels was observed by week 4,
with a mean change from baseline in autotaxin with Bylvay treatment
of −712 ng/mL. Continued reduction in autotaxin was observed at 48
weeks, with a mean change from baseline of −2,298 ng/mL.
- Mean change from baseline in plasma
C4 with Bylvay treatment was 10 ng/mL at week 4 and 31 ng/mL at 48
weeks.
- Responders Showed Effects on Cholestasis-Related
Parameters: Patients with PFIC who responded to Bylvay
treatment had sustained improvements in cholestasis-related
parameters over 48 weeks that were not observed to the same extent
in treatment non-responders.
- Rates of sBA responders and sBA or pruritus responders were 31%
and 57%, respectively, at weeks 0−24, 48% and 60% at weeks 25−36,
and 59% and 65% at weeks 37−48.
- Among all Bylvay-treated patients,
mean change from baseline (CFB) to week 48 in alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) was –82 U/L and total bilirubin –18
μmol/L.
- Improvement in Multiple Sleep Parameters:
Patients with PFIC and Bylvay treatment response had substantial
improvements in caregiver- and clinician-reported sleep parameters;
these effects occurred rapidly and continued over time.
- Mean decreases
in caregiver-reported percentage of days
with scratching associated with bleeding, needing help
falling asleep, and needing soothing were greater
among responders vs. non-responders.
- At 48 weeks, clinicians and
caregivers reported that ≥88% of responders had
moderately or very much better sleep since
starting Bylvay.
- Pretreatment Serum Bile Acid Parameters and
Predictability of Response: Response to Bylvay treatment
in patients in PEDFIC 1 was not associated with pretreatment serum
concentrations of total, primary or secondary bile acids, or with
C4 levels.
- Among the 42 patients treated with Bylvay in PEDFIC 1, 32 used
concomitant UDCA, while 10 did not.
- Overall, 40 patients had available UDCA concentration data. In
patients who used UDCA, the median (mean) baseline UDCA
concentration was 55.6 (76.0) μmol/L. In those who did not use
UDCA, the median (mean) baseline UDCA concentration was 0.2 (16.9)
μmol/L
A3907 in Adult Liver DiseaseCompany to present
an oral and poster presentation on data from our preclinical
studies of A3907 in adult liver disease, which is currently in an
ongoing Phase 1 study. A3907, the first oral systemic apical
sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) inhibitor in clinical
studies, being developed for adult cholestatic liver diseases such
as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and primary biliary
cholangitis (PBC). A3907 has the potential to significantly change
the bile acid transporter approach in adult liver diseases by
diverting bile acids from the liver through fecal and urinary
excretion. Following successful preclinical studies demonstrating
the unique mechanism of action, data to be presented is from two
models that show the impact of A3907 in models of cholestasis and
NASH. The first study was aimed to investigate the effect of A3907
in the Mdr2 knockout mouse model of cholestatic liver injury and
sclerosing cholangitis. The objective of the second study was to
investigate the effects of A3907 in obese diet-induced mouse models
of NASH. Key findings from the studies include:
- Improves Liver Injury in a Mouse Model of Cholestatic
Liver Disease: A3907 improves liver injury and
inflammation and decreases biliary hyperplasia and the
characteristic sclerosing cholangitis of Mdr2-/- mice and is a
promising new therapeutic tool for cholestatic liver diseases.
- Improves Key Clinical Markers of NASH in Obese
Diet-Induced and Biopsy-Confirmed Mouse Models: In
obese/obese-NASH and DIO-NASH mice, A3907 treatment improved key
plasma and liver histological markers of NASH. Importantly, A3907
improved NALFD Activity Score and demonstrated no worsening in
fibrosis stage. These findings introduce A3907 as a novel
intervention for treatment of NASH and fibrotic progression.
- Data in both studies suggest that A3907 can be effective in
cholestatic disease in addition to NASH.
About Bylvay
(odevixibat)Bylvay is an investigational
product candidate being developed to treat rare pediatric
cholestatic liver diseases, including PFIC, biliary atresia and
ALGS. A potent, once-daily, non-systemic ileal bile acid transport
inhibitor (IBATi), Bylvay acts locally in the small
intestine. Bylvay does not require refrigeration and can be
taken as a capsule for older children, or opened and sprinkled onto
food, which are factors of key importance for adherence in a
pediatric patient population.
The FDA has granted Priority Review and set a PDUFA goal date of
July 20, 2021. The European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for
Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recently issued a positive
opinion recommending approval of Bylvay for the treatment of PFIC.
Bylvay is the only IBATi granted accelerated assessment by the EMA.
Bylvay also been granted Orphan Designation, as well as access to
the PRIority MEdicines (PRIME) scheme for the treatment of PFIC.
The EMA’s Pediatric Committee has agreed to Albireo’s Bylvay
Pediatric Investigation Plans for PFIC and biliary atresia. In
addition to PFIC, Bylvay has Orphan Drug Designations for the
treatment of Alagille syndrome, biliary atresia and primary biliary
cholangitis. With FDA and EMA regulatory submissions complete,
Bylvay has the potential to become the first approved drug
treatment for patients with PFIC in the U.S and Europe. The Company
anticipates potential regulatory approvals, issuance of a rare
pediatric disease priority review voucher and launch in the second
half of 2021.
The MAA and NDA filings are supported by results from PEDFIC 1
and PEDFIC 2 Phase 3 studies. PEDFIC 1 was the first and largest,
global, pivotal Phase 3 study conducted in PFIC, which evaluated
the efficacy and tolerability of Bylvay in reducing pruritus and
serum bile acids in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
trial. In the PEDFIC 1 study, Bylvay met both primary endpoints and
was well tolerated with very low incidence of diarrhea/frequent
bowel movements (9.5% of Bylvay treated patients vs. 5.0% of
placebo patients).
ir.albireopharma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/albireo-phase-3-trial-meets-both-primary-endpoints-odevixibat.
PEDFIC 2 is a long-term, open-label Phase 3 extension study. The
Company also provides an Expanded Access Program (EAP) for eligible
patients with PFIC in the U.S., Europe, Canada and Australia.
Bylvay is also currently being evaluated in the BOLD Phase 3 trial
in patients with biliary atresia, and the global Phase 3 ASSERT
trial for ALGS.
About AlbireoAlbireo Pharma is a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel bile
acid modulators to treat rare pediatric and adult liver diseases.
Albireo’s lead product candidate, Bylvay, is being developed to
treat rare pediatric cholestatic liver diseases with Phase 3 trials
in PFIC, Alagille syndrome and biliary atresia. For PFIC, the FDA
recently granted Priority Review and set a PDUFA goal date of July
20, 2021. In Europe, the EMA’s CHMP recently issued a positive
opinion and Bylvay is the only IBATi granted accelerated assessment
by the EMA. Bylvay has been provisionally accepted by both the FDA
and EMA as the brand name for odevixibat. The Company has also
initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial for A3907 to advance development
in adult cholestatic liver disease, with IND-enabling studies
moving ahead with A2342 for viral and cholestatic liver disease.
Albireo was spun out from AstraZeneca in 2008 and is headquartered
in Boston, Massachusetts, with its key operating subsidiary in
Gothenburg, Sweden. The Boston Business Journal named Albireo one
of the 2020 Best Places to Work in Massachusetts for the second
consecutive year. For more information on Albireo, please visit
www.albireopharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release
includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements include statements, other than statements of historical
fact, regarding, among other things: the plans for, or progress,
scope, cost, initiation, duration, enrollment, results or timing
for availability of results of, development of Bylvay or any other
Albireo product candidate or program; expectations regarding the
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and our ability to
adapt our plans and activities as appropriate; the pivotal trial
for Bylvay in biliary atresia (BOLD), and the pivotal trial for
Bylvay in Alagille syndrome (ASSERT); the target indication(s) for
development or approval, the size, design, population, location,
conduct, cost, objective, enrollment, duration or endpoints of any
clinical trial, or the timing for initiation or completion of or
availability or reporting of results from any clinical trial,
including the long-term open-label extension study for Bylvay in
PFIC, BOLD, ASSERT and the Phase 1 clinical trial for A3907; the
potential approval and commercialization of Bylvay and the timing
for such potential approval and commercialization; the potential
for Bylvay to become the first approved drug for PFIC patients;
discussions with the FDA or EMA regarding our programs; the
potential benefits or competitive position of Bylvay or any other
Albireo product candidate or program or the commercial opportunity
in any target indication; the potential effects of Bylvay of the
treatment of PFIC patients and its potential to improve the current
standard of care; the potential benefits of an orphan drug
designation; the potential issuance of a rare pediatric disease
priority review voucher; or Albireo’s plans, expectations or future
operations, financial position, revenues, costs or expenses.
Albireo often uses words such as “anticipates,” “believes,”
“plans,” “expects,” “projects,” “future,” “intends,” “may,” “will,”
“should,” “could,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “planned,”
“continue,” “guidance,” or the negative of these terms or other
similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Actual
results, performance or experience may differ materially from those
expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement as a result
of various risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, but
not limited to: whether the NDA for Bylvay for the treatment of
pruritus in patients with PFIC will be approved by the FDA and
whether the MAA for Bylvay in PFIC will be approved by the EMA;
whether the FDA or EMA will complete their respective reviews
within the target timelines, including the FDA’s PDUFA goal date,
as a potential result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or
otherwise; the risk that the NDA will not be approved despite the
FDA’s acceptance of the NDA for review or that the MAA will not be
approved despite CHMP’s opinion recommending approval of Bylvay for
the treatment of PFIC; whether the FDA or EMA will require
additional information, whether we will be able to provide in a
timely manner any additional information that the FDA or EMA
requests, and whether such additional information will be
satisfactory to the FDA and EMA; other potential negative impacts
of the COVID-19 pandemic, including on manufacturing, supply,
conduct or initiation of clinical trials, or other aspects of our
business; whether favorable findings from clinical trials of Bylvay
to date, including findings in indications other than PFIC, will be
predictive of results from other clinical trials of Bylvay; whether
either or both of the FDA and EMA will determine that the primary
endpoint for their respective evaluations and treatment duration of
the double-blind Phase 3 trial in patients with PFIC are sufficient
to support approval of Bylvay in the United States or the European
Union, to treat PFIC, a symptom of PFIC, a specific PFIC subtype(s)
or otherwise; the outcome and interpretation by regulatory
authorities of the ongoing third-party study pooling and analyzing
of long-term PFIC patient data; the timing for initiation or
completion of, or for availability of data from, clinical trials of
Bylvay or A3907, including BOLD and ASSERT, and the outcomes of
such trials; Albireo’s ability to obtain coverage, pricing or
reimbursement for approved products in the United States or
European Union; delays or other challenges in the recruitment of
patients for, or the conduct of, company’s clinical trials; and
Albireo’s critical accounting policies. These and other risks and
uncertainties that Albireo faces are described in greater detail
under the heading “Risk Factors” in Albireo’s most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K or in subsequent filings that it makes with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of risks and
uncertainties that Albireo faces, the results or events indicated
by any forward-looking statement may not occur. Albireo cautions
you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement.
In addition, any forward-looking statement in this press release
represents Albireo’s views only as of the date of this press
release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as
of any subsequent date. Albireo disclaims any obligation to update
any forward-looking statement except as required by applicable
law.
Media Contact:Colleen Alabiso,
857-356-3905, colleen.alabiso@albireopharma.comLisa Rivero,
617-947-0899, lisa.rivero@syneoshealth.com
Investor Contact:Hans Vitzthum, LifeSci
Advisors, LLC., 617-430-7578
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