Veloxis Pharmaceuticals Presents LCP-Tacro™ Phase 3 Data at the American Society of Nephrology Annual Meeting

HORSHOLM, Denmark, Nov. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Veloxis Pharmaceuticals A/S (OMX: VELO) today will present detailed blinded central pathology (biopsy) results from the LCP-Tacro™ study 3001 a long-term safety and efficacy switch study of LCP-Tacro™ in kidney transplant recipients, at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week Annual Scientific Meeting.  Topline results of this study were released in June 2011. The results presented today show that LCP-Tacro™ once-daily was associated with a trend towards reduction in the incidence of Biopsy Proven Acute Rejection (BPAR) and a tendency for less severe histological changes compared to Prograf® twice-daily.

LCP-Tacro™ Data Presented

35 needle biopsies (23 LCP-Tacro™, 12 Prograf®) were centrally read by one pathologist blinded to treatment assignment. 1 BPAR episode was recorded for 1 LCP-Tacro™ patient, vs. 7 BPAR episodes in 5 Prograf® patients (5 unique Prograf® patients with 1 BPAR each; 2 patients had 2 episodes each) (p=0.21). All BPARs were mild; however, BANFF chronicity score tended to be greater in the Prograf® group (LCP-Tacro™ = 2, n=1; Prograf® mean = 3.6, n=5). Overall, 1 of 162 patients randomized to receive LCP-Tacro™ therapy (0.62%) and 5/162 patients randomized to receive Prograf® treatment (3.1%) in the modified intent-to-treat population had greater than or equal to 1 centrally read BPAR (p=0.215).

Using blinded central pathology readings and including all data reported during the study prior to database lock, the composite primary efficacy endpoint (treatment failures) was met by 4 patients in the LCP-Tacro™ group vs. 8 patients in the Prograf® group, p=0.38; treatment difference (95% confidence interval): -2.47% (-7.5, +1.9). The composite primary efficacy endpoint consisted of death, graft loss, BPAR and lost to follow up. The 4 LCP-Tacro™ treatment failures included 3 deaths and 1 BPAR. The 8 Prograf® treatment failures included 1 death, 1 graft loss, 5 BPAR and 1 lost to follow up.

LCP-Tacro™ enabled a reduction in dose of 20% through 12 months following a switch from Prograf® as measured by median tacrolimus dose (mg/kg/day) (p<0.00001). Mean tacrolimus trough levels throughout the study were comparable and within the 4-15 ng/mL protocol-specified target range for both groups. Tacrolimus trough levels preceding each BPAR were within the protocol-specified 4-15 ng/mL target range. Mean GFR tended to be higher for the LCP-Tacro™ group.

These results are consistent with previous clinical studies and PK results that demonstrated higher bioavailability (LCP-Tacro™ patients, on average, required a daily dose that was 20% lower than patients receiving Prograf®, reflecting the improved absorption provided by the MeltDose® formulation) and comparable efficacy versus Prograf® on predefined endpoints.

"The results we have seen in this Phase III study suggest that  LCP-Tacro™ is non-inferior to Prograf® in the predefined primary endpoints when LCP-Tacro™ is dosed at once a day," said Dr. Suphamai Bunnapradist, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Director of Kidney Transplant Research at the Ronald Reagan Medical Center and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, California, USA., "These data concerning rejection rates, although small and not sufficiently powered to be clinically meaningful, are promising and offer new avenues for additional research and possible submissions to FDA."

Veloxis Pharmaceuticals A/S (VELO)

Based in Horsholm, Denmark, with an office in New Jersey, Veloxis Pharmaceuticals A/S, or Veloxis, is a specialty pharmaceutical company. Clinical development is the core of Veloxis' efforts to develop a product portfolio which includes the Company's lead product candidate, LCP-Tacro™ for immunosuppression, specifically organ transplantation, and products to combat certain cardiovascular diseases. Veloxis adapts new technologies on a fast commercial timetable. Veloxis' unique, patented delivery technology, MeltDose®, can improve absorption and bioavailability -- at low-scale up costs -- not only for a broad spectrum of drugs already on the market but also for new chemical entities. Veloxis has a lipid lowering product, Fenoglide®, currently on the U.S. market and a diversified near and medium term pipeline with three clinical stage product candidates and a number of projects in preclinical development. Veloxis is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen under the trading symbol OMX: VELO.  

For further information, please visit www.veloxis.com.

SOURCE Veloxis Pharmaceuticals A/S