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- Addition of IW-1973 to ongoing medical regimens used to treat diabetic patients with hypertension showed reductions in blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides, and improved endothelial function -
-Data support advancement of IW-1973 for evaluation as a potential treatment for patients with diabetic nephropathy and for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction -
Ironwood is currently developing IW-1973 for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy and for the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The company recently initiated two new Phase II dose-ranging clinical trials with IW-1973 in these indications.
"We are encouraged by the pharmacokinetic profile of IW-1973 that
supports a once-daily dosing regimen, as well as its safety and
tolerability profile, as observed in the Phase IIa studies," said
The two Phase IIa exploratory studies were designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of IW-1973 in diabetic patients with hypertension on a stable regimen of medicines to manage their disease. The studies were not designed or powered explicitly to assess efficacy, but the data yielded clear and consistent trends indicating a positive effect of IW-1973 on blood pressure, metabolic parameters and endothelial function biomarkers.
The larger of the two exploratory studies (n=26) was a randomized, placebo-controlled, 14-day study. Participating patients were required to remain on their existing treatment regimens. All were taking at least one medication to manage their hypertension and at least one medication to manage their diabetes; a majority were also taking additional medications to manage their cholesterol and serum lipid levels. Approximate mean baseline pre-treatment characteristics of the study participants were mean arterial blood pressure of 92 mmHg, fasting plasma glucose of 150 mg/dL, serum cholesterol of 156 mg/dL and serum triglycerides of 153 mg/dL. The study included two active dosing regimens: (1) 40 mg once-daily for days 1 to 14, and (2) 20 mg twice daily for days 1 to 7 followed by 40 mg once-daily for days 8 to 14. Overall results were similar for both dosing regimens and were combined. Top-line data were as follows:
The most common adverse events (AE) reported in patients treated with IW-1973 were headache, hypoglycemia and nausea. Only nausea was present in the IW-1973 group at a greater incidence rate than placebo. There was a single serious AE, an upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in a participant with erosive esophagitis receiving IW-1973. All other AEs were characterized as mild.
The second, smaller trial (n=11) was an open-label, rapid dose escalation study. Results from this study were similar to those in the 14-day, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, including reductions in blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and ADMA levels. The most common AE reported was headache. All AEs were characterized as mild or moderate.
About IW-1973
IW-1973, Ironwood's lead soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator, is being studied in patients with diabetic nephropathy and in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Diabetic nephropathy affects an estimated eight million Americans and 20 to 40 percent of all diabetic patients worldwide. It is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Currently available products do not treat the underlying pathophysiology of the disease or fully address the needs of this patient population. HFpEF affects an estimated three million Americans and 40 to 70 percent of heart failure patients worldwide. It is a highly symptomatic condition with high rates of morbidity and mortality that can cause insufficient delivery of oxygen to the tissues, fluid in the lungs and edema of the extremities, causing patients to be short of breath and have compromised exercise tolerance. There are no approved therapies to treat HFpEF.
Currently in Phase II development for diabetic nephropathy and for HFpEF, IW-1973 has the potential to address the underlying causes of these devastating diseases by improving nitric oxide (NO) signaling, which may improve vascular and metabolic function and decrease the inflammatory and fibrotic consequences associated with these diseases.
About Ironwood's sGC Program
As a pioneering expert in cyclic GMP (cGMP), Ironwood is building on its success with linaclotide, which stimulates guanylate cyclase-C in the intestine, to develop a pipeline of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators. sGC plays an important role in regulating diverse physiological processes; dysregulation of sGC may play a role in multiple serious diseases. Ironwood's sGC stimulators are believed to harness the nitric oxide (NO)/sGC/cGMP pathway by working synergistically with NO to improve blood flow and metabolism and decrease inflammation and fibrosis.
Ironwood is advancing IW-1973, its lead sGC stimulator, for the potential treatment of diabetic nephropathy and the potential treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Ironwood's second clinical sGC stimulator, IW-1701, is being developed for the potential treatment of achalasia and sickle cell disease. In addition, Ironwood has a rich pipeline of other promising sGC stimulators in preclinical development.
About
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Investors are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, including statements about the topline assessment of the
data from the clinical trials of IW-1973, including a dosing regimen,
safety, and tolerability; the development, regulatory and
commercialization plans for IW-1973, and the timing thereof, including
further investigation and advancement of IW-1973; the design, potential
indications for, and possible benefits of IW-1973 and its potential as a
treatment for patients; prevalence and unmet need; and market size,
growth and opportunity. Each forward‐looking statement is subject to
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in such statement. Applicable
risks and uncertainties include those related to preclinical and
clinical development, manufacturing and formulation development; the
risk that future clinical studies need to be discontinued for any
reason, including safety, tolerability, enrollment, manufacturing or
economic reasons; the risk that findings from our completed nonclinical
and clinical studies may not be replicated in later studies; efficacy,
safety and tolerability of IW-1973; the risk that the therapeutic
opportunities for IW-1973 are not as we expect; decisions by regulatory
authorities; those risks related to competition and future business
decisions made by us and our competitors or potential competitors; the
risk that we may never get sufficient patent protection for IW-1973 or
that we are not able to successfully protect such patents; developments
in the intellectual property landscape; and the risks listed under the
heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in Ironwood's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171204005253/en/
Investor and Media Relations
Senior Director, Investor Relations and
Corporate Communications
mkaya@ironwoodpharma.com
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