Newsroom 2005
Istanbul, Turkey - Further analyses of the results of Neurochem's Phase II/III clinical study for Fibrillex(TM), an
investigational product candidate for the treatment of Amyloid A (AA) Amyloidosis, were presented today at the
European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) meeting by Helen Lachmann, M.D.,
Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Nephrologist and co-investigator of the Phase II/III clinical trial, National
Amyloidosis Centre, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK. AA Amyloidosis
is a rare disease that frequently progresses to end-stage renal failure and death and for which no specific treatment
is approved for use.
The most recent analysis of the primary endpoint using the pre-specified Cox proportional hazards regression model
takes into account both the number of events and the time to reach such an event. This analysis indicates that
Fibrillex™ reduces the risk of renal decline or all-cause mortality by 42% (p-value of 0.025, 95% CI 0.366 - 0.934).
"While Fibrillex™ did not achieve the study's pre-specified p-value of 0.01 on the primary endpoint, the
analysis of the data suggest useful clinical effects of Fibrillex™," said Dr. Lachmann. "This result
supports the notion that Fibrillex™ may preserve kidney function in patients who face this very serious illness
with no specific treatment to turn to" she added.
The Phase II/III trial enrolled 183 patients (89 on Fibrillex™, 94 on placebo) in 13 countries, and was a
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and parallel-design study.
The primary analysis of the primary endpoint using the pre-specified Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel means row score test
compares the number of events at the end of the study between the two treatment groups and was announced on April 18,
2005. This analysis showed there were 13.4% fewer patients who worsened in the Fibrillex™ group as compared to
placebo (p-value of 0.063, adjusted for renal status at baseline).
Secondary Endpoints
Analysis of secondary efficacy endpoints in Neurochem's trial, including progression to end-stage renal
disease/dialysis and slope of decline of creatinine clearance, point in favor of Fibrillex™ reducing the risk of
renal decline events in AA Amyloidosis patients.
Patients in the trial receiving Fibrillex™ experienced a slower decline in the mean slope of creatinine
clearance of 4.7 ml/min/1.73 m2/year as compared to placebo (p-value of 0.025). This effect was corroborated by the
analysis of another secondary endpoint being the slope of the reciprocal of serum creatinine.
During the course of the study, Fibrillex™ delayed by 3.6 months the time required to double serum creatinine
(p-value of 0.081), delayed by 4.4 months the time to reach a 50% decrease in creatinine clearance (p-value of 0.029)
and delayed by 5.3 months the time to progress to dialysis (p-value of 0.18), all as compared to placebo.
There was no statistically significant difference in the median time between the two groups to reach a 50% increase
in creatinine clearance, time to death or median change in proteinuria.
Safety Data
The data suggest Fibrillex™ is well tolerated. The most frequent adverse events experienced by the patients in
this study were of gastrointestinal origin and infections. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (all
causalities) in patients on Fibrillex™ was comparable to placebo.
Additional data on the Phase II/III clinical trial will be presented at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)
conference, Vienna, Austria, on June 9, 2005.
About Fibrillex™
Fibrillex™ is an oral investigational product candidate for the treatment of AA Amyloidosis through the
prevention of amyloid fibril formation. It has received Orphan Drug Status designation in the United States
and Orphan Medicinal Product designation in Europe.
Fibrillex™ also has been accorded "Fast Track Product" designation by the FDA and has been selected
by the Cardio-Renal Drug Product Division of the FDA to be part of the Continuous Marketing Applications Pilot 2
program aimed at further accelerating the development and eventual marketing of this product candidate. Under this
Pilot 2 program, each FDA division is permitted to select only one product candidate.
About AA Amyloidosis
AA Amyloidosis is a progressive and fatal condition that occurs in a proportion of patients with chronic inflammatory
diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn's disease.
The disease also occurs in patients suffering from many other conditions ranging from chronic infections to inherited
inflammatory diseases such as Familial Mediterranean Fever. The most common clinical presentation of AA Amyloidosis
is renal dysfunction. Involvement of the gastrointestinal system is also frequent and is usually manifested as chronic
diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain and malabsorption. Enlargement of the liver and the spleen may
also occur in some patients. End-stage renal failure is the main cause of death in 40-60% of cases. The median
survival time from diagnosis varies from 2 to 10 years depending on the stage of the disease at the time
of diagnosis.
No specific treatment is currently available for this orphan disease. The goal of the existing therapies is limited
to the control of the underlying chronic inflammatory disease. The current therapeutic approaches are normally
non-specific, and may be toxic, invasive or ineffective.
About Neurochem
Neurochem is focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics for neurological disorders.
The Company's pipeline of proprietary, disease-modifying oral products addresses critical unmet medical needs.
1,3-propanedisulfonate (1,3PDS; Fibrillex™) is designated as an orphan drug and a Fast Track Product candidate
and is also part of an FDA Continuous Marketing Applications Pilot 2 program. The Phase II/III clinical trial of
Fibrillex™ for the treatment of AA Amyloidosis was recently concluded and preliminary results have been issued
in April 2005. 3-amino-1-propanesulfonic acid (3APS; Alzhemed™), for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease, is in
a Phase III clinical trial and 3APS (Cerebril™), for the prevention of Hemorrhagic Stroke caused by Cerebral
Amyloid Angiopathy, has completed a Phase IIa clinical trial.
To Contact Neurochem
For additional information on Neurochem and its drug development programs, please call the North American toll-free number
1 877 680-4500 or visit our Web Site at: www.neurochem.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding Fibrillex™, as well as continuing and
further development efforts. These statements are based on the current analysis and expectations of management.
Drug development necessarily involves numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ
materially from this current analysis and these expectations. Analysis regarding the results of clinical trials may not
provide definitive results regarding safety, tolerability or therapeutic benefits. Even if all the endpoints sought in
the clinical trials were met (which is not certain), there is no certainty that regulators would ultimately
approve Fibrillex™ for sale to the public. Risks and uncertainties may include: failure to demonstrate the
safety, tolerability and efficacy of our product, the expense and uncertainty of obtaining regulatory approval,
including from the FDA, and the possibility of having to conduct additional clinical trials. Additionally, even if
regulatory approval is obtained, therapeutic products are generally subject to: stringent on-going governmental
regulation, challenges in gaining market acceptance, and competition. Neurochem does not undertake any obligation
to publicly update its forward- looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or
otherwise. Please see the Annual Information Form for further risk factors that might affect the Company
and its business.
For further Information, please contact:
Dr. Lise Hébert
Vice President, Corporate Communications
lhebert@neurochem.com
275 Armand-Frappier
Laval (Quebec)
H7V 4A7
Tel: (450) 680-4500
Fax: (450) 680-4501
