-- Company also reports additional five patients achieved independence from PN/IV fluids in ongoing STEPS 2 study --
-- NPS to host conference call tomorrow at
NPS also today reported that five additional patients have successfully achieved independence from parenteral nutrition (PN) and intravenous (IV) fluids while on long-term Gattex® (teduglutide) therapy in STEPS 2, a 24-month open-label study in adult SBS. To date, 12 patients or 14 percent have achieved independence from PN/IV fluids while on Gattex therapy in the ongoing STEPS 2 study.
“The results of today's advisory committee reinforced our belief in the
favorable benefit-risk profile of Gattex,” said
SBS is a serious, complex disorder in which the body is unable to absorb enough nutrients and fluids through the gastrointestinal track to sustain life. SBS is typically treated with PN/IV fluids that do not treat the underlying disorder, which is the body's inability to absorb nutrients and fluids. In addition, long-term use of PN/ IV fluids can be associated with life-threatening complications such as liver damage, serious bloodstream infections, and blood clots.
Gattex is a novel, recombinant analog of human glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2), a peptide involved in normal intestinal function and fluid and nutrient absorption. If approved, Gattex would be the first FDA-approved therapy indicated for the long-term treatment of adults with SBS. The company’s SBS clinical development program represents the largest and most comprehensive to date. The advisory committee reviewed data from the program, including information in the Gattex NDA, which is derived from 14 completed and one ongoing clinical study. A total of 566 subjects have been treated with teduglutide. Of the 566 subjects treated with Gattex, 299 subjects were treated in the clinical pharmacology studies, 94 subjects in Crohn’s disease studies, and 173 subjects in the SBS efficacy and safety studies. Of the 566 Gattex-treated subjects, 97 SBS subjects had at least 12 months of exposure to Gattex. Across the company’s Phase 3 studies, a total of 15 patients were able to achieve independence from PN/IV while on 0.05 mg/kg/day Gattex.
Conference Call Information
NPS will host a conference call beginning tomorrow,
For those unable to participate in the live call, a replay will be
available at (888) 286-8010, with pass code 14044215, until
About Short Bowel Syndrome
Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a highly disabling condition that can impair a patient's quality of life and lead to serious life-threatening complications. SBS typically arises after extensive resection of the bowel due to Crohn's disease, ischemia or other conditions. SBS patients often suffer from malnutrition, severe diarrhea, dehydration, fatigue, osteopenia, and weight loss due to the reduced intestinal capacity to absorb nutrients, water, and electrolytes. The usual treatment for SBS is nutritional support, including parenteral nutrition (PN) and/or intravenous (IV) fluids to supplement and stabilize nutritional needs.
Although PN can provide nutritional support for SBS patients, it does not improve the body's own ability to absorb nutrients. PN is associated with serious complications, such as infections, blood clots or liver damage, and the risks increase the longer patients are on PN. Patients on PN often experience poor quality of life with difficulty sleeping, and frequent urination, and patients receiving chronic PN often experience a loss of independence.
About Gattex® (teduglutide)
Gattex (teduglutide) is a novel, recombinant analog of human glucagon-like peptide 2, a protein involved in the rehabilitation of the intestinal lining. It has been developed to reduce dependence on parenteral nutrition (PN) in adult patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS). Significant reductions in mean PN/IV infusion volume from baseline to end of treatment were seen in the Phase 3 studies of teduglutide. In addition, some patients were able to be weaned off PN during these trials. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events with Gattex in the placebo-controlled studies that occurred at a higher frequency with Gattex were abdominal pain, upper respiratory tract infections, nausea, injection site reactions, abdominal distension, headaches, and gastrointestinal stoma complications.
Gattex has received orphan drug designation for the treatment of SBS
from the
In 2007, NPS granted Nycomed, a Takeda company, the rights to develop
and commercialize teduglutide outside
About
"NPS," "
Statements made in this press release, which are not historical in
nature, constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe
harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These statements are based on the company's current expectations and
beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in
the forward-looking statements. Risks associated to the company's
business include, but are not limited to, the risks associated with any
failure by the company to successfully complete its preclinical and
clinical studies within the projected time frames or not at all, the
risk of not gaining marketing approvals for Gattex and Natpara, the
risks associated with the company's strategy, as well as other risk
factors described in the company's periodic filings with the
Source:
Investor Contact:
NPS Pharmaceuticals
Susan Mesco, 908-450-5516
smesco@npsp.com
or
Media
Contact:
6 Degrees
Tony Plohoros, 908-591-2839
tplohoros@6degreespr.com
