PUBLISHED ONDecember 22, 2017 2:22 AM
- Study to Remain Blinded Per Protocol Until Final Readout of Comprehensive 18-Month Data
TOKYO, Dec 22, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. and Biogen Inc. announced today that an Independent Data Monitoring Committee has determined that BAN2401, an anti-amyloid beta protofibril antibody, did not meet the criteria for success based on a Bayesian analysis at 12 months as the primary endpoint in an 856-patient Phase II clinical study (Study 201). Following the predefined study protocol, the blinded study will continue, and a comprehensive final analysis will be conducted at 18 months seeking to demonstrate clinically significant results. The results of the final analysis are expected to be obtained during the second half of 2018.
Study 201 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01767311) is a placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group, randomized study in patients with prodromal or mild Alzheimer's disease (collectively known as early Alzheimer's disease) and with positive biomarkers for brain amyloid pathology. The study design included 16 interim analyses that assessed potential for futility or stopping for safety. Neither of these conditions was met and the study continues to a full analysis at 18 months. The efficacy of five dose groups of BAN2401 was evaluated at 12 months based on Eisai's in-house developed novel endpoint Alzheimer's Disease Composite Score (ADCOMS). According to the Bayesian analysis at 12 months, success was judged as an 80% or higher probability of achieving a Clinically Significant Difference (CSD: a 25% or greater reduction in the rate of decline in ADCOMS compared to placebo).
In the final analysis at 18 months, a comprehensive evaluation which includes assessing changes from baseline in the clinical evaluation indicators ADCOMS and Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), as well as changes in biomarkers such as brain amyloid levels as measured by amyloid PET and total hippocampal volume using vMRI, will be assessed.
"By using Bayesian statistics in this uniquely-designed trial we had hoped that it would enable us to demonstrate clinical success faster than more traditional study designs. We now await the final study analysis which will be conducted after 18 months of treatment, which represents an amount of treatment time that is considered as appropriate for assessing efficacy in disease modifying agents for Alzheimer's disease," said Lynn Kramer, MD, Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Medical Officer, Neurology Business Group, Eisai.
BAN2401 is a humanized monoclonal antibody for Alzheimer's disease that is the result of a strategic research alliance between Eisai and BioArctic AB. Since March 2014, Eisai and Biogen have been jointly developing BAN2401.
Eisai and Biogen have a wide reaching collaboration to develop and commercialize Alzheimer's disease treatments.
About BAN2401
BAN2401 is a humanized monoclonal antibody for Alzheimer's disease that is the result of a strategic research alliance between Eisai and BioArctic. BAN2401 selectively binds to neutralize and eliminate soluble, toxic Abeta aggregates that are thought to contribute to the neurodegenerative process in Alzheimer's disease. As such, BAN2401 may have the potential to have an effect on disease pathology and to slow down the progression of the disease. Eisai obtained the global rights to study, develop, manufacture and market BAN2401 for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease pursuant to an agreement concluded with BioArctic in December 2007. In March 2014, Eisai and Biogen entered into a joint development and commercialization agreement for BAN2401 and the parties amended that agreement in October 2017.
About Study 201 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01767311)
Study 201 is a placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study to evaluate safety, tolerability and efficacy of BAN2401 in patients with prodromal or mild Alzheimer's disease (collectively known as early Alzheimer's disease) and with positive biomarkers for brain amyloid pathology, using Bayesian Adaptive Randomization Design which allows for automatic changes to the design during the study, including adaptively changing the subject allocation ratio to treatment arms with higher probabilities based on the results of interim analyses in order to more efficiently identify the effectiveness and optimal dose regimen of BAN2401. The study will explore efficacy and the dose response of BAN2401 with 16 interim analyses for early success, a 12-month evaluation based on ADCOMS and an 18-month comprehensive assessment of treatment with placebo or 5 active arms. The 5 treatment arms consist of 3 dose levels (2.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 10mg/kg) given biweekly and 2 dose levels (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg) given monthly.
After 12 months of treatment, change from baseline in the ADCOMS is evaluated. In the final analysis at 18 months, comprehensive evaluation including changes from baseline in ADCOMS and Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (CDRSB), as well as changes in brain amyloid levels as measured by amyloid PET and in total hippocampal volume using vMRI, will be conducted.
About the Joint Development Agreement between Eisai and Biogen for Alzheimer's Disease
Eisai and Biogen are widely collaborating on the joint development and commercialization of Alzheimer's disease treatments. Eisai serves as the lead in the co-development of elenbecestat*, a BACE inhibitor, and BAN2401, an anti-amyloid beta (Abeta) protofibril antibody, while Biogen serves as the lead for co-development of aducanumab, Biogen's investigational anti-amyloid beta (Abeta) antibody for patients with Alzheimer's disease, and the companies plan to pursue marketing authorizations for the three compounds worldwide. If approved, the companies will also co-promote the products in major markets, such as the United States, the European Union and Japan.
As to BAN2401 and elenbecestat, both companies will equally split overall costs, including research and development expenses. Eisai will book all sales for elenbecestat and BAN2401 following marketing approval and launch, and profits will be equally shared between the companies.
Under a new agreement between the parties that was effective October 22, 2017, Biogen will remain solely responsible for all development costs for aducanumab until April 2018, and Eisai will reimburse Biogen for 15 percent of expenses from April 2018 through December 2018, and 45 percent from January 2019 onwards. Regarding the respective share of profits from potential sales of aducanumab following commercialization, Biogen will receive 55 percent of the potential profits in the United States and 68.5 percent of the potential profits in Europe while Eisai will receive 80 percent of the potential profits in Japan and Asia (excluding China and South Korea). The companies will have a 50:50 co-promotion split of potential profits in the rest of the world. Furthermore, Biogen will book sales in the United States, Europe, and rest of world markets while Eisai will book sales in Japan and Asia (excluding China and South Korea). *The generic name is not yet fixed at this time.
About BioArctic AB
BioArctic AB is a Swedish research based biopharma company focusing on disease modifying treatments and reliable biomarkers and diagnostics for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The company also develops a potential treatment for Complete Spinal Cord Injury. BioArctic focuses on innovative treatments in areas with high unmet medical needs. Collaborations with universities are of great importance to the company together with our strategically important global partners in the Alzheimer (Eisai) and Parkinson (AbbVie) projects. The project portfolio is a combination of fully funded projects run in partnership with global pharmaceutical companies and innovative in-house projects with significant market- and out-licensing potential. www.bioarctic.com
About Biogen
At Biogen, our mission is clear: we are pioneers in neuroscience. Biogen discovers, develops and delivers worldwide innovative therapies for people living with serious neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Founded in 1978 as one of the world's first global biotechnology companies by Charles Weissman, Heinz Schaller, Kenneth Murray and Nobel Prize winners Walter Gilbert and Phillip Sharp, today Biogen has the leading portfolio of medicines to treat multiple sclerosis; has introduced the first and only approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy; and is focused on advancing neuroscience research programs in Alzheimer's disease and dementia, neuroimmunology, movement disorders, neuromuscular disorders, pain, ophthalmology, neuropsychiatry, and acute neurology. Biogen also manufactures and commercializes biosimilars of advanced biologics.
We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.biogen.com. To learn more, please visit www.biogen.com and follow us on social media - Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube.
About Eisai
Eisai Co., Ltd. (TSE:4523; ADR:ESALY) is a research-based human health care (hhc) company that discovers, develops and markets products throughout the world. Eisai focuses its efforts in three therapeutic areas: integrative neuroscience, including neurology and psychiatric medicines; integrative oncology, which encompasses oncotherapy and supportive-care treatments; and vascular/immunological reaction. Through a global network of research facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, Eisai actively participates in all aspects of the worldwide healthcare system. For more information about Eisai Co., Ltd., please visit www.eisai.com.
Contact:
Biogen Inc. Public Affairs Tel: +1-781-464-3260 Eisai Co., Ltd. Public Relations Department Tel: +81-(0)3-3817-5120
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