UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 2, 2015

 

 

Mast Therapeutics, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-32157   84-1318182

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

3611 Valley Centre Drive, Suite 500, San Diego, California   92130
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (858) 552-0866

Not Applicable

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 8.01. Other Events.

The information attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report relating to Mast Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) and its development programs may be presented from time to time by the Company at various investor and analyst meetings, including on March 2, 2015 at Cowen and Company’s 35th Annual Healthcare Conference.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

The list of exhibits called for by this Item is incorporated by reference to the Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page of this report.

By filing this report, including the information contained in Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, the Company makes no admission as to the materiality of any information in this report. The information contained in Exhibit 99.1 hereto is summary information that is intended to be considered in the context of the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 26, 2014, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on October 31, 2014, and other public announcements that the Company makes, by press release or otherwise, from time to time. The Company undertakes no duty or obligation to publicly update or revise the information contained in this report, although it may do so from time to time as it believes is appropriate. Any such updating may be made through the filing of other reports or documents with the SEC, through press releases, or through other public disclosure.

Forward-Looking Statements

Mast Therapeutics cautions you that statements included in this report, including in Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements that are based on the Company’s current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s development, regulatory and commercialization strategies and plans for its product candidates, including vepoloxamer (MST-188) in sickle cell disease, arterial disease, heart failure, and AIR001 in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, as well as the timing of activities and events related to those plans, including commencement and completion of clinical and nonclinical studies. Among the factors that could cause or contribute to material differences between the Company’s actual results and the expectations indicated by the forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties that include, but are not limited to: the uncertainty of outcomes in ongoing and future studies of its product candidates and the risk that its product candidates may not demonstrate adequate safety, efficacy or tolerability in one or more such studies, including vepoloxamer in the ongoing EPIC study and Phase 2 study in acute lower limb ischemia; delays in the commencement or completion of clinical studies, including the EPIC study, the Phase 2 study of vepoloxamer in acute limb ischemia, the planned Phase 2 study of vepoloxamer in heart failure and the Phase 2a studies of AIR001, including as a result of difficulties in obtaining regulatory agency agreement on clinical development plans or clinical study design, opening trial sites, enrolling study subjects, manufacturing sufficient quantities of clinical trial material, completing manufacturing process development activities, being subject to a “clinical hold,” and/or suspension or termination of a clinical study, including due to patient safety concerns or lack of funding; the potential for institutional review boards or the FDA or other regulatory agencies to require additional clinical or nonclinical studies prior to initiation of a planned clinical study; the risk that, even if clinical studies are successful, the FDA or another regulatory agency may determine they are not sufficient to support a new drug application; the potential that even if clinical studies of a product candidate in one indication are successful, clinical studies in another indication may not be successful; the Company’s reliance on contract research organizations (CROs), contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), and other third parties to assist in the conduct of important aspects of development of its product candidates, including clinical studies, manufacturing, and regulatory activities for its product candidates and that such third parties may fail to perform as


expected; the Company’s ability to obtain, as needed, additional funding on a timely basis or on acceptable terms, or at all; the potential for the Company to delay, reduce or discontinue current and/or planned development activities, including clinical studies, partner its product candidates at inopportune times or pursue less expensive but higher-risk and/or lower return development paths if it is unable to raise sufficient additional capital as needed; the risk that the FDA and regulatory agencies outside of the U.S. do not grant marketing approval of a product candidate, on a timely basis, or at all; the risk that, even if the Company successfully develops a product candidate in one or more indications, it may not realize commercial success and may never achieve profitability; the risk that the Company is not able to adequately protect its intellectual property rights and prevent competitors from duplicating or developing equivalent versions of its product candidates; and other risks and uncertainties more fully described in the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC and press releases.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Mast Therapeutics does not intend to revise or update any forward-looking statement set forth in this report to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Mast Therapeutics, Inc.
March 2, 2015 By:

/s/ Brandi L. Roberts

Name: Brandi L. Roberts
Title:

Chief Financial Officer and

Senior Vice President


Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

99.1    Mast Therapeutics, Inc. corporate presentation, March 2, 2015


Exhibit 99.1

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NYSE MKT: MSTX

Corporate Overview

March 2,, 2015


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Forward-Looking Statements

This presentation includes forward-looking statements about our business prospects, financial position, and development of vepoloxamer and AIR001 for therapeutic use in humans. Any statement that is not a statement of historical fact should be considered a forward-looking statement. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual events or performance may differ materially from our expectations indicated by these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, results of our pending and future clinical studies, the timeline for clinical and manufacturing activities and regulatory approval; our dependency on third parties to conduct our clinical studies and manufacture our clinical trial material; our ability to raise additional capital, as needed; our ability to establish and protect proprietary rights related to our product candidates; and other risks and uncertainties more fully described in our press releases and our filings with the SEC, including our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 26, 2014.

We caution you not toplace undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this presentation. Wedonot intendtoupdate anyforward-looking statement included in this presentation to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date of the presentation, except as may be required by law.

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Corporate Overview

? Publicly-traded biopharmaceutical company based in San Diego

? Developing vepoloxamer (MST-188) for:

? Rare (“orphan”) diseases:

? Sickle Cell Disease ? Acute Limb Ischemia

? Large market opportunities:

? Heart Failure? Stroke

? Developing AIR001 for:

? Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction? Commercially complementary to vepoloxamer

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Product Candidate Pipeline

Vepoloxamer Preclinical Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Sickle Cell Disease

(orphan) Enrolling

Acute Limb Ischemia

(orphan) Enrolling

Heart Failure Planned

AIR001

Preclinical Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

Enrolling

Heart Failure (“HFpEF”) Enrolling

Planned

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Lead Program

Vepoloxamer

5

 


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Vepoloxamer: A Biophysical Agent

Poiseuille’s Law describes Newtonian flow

? Want lower viscosity?

? Reduce friction by lowering adhesion and improving the deformability of cells

? How?

? Reduce surface tension with vepoloxamer

6

 

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Vepoloxamer Overview

HO – (CH2CH2O)79– (CH2CHO)30– (CH2CH2O)79– H

API Structure: | CH3

Large, synthesized polymer with extraction process to CMC: remove undesirable (toxic) components

Composition of matter claims pending Administration: IV infusion

Rapidly and predominantly cleared by kidneys (4-8h) ADME:

Ether linkages cannot be cleaved; no drug metabolites

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Vepoloxamer Mechanism of Action

Core of molecule adheres to hydrophobic domains on a cell surface, such as damaged membranes and adhesive proteins.

No Affinity for Healthy Cell Membranes…

But Adheres to Damaged Cell Membranes

8

 

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Vepoloxamer Pharmacodynamics

Lowers adhesion Cell integrity maintained Improves flow Ca2+ influx reduced

Vepoloxamer adheres to hydrophobic domains on cells and lowers surface tensions

Intracellular Ca2+ Level

60

Ratio 340/380

50 4.0

Saline

CPS) 40 35 .

( Poloxamer 188

30

3.0

Viscosity 20

10 2.5

0 2.0

2.5 5 10 20 40 80 0 Low Dose High Dose

Shear Rate (1/sec)

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Vepoloxamer Pharmacodynamics

Vepoloxamer adheres to hydrophobic domains on cells and lowers surface tensions

Viscosity is reduced

Lowers adhesion

Improves flow Membranes are sealed

Cell integrity maintained

Ca2+ influx reduced Sickle Cell Disease: Less cell adhesion, reduced hemolysis

Acute Limb Ischemia: Faster thrombolysis, less reperfusion injury

Heart Failure: Lower viscosity, more membrane repair

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Sickle Cell Disease

Objective Improve blood flow and shorten the duration of crisis

11


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Overview of Sickle Cell Disease

? A chronic, genetic disorder and rare (orphan) disease

? Affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the US . .

? Characterized by severe deformation (i.e., “sickling”) of red blood cells

? Hallmark of disease is a “vaso-occlusive crisis”

? Exceedingly painful condition? Leading cause of hospitalization

? Significant unmet need

? No approved agents to shorten duration or severity of crisis

? Standard of care (hydration and analgesics) unchanged for >10 years

? Vaso-occlusion is associated with early death

? Obstructed blood flow -> hypoxia -> tissue death -> organ failure? Average age at death; 42 years (males), 48 years (females)

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Role of Vepoloxamer in Sickle Cell Disease

Vaso-Occlusive Crisis:

? Adhesion of poorly-deformable, “sticky” cells to endothelium and to each other leads to vessel obstruction? Occluded RBC’s cannot deliver oxygen, leading to ischemia, pain, organ damage

Vepoloxamer:

? Lowers viscosity, reduces adhesion of cells to endothelium, lowers RBC aggregation, improves RBC deformability and restores blood flow

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Vepoloxamer Reduces RBC Aggregation (normal volunteers)

Dose-dependent effect on red blood cell aggregation

1.2

1 gation Aggregate extent

0.8

Aggre 0.6 Aggregate strength

Relative 0.4 0.2

0

0.25 0.5 1 2 5 Poloxamer 188* (mg/mL)

? The effect of five concentrations of poloxamer 188* on RBC aggregation was determined using a Myrenne aggregometer.

? Results represent the mean of samples from 20 healthy volunteers relative to PBS controls. (Meiselman, et. al.)

*Vepoloxamer is purified poloxamer 188

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Vepoloxamer Reduces RBC Aggregation (sickle cell patients)

Dose-dependent effect on sickle cell red blood cell aggregation

1

Aggregate extent tion 0.8

Aggrega 0.6 Aggregate strength

0.4 lative 0.2 Re

0

0 0.25 0.5 1 Poloxamer 188* (mg/mL)

? The effect of poloxamer 188 on sickle cell RBC aggregation determined by a Myrenne aggregometer? Results represent the mean from 11 patients relative to PBS controls (Meiselman, et al.)

*Vepoloxamer is purified poloxamer 188

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Vepoloxamer Decreases Blood Viscosity Under Low Shear Rates

Poloxamer 188* decreased viscosity of sickle cell whole blood

Poloxamer 188 concentration (mg/mL)

? Poloxamer 188 added to whole blood (40% hematocrit) and viscosity measured using a Contraves viscometer at 3 shear rates.

? Results represent the mean of samples from 11 SCD patients relative to PBS controls. (Meiselman, et al.)

*Vepoloxamer is purified poloxamer 188

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Vepoloxamer Effect on Sickle Cells

Lower surface tension improves flow and deformability (video)

Before vepoloxamer After vepoloxamer

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Vepoloxamer Improves Blood Flow

Vepoloxamer improved microvascular blood flow in SCD patients during vaso-occlusive crisis

2.0

1.8 Vepoloxamer 1.6 Placebo

1.4 (p = 0.00003)

(mm/sec) 1.2 ty 1.0

0.8 Red cell velocity (mm/s) Veloci 0.6 measured by video microscopy in nine sickle cell patients with

0.4

02. vaso-occlusive crisis.

0

Before Infusion 2-Hours 7-Hours

(Crisis Baseline) After Loading After Loading

Source: J. Investig. Med. 2004;52(6):402-6

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Phase 2 Study

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center study in SCD patients hospitalized for vaso-occlusive crisis

Subjects Who Received Full Dose± Poloxamer 188* Placebo p value±±

(n=18) (n=13)

Duration of Crisis 44 hours 80 hours 0.025

Duration of Hospitalization 5 days 7 days 0.111 Total Analgesic Use 34mg 145mg 0.045 Parenteral Analgesic Use 27mg 133mg 0.022

± Excludes patients who had drug administration errors or incomplete pain assessments (16), who withdrew consent (2) and who withdrew because of injection site pain after 15 minutes of infusion. Subjects were excluded equally (n=9) between poloxamer 188 and placebo.

±± Proportional hazards model adjusted for baseline pain.

* Vepoloxamer is purified poloxamer 188

Source: Blood, September 1, 1997 – Vol 90, No. 5

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Acute Chest Syndrome Clinical Study

? Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS)

• Serious complication of SCD that results in prolonged hospitalizations

• A leading cause of death in SCD patients

? Vepoloxamer reduced duration of hospitalization in SCD patients with ACS compared to standard of care

Duration of Hospitalization (days)

14

12 12.8 Adults Children (>19y) (?19y)

10

9.9

8

7.9

6 7.2 6.3

4 4.1

2

0

NEJM 2000* Vepoloxamer? Vepoloxamer? NEJM 2000* Vepoloxamer? Vepoloxamer?

Standard of Lo Dose (40-80 Hi Dose (100-120 Standard of Lo Dose (40- Hi Dose (100-care mg/kg/hr) mg/kg/hr) care 80mg/kg/hr) 120mg/kg/hr) (n=128) (n=10) (n=4) (n=409) (n=20) (n=7)

*Source: NEJM, June 22, 2000, Vol 342, No 25 ? Data on file

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Prior Sponsor’s Phase 3 Study

ENROLLMENT? First large trial in sickle cell crisis ever

350 patients conducted (intended)

? Flawed endpoint selection and premature termination led to loss of power

255 patients

(actual)? Responder’s analysis highly informative:? All ages: 52% vs. 37% (n=249, p=0.02)? Under 16y*: 60% vs. 28% (n=73, p=0.009)

? Lessons learned for Mast Phase 3 study:? Vepoloxamer has activity in SCD

? Incorporate FDA, expert, and patient input? Use a clinically-relevant, objective endpoint? Anticipate and address data loss

*Average age of patients in Mast’s Phase 3 Source: JAMA, November 17, 2001 – Vol 286, No. 17

trial (EPIC) as of Jan 2015: 14 years 21 NYSE MKT: MSTX


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Current Phase 3 Study “EPIC”

(Mast study)

? Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter

? 388 patients, randomized 1:1 (standard of care +/- vepoloxamer)

? Primary Endpoint:

? Duration of crisis from randomization to last dose of parenteral opioid o Clinically relevant (no IV meds = readiness for discharge) o Sensitive data collection (patient-controlled analgesia device) o Reduction in data loss (PCA device)

? Secondary Endpoints and Other Assessments:

? Re-hospitalization for crisis within 14 days? Occurrence of acute chest syndrome? Duration of hospitalization? Biomarkers

? Power Calculations

? 90% power to detect a 16-hour difference (p=0.05), CV >50%? 85% power to detect a 24-hour difference (p=0.01), CV >50%

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EPIC Success Factors

? Enrollment on-track

? ~70 trial sites open (>50 in U.S.)? Top-line data anticipated Q1 2016

? Most Advanced New Drug in SCD

? Potential to be 1st drug ever approved to treat on-going vaso-occlusive crisis? Substantial head start versus other drugs in development

? Considerations for Regulatory Decision-Making

? Significant unmet need – standard of care unchanged for years? Increased reliance on disease experts in rare diseases? Support among medical / advocacy communities? Fast Track designation? Orphan Drug designation? Healthcare disparity concerns? Supportive studies: QT (complete) and repeat-administration (planned)

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Commercial Opportunity

United States

? Approximately 100,000 hospitalizations annually? ~50% of events occur in just 16 metropolitan areas? Effective coverage with small, targeted field force

Europe

? Approximately 40,000 patients? ~50% of patients reside in 2 cities:? Paris and London

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Arterial Disease

Vepoloxamer in Combination with Thrombolytics

? Acute Limb Ischemia? Stroke

Objective Accelerate time to thrombolysis and restore tissue perfusion

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Overview of Arterial Disease

? A progressive circulatory problem in which obstructed arteries reduce blood flow to tissues

? Thrombolytic agents (tPA) are used to treat acute complications? Significant morbidity and mortality

Acute Ischemic Cerebrovascular Infarction

(stroke)

Acute Myocardial Infarction

(heart attack)

Peripheral Arterial Disease

? Intermittent Claudication? Critical Limb Ischemia? Acute Limb Ischemia

Development Strategy:? Develop initially in ALI? Expand into other markets

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Vepoloxamer is Antithrombotic

 

? Juvenile pigs were subjected to balloon angioplasty using excessive pressure and placement of a wire stent ? Animals were randomized to either heparin plus P188* (50 mg/kg as a bolus followed by a constant infusion of 25 mg/kg/hr) or a comparable volume of Heparin in normal saline (p < 0.01 Control vs P188).

Vepoloxamer is purified poloxamer 188 (P188)

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Accelerated tPA Activity Minutes Poloxamer 188 control (tpa) Time to Reperfusion Time to re-Occlusion

Animals subjected to femoral thrombotic occlusion randomized to tPA or tPA + poloxamer 188* (n=10), then monitored for blood flow Time to Reperfusion Time to Re-Occlusion Minutes Poloxamer 188 Control (tPA)

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Effect on Reperfusion Injury

Poloxamer 188* protected against no-reflow and reperfusion injury

40

36

35

ut )

30

Outp 25 normal 20 ac f 15 o

9

(% 10

Cardi 4.4

5 0

Blood Superoxide dismutase P188

? Rat hearts perfused with human packed red cells and heparin subjected to 90% ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion.

*Vepoloxamer is purified poloxamer 188

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Synergy with Thrombolytics in Heart Attack Clinical Trial

 

p Value Parameter Poloxamer 188* Control Difference N=114

Myocardial

Infarct Size 16% 26% 38% reduction 0.031 (median) Myocardial Salvage (median) 13% 4% 125% increase 0.033

Ejection Fraction

13%

(median) 52% 46% 0.020 improvement

Incidence of

Reinfarction 1% 13% 92% reduction 0.016

*Vepoloxamer is purified poloxamer 188 Source: Circulation 1996; 94: 298-307

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Phase 2 Study in Acute Limb Ischemia

? Clinical Proof-of-Concept Study

? Biomarkers? Clinical outcomes

? Study Design

? Dose-finding, randomized, double-blind, and active-controlled? tPA +/- low or high dose vepoloxamer? 60 subjects (20 per arm)

? Timing

? Completion of enrollment anticipated 2H 2016

? Data can be supportive of clinical development in stroke

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Vepoloxamer in Stroke Model

Vepoloxamer alone or in combination with tPA improved neurological outcomes

 

? Vepoloxamer alone or in combination with tPA reduced neurological functional deficits following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) compared with animals treated with saline or tPA alone? Note: tPA administration occurred 4 hours following MCAO

Conducted by Michael Chopp, Ph.D. Henry Ford Health System

Data presented at 2015 International Stroke Conference

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Vepoloxamer in Stroke Model

Vepoloxamer alone or in combination with tPA reduced lesion volume

n = 10/group

? Panelsare H&E stained coronal sections obtained from representative rats treated with saline, vepoloxamer alone, tPA alone, and the combination of vepoloxamer and tPA following MCAO.

? Bar graph shows that treatments with vepoloxamer alone and in combination with tPA significantly reduced lesion volume compared to ischemic rats treated with saline and tPA monotherapy.

Conducted by Michael Chopp, Ph.D. Henry Ford Health System

Data presented at 2015 International Stroke Conference

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Heart Failure

(Chronic and Acute)

Objective Preserve heart cells and improve cardiac function

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Overview of Heart Failure

? Chronic condition characterized by decreasing heart function

? Heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs

? Primary clinical symptom is difficulty breathing (fluid in lungs – “congestive”)

? Significant Unmet Medical Need

? Leading healthcare cost in U.S. and Europe

? Substantial and Growing Market Opportunity

? > 5 million individuals with heart failure in the U.S.

? $21 billion of direct costs for heart failure in the U.S. in 2012

? Vepoloxamer

? Membrane-sealing activity may restore weakened cardiac cell membranes, minimizing calcium overload injury? Durable effect may indicate a direct improvement in cardiac function

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Background: Membrane Injury and Repair in Cardiomyocytes

? Membrane injury and repair is a constitutive event in healthy cells, especially those subjected to increased wall tensions from mechanical stress, such as cardiomyocytes.

? In healthy rat hearts, adrenergic stimulation increases myocyte wounding 3-fold.

 

? Frozen sections of normal rat heart were immunostained to reveal the distribution of serum albumin (wound marker). ? Quantitative image analysis indicated that an average of 25% of myocytes contained cytosolic serum albumin (i.e., had suffered a plasma membrane wound). Frequency increased approximately 3-fold after â-adrenergic stimulation (0.5ug/kg isoproterenol). *p<0.001 (Circ Res 1995;76:927-934 )

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Development Rationale in Heart Failure

? Elevated wall tension in a stressed heart impairs membrane repair, leading 0.25 to calcium influx and cardiac troponin 0.20

leak. (µm) n = 15 nt 0.15

? Vepoloxamer seals membranes and reduces surface tension, reducing 0.10

Displaceme n = 7

calcium damage and preserving cells.

ad 0.05

Be

? Vepoloxamer led to statistically 0.00 significant improvements in Control Poloxamer 188

(no treatment) (1.0 mg/mL)

hemodynamic parameters (LVEF, CO)

and biomarkers (troponin, NT-proBNP) in Effect of poloxamer 188* on cell surface tension (bead displacement) using membrane tethered model of heart failure. beads. Cells treated with 1.0 mg/mL poloxamer 188, had significantly reduced membrane tension.

*Vepoloxamer is purified poloxamer 188

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Chronic Heart Failure Model

Study 1: Single-administration

? The primary objective of this study was to examine the effects of acute intravenous administration of vepoloxamer on left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in dogs with advanced heart failure produced by intracoronary microembolizations

Conducted by Hani N. Sabbah, Ph.D., Henry Ford Health System Data presented at American Heart Society Scientific Sessions, November 2014

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Study 1 – Single Administration Protocol

21 Heart Failure Dogs (LV EF ~30%) Randomized

 

Low Dose High Dose Placebo – Control 2 hours infusion 2 hours infusion 2 hours infusion vepoloxamer vepoloxamer of normal saline (225 mg/kg) (450 mg/kg) (n=7) (n=7) (n=7)

FOLLOW-UP All Groups 24 hours

1

 

Week

2

 

Weeks

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Study 1 – Single Administration Results

2

 

Hours Post 24 Hours Post 1 Week Post 2 Weeks Post

*

 

p < 0.05 vs. Control

? LV Ejection Fraction (%) ? Stroke Volume (mL)

15 10

*

 

*

 

8 * *

*

 

** *

10 *

6

 

*

5

 

4

0 2 0 -5 -2

Control Low Dose High Dose Control Low Dose High Dose Vepoloxamer Vepoloxamer Vepoloxamer Vepoloxamer

? nt-pro BNP (pg/mL) ? Plasma Troponin-I (ng/mL)

500 0.1 300 100 00. -100 -300 -0.1

*

 

-500 * * -700 -0.2 -900 * -1100 * -0.3 * * *

Control Low Dose High Dose Control Low Dose High Dose Vepoloxamer Vepoloxamer Vepoloxamer Vepoloxamer

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Study 1: Single Administration Conclusions

? Intravenous vepoloxamer elicits improvements in LV systolic and diastolic function that lasts for at least one week after end of drug infusion

? The functional improvement is supported by significant reductions of NT-proBNP for up to 2 weeks

? The decline in plasma troponin-I level suggest that vepoloxamer may act to limit ongoing cardiomyocyte loss by limiting unregulated calcium entry into the cell and thus limiting calcium overload

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Chronic Heart Failure Model

Study 2: Repeat-administration

? The primary objective of this study was to examine the effects of acute intravenous administration of multiple doses of vepoloxamer on left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in dogs with advanced heart failure produced by intracoronary microembolizations

Conducted by Hani N. Sabbah, Ph.D. Henry Ford Health System

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Study 2 – Repeat Administration Protocol

14 Heart Failure Dogs (LV EF ~30%) Randomized

 

Placebo – Control High Dose 2 hours infusion 2 hours infusion of normal saline vepoloxamer (450 mg/kg) on week 0 and on week 0 and week 3 week 3 (n=7) (n=7)

Total Follow-Up All Groups

6

 

Weeks

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Study 2 – Repeat Administration Results

Placebo Control Vepoloxamer

*Preliminary data. Arrows indicate dose events.

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Study 2 – Repeat Administration Focus On Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction

Vepoloxamer

Placebo Control

10??L V E je c tio n F r a c tio n????

8

 

6 4 2 0

-2

2h 2 4 h 1 W 2 W 3 W 3 W + 2 h 3 W + 2 4h 4W 5W 6 W TIME

Dose-1 Dose-2

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Study 2 – Repeat Administration Conclusions

? Reproduced Study 1 findings

? In addition, intravenous vepoloxamer pulsed once every 3 weeks elicits improvements in LV systolic and diastolic function that can be sustained for at least 6 weeks.

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Study 2 – Repeat Administration Supplemental Findings

Sealing membranes with vepoloxamer

? Protocol: Isolated cardiomyocytes were treated with vepoloxamer at room temperature for 2 hours

? Cells were then washed and treated with 10 uM Fura-2 AM dye for 1 hour ? Excess dye was then washed out and cells were resuspended in EDTA (calcium chelator) or 0.5 mM calcium chloride and flourescence intensity readings were obtained after 2 hours at 340/510 and 380/510 ? Calcium level (based on florescence levels) within the cell was calculated as the ratio of 340/380

Conducted by Hani N. Sabbah, Ph.D. Henry Ford Health System

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Vepoloxamer Seals Cardiomyocyte Membranes

Cardiomyocytes Isolated from Animals with Advanced Heart Failure Exhibit Reduced Intracellular Calcium

Intracellular Ca2+ Level Intracellular Ca2+ Level Ratio 340/380 Ratio 340/380

1.50 4.0

n=4 10µM Ca2+ n=4 1.0mM Ca2+

1.25 3.5 1.00 3.0 0.75 2.5

0.50 2.0

0 LD HD 0 LD HD

LD = 1.5 mg/mL vepoloxamer HD = 4.5 mg/mL vepoloxamer

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Vepoloxamer Repairs Disrupted Membranes

? Seals skeletal muscle cells against carboxyfluorescein dye loss following electroporation (Lee et. al., 1992, PNAS 89 4524 – 4528)

? Restores action potentials and prevents Ca++ mediated axonal degeneration following crush injury in neurons (Borgens et. al., J Neurosci Res 2004, 76 (1) 141-54)

? Prevents Ca overload in Lysophospatidylcholine induced sarcolemmal injury in isolated perfused hearts (Watanabe & Okada, Mol. & Cell Biochem. 2003, 248: 209-215)

? Prevents contraction induced membrane injury and heart failure in MDX mice

(Yasuda et. al., Nature, 2005, 436:1025 – 1029)

? Prevents contraction induced membrane injury and heart failure in golden retriever dogs (Townsend et. al., JCI 2010, 120 (4) 1140 – 1150)

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AIR001

(sodium nitrite) inhalation solution

Objective Improve hemodynamics and exercise tolerance of patients with heart failure

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AIR001 Overview

? Nitrite for intermittent inhalation (via nebulizer)

? Different molecule and activity than organonitrates or nitric oxide? Beneficial effects include dilation of blood vessels and reduced inflammation? Hemodynamic benefits include reductions in

? pulmonary vascular resistance? pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ? right atrial pressure

? Safety data available in 124 subjects (well-tolerated) including exposures beyond 52 weeks

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AIR001 Clinical Data

? Three Phase 1 studies:

? Established MTD and safe dose level

? Acute improvements in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension? No drug-drug interaction with sildenafil

? One Phase 2 study:

? Well-tolerated; no treatment-related serious adverse events

? Showed improvement in median pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) & median distances in 6-minute walk test? Methemoglobin levels remained normal (< 1.5%)

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AIR001 Clinical Development Plan

? AIR001 for Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)

? Responsible for ~50% of heart failure hospitalizations? 80% develop pulmonary hypertension? No approved medications

? Supporting three institutional-sponsored Phase 2a studies to:

? Evaluate the acute hemodynamic effects

? Evaluate the acute effects versus placebo on submaximal oxygen consumption and exercise hemodynamics? Evaluate inhaled versus intravenous administration of nitrite and safety of multiple doses

? Preliminary data announcements 2H 2015

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MSTX Financial Overview

? Cash/investments at 12/31/14: $57.3 million? Market capitalization: ~$89 million*? Shares outstanding: ~159 million*? Average daily volume (3 mo): ~1.0 million*? No debt

* As of February 25, 2015

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Mast Therapeutics Summary

? A Leader in Areas of Significant Unmet Need

? Sickle Cell Disease: Most advanced new drug in development? Acute Limb Ischemia: Phase 2 ongoing; gateway to stroke? Heart Failure: two distinct programs with new mechanisms

? Mast Therapeutics is committed to showing the clinical benefit of improving blood flow and sealing cell membranes in dysfunctional circulatory diseases

55 NYSE MKT: MSTX

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