Albireo Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALBO), a clinical-stage orphan
pediatric liver disease company developing novel bile acid
modulators, today announced achievement of full patient enrollment
in its Phase 2 clinical trial of elobixibat 5mg, a first-in-class,
once-daily, orally available ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT)
inhibitor for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Albireo is on track to report topline results in mid-2020.
Albireo expects results from a second NASH/NAFLD trial with
elobixibat, sponsored by its Japanese partner EA Pharma, late this
year or early next year. These two proof-of-concept studies are
designed to assess the combination of improvements in liver
function and cardiovascular risk parameters with a favorable
gastrointestinal tolerability profile. The combined data from both
studies will inform next steps for Albireo.
“This is the first clinical trial ever conducted in both NASH
and NAFLD patients with an IBAT inhibitor,” said Ron Cooper,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Albireo. “We are pleased
to have reached this critical milestone, which puts us on track to
report topline data by the middle of this year. Our clinical and
preclinical data indicate there is a strong rationale for bile acid
modulation by IBAT inhibition as a therapeutic approach in NASH,
given that this approach could have a positive effect on a
combination of parameters like lipids, glucose, liver inflammation,
liver fibrosis and elevated bile acids, a favorable tolerability
profile, and once-a-day oral dosing for ease of use.”
The proof-of-concept Phase 2, multicenter, placebo-controlled
trial enrolled 47 patients, and is designed to assess the safety
and efficacy of a once-daily 5mg dose of elobixibat over 16 weeks
in adult patients across 10 U.S. sites with biopsy-confirmed NASH,
or a diagnosis of suspected NASH or NAFLD based on metabolic
syndrome definitions. The primary endpoint is change from baseline
in serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Secondary
endpoints include change in liver fat by imaging, and in alanine
transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).
Exploratory endpoints include measures of glucose and insulin
homeostasis, biomarkers for inflammation and fibrosis.
In addition, EA Pharma, the exclusive licensee of elobixibat for
the treatment of GI disorders in Japan and select other countries
in Asia, has sponsored an investigator-sponsored trial of
elobixibat in Japan. The 16-week trial will enroll 100 NASH/NAFLD
patients randomized to a once-daily 10mg dose of elobixibat, the
bile acid sequestrant cholestyramine, the combination of
cholestyramine and elobixibat 10mg, or placebo, with topline data
anticipated by late 2020 or early 2021.
Albireo’s adult liver disease program also includes a lead
product candidate that is a novel investigational preclinical bile
acid modulator, for which the company expects to complete
IND-enabling studies this year.
“We believe that, if successful, our approach to NASH/NAFLD
could offer an effective and novel therapeutic approach as either
monotherapy or combination therapy with a favorable safety profile
in an area of massive unmet need,” Cooper said. “While we remain
focused on advancing odevixibat in progressive familial
intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) and other rare pediatric
cholestatic liver diseases, our NASH/NAFLD program has potentially
strong value for partnering opportunities.”
NAFLD affects about 25 percent of the world’s population and is
a major cause of liver disease. NAFLD may progress to NASH, a
common, serious and sometimes fatal chronic liver disease
characterized by liver inflammation and damage caused by a buildup
of fat in the liver. NASH patients have a 10-fold greater risk of
liver-related mortality, compared with the general population, and
NASH is projected to become the leading cause of liver transplants
in the United States. Albireo estimates that NASH affects more than
9 million people in the United States and 10 million people in the
European Union. There is currently no approved pharmacologic
treatment for NASH.
About Elobixibat Elobixibat is a
first-in-class, once-daily, orally-available ileal bile acid
transporter (IBAT) inhibitor currently being evaluated in a Phase 2
clinical trial in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and
nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In clinical studies,
elobixibat demonstrated a decrease in LDL/H cholesterol, as well as
decreased insulin resistance through an increase in GLP-1. The
first IBAT inhibitor approved globally, elobixibat is approved in
Japan for the treatment of patients with chronic constipation
(excluding constipation caused by organic disease). It is marketed
and sold in Japan under the trade name GOOFICE®.
About Albireo Albireo Pharma is a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development
of novel bile acid modulators to treat orphan pediatric liver
diseases, and other liver and gastrointestinal diseases and
disorders. Albireo’s lead product candidate, odevixibat, is being
developed to treat rare pediatric cholestatic liver diseases and is
in Phase 3 development in its initial target indication,
progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC). Albireo’s
clinical pipeline also includes two Phase 2 product candidates.
Elobixibat is in Phase 2 development in NAFLD and NASH. Approved in
Japan for the treatment of chronic constipation, elobixibat is the
first ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) inhibitor approved
anywhere in the world.
Albireo was spun out from AstraZeneca in 2008. Albireo Pharma is
located in Boston, Mass., and its key operating subsidiary is
located in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Boston Business Journal named
Albireo one of the 2019 Best Places to Work in Massachusetts. For
more information on Albireo, please visit
www.albireopharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release
includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements include statements, other
than statements of historical fact, regarding, among other things:
the plans for, or progress, scope, cost, initiation, duration,
enrollment, results or timing for availability of results of,
development of odevixibat, elobixibat or any other Albireo product
candidate or program, including regarding the Phase 3 clinical
program for odevixibat in patients with PFIC; the Phase 2 clinical
trial for elobixibat in NAFLD/NASH, the target indication(s) for
development, the size, design, population, location, conduct,
objective, enrollment, duration or endpoints of any clinical trial,
or the timing for initiation or completion of or reporting of
results from any clinical trial, including the double-blind Phase 3
PFIC trial for odevixibat, and the long-term open-label extension
study, or the Phase 2 trial for elobixibat in NAFLD/NASH; the
potential approval and commercialization of odevixibat; discussions
with the FDA regarding our programs; the potential benefits or
competitive position of odevixibat, elobixibat, or any other
Albireo product candidate or program or the commercial opportunity
in any target indication; the potential benefits of an orphan drug
designation; the pricing of odevixibat if approved; or Albireo’s
plans, expectations or future operations, financial position,
revenues, costs or expenses. Albireo often uses words such as
“anticipates,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “projects,”
“future,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “estimates,”
“predicts,” “potential,” “planned,” “continue,” “guidance,” and
similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Actual
results, performance or experience may differ materially from those
expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement as a result
of various risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, but
not limited to: whether favorable findings from clinical trials of
odevixibat to date, including findings in indications other than
PFIC, will be predictive of results from the trials comprising the
Phase 3 PFIC program or any other clinical trials of odevixibat;
whether either or both of the FDA and EMA will determine
that the primary endpoint for their respective evaluations and
treatment duration of the double-blind Phase 3 trial in patients
with PFIC are sufficient, even if the primary endpoint is met with
statistical significance, to support approval of odevixibat
in the United States or the European Union, to treat
PFIC, a symptom of PFIC, a specific PFIC subtype(s) or otherwise;
the outcome and interpretation by regulatory authorities of the
ongoing third-party study pooling and analyzing of long-term PFIC
patient data; the timing for initiation or completion of, or for
availability of data from, clinical trials of odevixibat, including
the trials comprising the Phase 3 PFIC program; Albireo’s ability
to obtain coverage, pricing or reimbursement for approved products
in the United States or European Union; delays or
other challenges in the recruitment of patients for, or the conduct
of, the double-blind Phase 3 trial or other pivotal trials; and
Albireo’s critical accounting policies. These and other risks and
uncertainties that Albireo faces are described in greater detail
under the heading “Risk Factors” in Albireo’s most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K or in subsequent filings that it makes with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of risks
and uncertainties that Albireo faces, the results or events
indicated by any forward-looking statement may not occur. Albireo
cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking
statement. In addition, any forward-looking statement in this press
release represents Albireo’s views only as of the date of this
press release and should not be relied upon as representing its
views as of any subsequent date. Albireo disclaims any obligation
to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by
applicable law.
Investor Contact: Hans Vitzthum, LifeSci
Advisors, LLC.,
212-915-2568
Media Contact: Heather Anderson, 6 Degrees,
919-827-5539, handerson@6degreespr.com
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