Eplontersen halted neuropathy disease progression and improved neuropathy impairment and quality of life

Detailed results from the NEURO-TTRansform Phase III trial in patients with hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloid polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN) showed AstraZeneca and Ionis’ eplontersen met all co-primary endpoints and secondary endpoints at 66 weeks versus an external placebo group.¹

The positive results being presented today in an Emerging Science Session at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2023 Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts demonstrate that eplontersen’s efficacy, safety and administration profile may provide an important new option in this fatal disease with significant unmet need.¹

At 66 weeks, patients treated with eplontersen demonstrated consistent and sustained benefit on the three co-primary endpoints of serum transthyretin (TTR) concentration, neuropathy impairment and quality of life (QoL). Eplontersen achieved a least squares (LS) mean reduction of 82% in TTR serum concentration from baseline, compared to an 11% reduction from baseline in the external placebo group (p<0.0001).¹

Eplontersen halted disease progression as measured by modified Neuropathy Impairment Score +7 (mNIS+7), resulting in a 0.28 point LS mean increase compared to a 25.06 point increase for the external placebo group from baseline (24.8 point LS mean improvement; p<0.0001). Overall, 47% of treated patients showed improvements in neuropathy at 66 weeks compared to baseline versus 17% in the external placebo group. Among study completers, 53% of treated patients showed improvements in neuropathy at 66 weeks compared to baseline versus 19% in the external placebo group. Eplontersen also improved QoL demonstrating a 5.5 point LS mean decrease (improvement) on the Norfolk Quality of Life Questionnaire-Diabetic Neuropathy (Norfolk QoL-DN), compared to a 14.2 point increase (worsening) in the external placebo group (19.7 point LS mean improvement; p<0.0001). Overall, 58% of treated patients showed improvements in QoL at 66 weeks compared to baseline versus 20% in the external placebo group. Among study completers, 65% of treated patients showed improvements in QoL at 66 weeks compared to baseline versus 23% in the external placebo group. Eplontersen demonstrated statistically significant benefits on both mNIS+7 and Norfolk QoL-DN at 35 weeks versus the external placebo group, which were further improved at 66 weeks.¹

Eplontersen also achieved statistically significant improvements in all secondary endpoints versus the external placebo group and continued to demonstrate a favorable safety and tolerability profile. The rate of treatment emergent adverse events in the eplontersen group was comparable or similar to the external placebo group across all major categories. There were no adverse events of special interest that led to study drug discontinuation.¹

Sami Khella, M.D., Chief, Department of Neurology at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Professor of Clinical Neurology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and a Principal Investigator on the NEURO-TTRansform trial, said: “In the past, patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloid polyneuropathy usually deteriorated given the limited available treatments. This new study shows eplontersen can halt progression of neuropathy and improve quality of life at 66 weeks when compared to placebo. Today’s important results demonstrate that eplontersen has a consistent and sustained treatment effect and reinforces its potential as an important medicine for the thousands of patients living with this debilitating and fatal disease.”

Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, said: “Without treatment, hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloid polyneuropathy is a relentlessly progressive disease. These results show that eplontersen sustains reduced transthyretin levels and improves neuropathy progression and quality of life consistently across a substantial number of patients. We are confident in eplontersen’s potential to be a much needed and differentiated treatment option for patients living with all types of this devastating disease, which can also lead to heart failure.”

ATTRv-PN is a debilitating disease that leads to peripheral nerve damage with motor disability within five years of diagnosis and, without treatment, is generally fatal within a decade.²

As part of a global development and commercialization agreement, AstraZeneca and Ionis are seeking regulatory approval for eplontersen for the treatment of ATTRv-PN in the US and plan to seek regulatory approval in Europe and other parts of the world.³ Last month, the US Food and Drug Administration accepted a New Drug Application for eplontersen for the treatment of ATTRv-PN.³ Eplontersen was granted Orphan Drug Designation in the US.³

Eplontersen is currently being evaluated in the CARDIO-TTRansform Phase III trial for transthyretin-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM),⁴ a systemic, progressive and fatal condition that typically leads to progressive heart failure and often death within three to five years from disease onset.^5,6

Notes

TTR Amyloidosis

ATTR cardiomyopathy and polyneuropathy are progressive systemic diseases caused by aging or genetic mutations, resulting in misfolded TTR protein and accumulation as amyloid fibrils in the cardiac myocardium and peripheral nerves, respectively.^4,5 In patients with ATTR, both hereditary and wild type (non-hereditary), TTR protein builds up as fibrils in tissues, such as the peripheral nerves and heart, gastrointestinal system, eyes, kidneys, central nervous system, thyroid and bone marrow.^4,7 The presence of TTR fibrils interferes with the normal functions of these tissues.⁵ As the TTR protein fibrils accumulate, more tissue damage occurs and the disease worsens, resulting in poor QoL and eventually death.⁵ Worldwide, there are an estimated 300,000 - 500,000 patients with ATTR-CM⁷ and about 40,000 patients with ATTRv-PN.^5,7

NEURO-TTRansform

NEURO-TTRansform is a global, open-label, randomized trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of eplontersen in patients with ATTRv-PN.⁸ The trial has enrolled adult patients with ATTRv-PN Stage 1 or Stage 2 and will be compared to the external placebo group from the TEGSEDI^® (inotersen) NEURO-TTR registrational trial that Ionis completed in 2017.⁸ The final analysis comparing eplontersen to external placebo was completed at week 66 and all patients will be followed on treatment until week 85, when they will have the option to transition into an open-label extension study.⁸ The 66-week analysis evaluated percent change from baseline in serum TTR concentration, changes in the mNIS+7 and Norfolk-QOL-DN in the eplontersen group versus an external placebo group.⁸ The mNIS+7 uses highly standardized, quantitative and referenced assessments to quantify muscle weakness, muscle stretch reflexes, sensory loss and autonomic impairment.⁹ The Norfolk QoL-DN is a patient-reported questionnaire capturing neuropathy-related QoL.⁸

Eplontersen

Eplontersen is a ligand-conjugated antisense (LICA) investigational medicine designed to reduce the production of transthyretin, or TTR protein, to treat all types of ATTR, a systemic, progressive and fatal disease.^7,10

AstraZeneca in CVRM

Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), part of BioPharmaceuticals, forms one of AstraZeneca’s three disease areas and is a key growth driver for the Company. By following the science to understand more clearly the underlying links between the heart, kidneys and pancreas, AstraZeneca is investing in a portfolio of medicines for organ protection and improving outcomes by slowing disease progression, reducing risks and tackling co-morbidities. The Company’s ambition is to modify or halt the natural course of CVRM diseases, and potentially regenerate organs and restore function, by continuing to deliver transformative science that improves treatment practices and CV health for millions of patients worldwide.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries, and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com and follow us on Twitter @AstraZenecaUS.

Editor’s Note: The NEURO-TTRansform study was funded by AstraZeneca and Ionis. Dr. Khella reports research support from and scientific advisory board participation with AstraZeneca, and compensation for serving as a consultant for Ionis.

References

1. Khella S, et al. Eplontersen in Hereditary ATTR-polyneuropathy: Week 66 Final Analysis of the Phase 3 NEURO-TTRansform Study. Poster presented at the American Academy of Neurology 2023 Annual Meeting; 2023 April 22-27; Boston, Massachusetts. Poster #008.
2. Cortese A, et al. Diagnostic challenges in hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy: avoiding misdiagnosis of a treatable hereditary neuropathy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2017;88(5):457-458.
3. AstraZeneca [Internet]. Press release. Eplontersen demonstrated sustained benefit in Phase III trial for hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloid polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN) through 66 weeks [last accessed 20 April 2023]. Available from: https://www.astrazeneca-us.com/media/press-releases/2023/eplontersen-demonstrated-sustained-benefit-in-phase-iii-trial-for-hereditary-transthyretin-mediated-amyloid-polyneuropathy-attrv-pn-through-66-weeks.html
4. Viney N, et al. Ligand conjugated antisense oligonucleotide for the treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis: preclinical and phase 1 data. ESC Heart Failure. 2020; 8:652-661.
5. Rintell D, et al. Patient and family experience with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) and polyneuropathy (ATTR-PN) amyloidosis: results of two focus groups. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2021;16:70.
6. Columbia University Irving Medical Center [Internet]. Drug Reduces Death from Underdiagnosed Form of Heart Failure [last accessed 20 April 2023]. Available from: https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/drug-reduces-deaths-underdiagnosed-form-heart-failure.
7. Ionis Pharmaceuticals [Internet]. Annual Report, 2022 [last accessed 16 March 2023]. Available from: https://ir.ionispharma.com/static-files/db9dff5d-8683-485a-a517-15e264fe7532.
8. Coelho T, et al. Design and Rationale of the Global Phase 3 NEURO-TTRansform Study of Antisense Oligonucleotide AKCEA-TTR-LRx(ION-682884-CS3) in Hereditary Transthyretin-Mediated Amyloid Polyneuropathy.Neurol Ther. 2021 Jun;10(1):375-389.
9. Dyck P, et al. Development of measures of polyneuropathy impairment in hATTR amyloidosis: From NIS to mNIS + 7. J Neurol Sci. 2019 Oct 15;405:116424.
10. Coelho T, et al. Characteristics of Patients with Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis-Polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN) in NEURO-TTRansform, an Open-label Phase 3 Study of Eplontersen. Neurol Ther 12, 267–287 (2023).

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