BioSante Pharmaceuticals Reports Positive LibiGel(R) Safety Data In Phase III Program

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 22 Oct 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: BPAX), announced positive safety data in its ongoing LibiGel Phase III clinical development program. For the first time, unblinded data have been reviewed by the independent DMC of the LibiGel Cardiovascular and Breast Cancer Safety Study. Based on this review of unblinded data, the DMC unanimously recommended continuation of the study as described in the study protocol, with no modifications.

BioSante reported that the DMC reviewed all unblinded adverse events in the safety study including all "serious adverse events" and all "adverse cardiovascular and breast cancer events" in 1,055 women with 883 women-years of exposure. To date, there have been no deaths, one myocardial infarction and only three breast cancers reported. Therefore, in view of the DMC recommendation, the BioSante LibiGel Phase III development program will continue as planned. BioSante targets submission to the FDA of a new drug application (NDA) by mid-2011.

"This review of unblinded LibiGel safety data by the DMC gives us even greater comfort about the safety of LibiGel," said Michael Snabes, M.D., BioSante's vice president of clinical development. "We have known, based on blinded data, that the rates of cardiovascular and breast cancer events in the study are lower than expected in women at the higher end of cardiovascular risk for the intended population. This recommendation by the DMC, after their confidential review of unblinded data, to continue the study without changes, is a validation of the safety to date of LibiGel in the treatment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in menopausal women, our target patient population. This outcome represents a significant advance for our LibiGel clinical development program," Dr. Snabes continued.

"The cardiovascular safety and breast cancer data indicate that LibiGel, to date, has been shown to be safe," said Stephen M. Simes, BioSante's president and CEO. "A DMC can recommend continuing, changing or stopping a study and their main responsibility is to ensure that subjects recruited to the study are not exposed to unnecessary safety risks. Therefore, the DMC's recommendation to continue the LibiGel safety study unchanged is the best possible outcome of the DMC's unblinded review of all adverse events. This is very good news for BioSante and for women since LibiGel remains the only pharmaceutical product in the U.S. in active development for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in surgically menopausal women. We continue to believe that LibiGel can be the first product approved by the FDA for this common and unmet medical need, also referred to as female sexual dysfunction (FSD)."

The Phase III Cardiovascular and Breast Cancer Safety Study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center, cardiovascular events and breast cancer study that will enroll between 2,400 and 3,100 women, exposed to LibiGel or placebo for 12 months. An NDA can be submitted and reviewed by FDA, possibly leading to approval of LibiGel, at that time. After NDA submission and potential approval of LibiGel, BioSante will continue to follow the women enrolled in the study for an additional four years.

The LibiGel safety study is tracking a predefined list of cardiovascular events, in agreement with the FDA, including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and stroke, in women 50 years of age or older and suffering from at least two cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension and diabetes. The objective of the safety study is to show the relative safety of testosterone compared to placebo in the number of cardiovascular events. The incidence of breast cancer also will be tracked over the course of the study.

In addition to the Phase III Cardiovascular and Breast Cancer Safety Study, BioSante is conducting two LibiGel Phase III efficacy trials. The Phase III efficacy trials of LibiGel in the treatment of FSD are double-blind, placebo-controlled trials that will enroll up to approximately 500 surgically menopausal women each for a six-month clinical trial. The efficacy trials are being conducted under an FDA approved SPA (special protocol assessment agreement).

As previously announced by BioSante, treatment with LibiGel in a Phase II clinical trial significantly increased satisfying sexual events in surgically menopausal women suffering from FSD. The Phase II trial results showed LibiGel significantly increased the number of satisfying sexual events by 238 percent versus baseline (p<0.0001); this increase also was significant versus placebo (p<0.05). In this study, the effective dose of LibiGel produced testosterone blood levels within the normal range for pre-menopausal women and had a safety profile similar to that observed in the placebo group. In addition, no serious adverse events and no discontinuations due to adverse events occurred in any subject receiving LibiGel. The Phase II clinical trial was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, conducted in the United States, in surgically menopausal women distressed by their low sexual desire and activity.

Source
BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc.