CombinatoRx'S Synavive (CRx-102) Maintains Efficacy Throughout 12 Month Phase 2 Knee OA Extension Trial

Main Category: Arthritis / Rheumatology
Also Included In: Bones / Orthopaedics;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 23 Oct 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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CombinatoRx, Incorporated (NASDAQ: CRXX) announced the results of a 12 month knee osteoarthritis (OA) Phase 2 extension trial for Synavive™ (CRx-102) at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2009 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. The data demonstrated that Synavive-treated subjects maintained efficacy levels throughout the 12 month extension trial. These findings further support the core study data, which was presented at EULAR in June 2009, in which knee OA efficacy was observed early in treatment and sustained throughout the three month core study in all WOMAC measurement subscales including pain, physical function and stiffness. Synavive is a novel dissociated glucocorticoid product candidate designed to enhance the anti-inflammatory benefits of glucocorticoids, without associated side effects. Synavive contains the cardiovascular agent dipyridamole and a very low dose of the glucocorticoid prednisolone and is being developed as a uniquely engineered oral, once-daily formulation.

In addition to maintaining efficacy for the Synavive-treatment group, placebo-treated subjects in the core study also experienced statistically significant improvements in all WOMAC measurement subscales upon crossing over to Synavive in the extension trial. Importantly, no treatment-related increase in glucocorticoid associated adverse events were observed in Synavive-treated subjects.

"Synavive appears to be well-tolerated and efficacious in reducing the signs and symptoms of knee OA over a 3 to 12-month period," said Robert Forrester, Interim President and CEO of CombinatoRx. "These findings support the knee OA core study results and supplement the positive hand OA core study data, providing an attractive risk/benefit ratio warranting further development of Synavive in inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis".

Highlights of the data include:

-- Synavive activity in knee OA, which was observed early in the core study, was sustained over a 12-month period in the extension trial.

-- Placebo-treated patients in the core study experienced statistically significant improvements in all WOMAC measurement subscales, including pain, physical function and stiffness, upon crossing over to Synavive treatment in the extension trial.

-- Synavive safety was assessed through 12 months of treatment:

- No treatment-related serious adverse events were reported.
- No treatment-related increase in glucocorticoid-associated adverse events such as glucose levels, glaucoma, cataracts, infections, weight gain, bone loss or fractures were observed.

About Synavive (CRx-102)

Synavive is a novel dissociated glucocorticoid product candidate designed to enhance the anti-inflammatory benefits of glucocorticoids, without associated side effects. Synavive contains the cardiovascular agent dipyridamole and a very low dose of the glucocorticoid prednisolone and is being developed as a uniquely engineered formulation. Synavive is thought to act through a novel multi-target mechanism of action in which dipyridamole synergistically and selectively amplifies prednisolone's anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities by inhibiting key cell mediators of inflammation. In prior proof-of-concept clinical trials, Synavive demonstrated a powerful anti-inflammatory effect and rapid onset of action in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and was generally well-tolerated. Synavive is in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of immuno-inflammatory conditions.

Source
CombinatoRx