Shire Regenerative Medicine Initiates Phase 3 Study of ABH001 for Patients with Epidermolysis Bullosa
SAN DIEGO, February 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ –
Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPG), today announced the initiation of a Phase 3 study
designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ABH001, its dermal substitute therapy, for
the treatment of non-healing wounds in patients with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a group
of rare genetic skin disorders that begin to manifest at birth or early childhood and
occur in approximately 19 per 1 million live births in the US. [i]
“People affected by EB suffer skin blisters and almost constant, acute pain and
scarring,” said the study’s Principal Investigator, H. Alan Arbuckle, MD, Section Head
Pediatric Dermatology Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Wound Care Consultant, Epidermolysis
Bullosa Center of Excellence, The Children’s Hospital, Aurora Colorado. “The current
standard of care is daily wound care, bandaging and pain management. I am excited to be
involved in testing the efficacy and safety of ABH001 as a potential treatment option for
these patients.”
ABH001 for EB has been granted an orphan drug designation in the US and EU, and has
also received Fast Track designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which
is aimed at facilitating the development and expediting the review of drugs and biologics
that fill an unmet medical need. In addition, the European Medicines Agency’s Pediatric
Committee has agreed on a pediatric investigation plan for ABH001 for the treatment of EB.
The new Phase 3 study is a multi-site, prospective, randomized, open-label,
intra-subject controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of ABH001 to initiate
healing and reduce the wound surface area of selected stalled, chronic cutaneous wounds
associated with generalized EB. Approximately 20 subjects with generalized EB aged three
years and older are planned to enroll in the trial, which is targeted to be conducted in
10 to 15 sites across the US, Europe and Canada. The study will comprise ABH001
applications sufficient to cover the surface area of the wound, applied topically every 4
weeks with protocol-specified dressings until healed or for up to 24 weeks.
“We are excited that Shire Regenerative Medicine has launched this trial,” said Brett
Kopelan, Executive Director of the Dystrophic EB Research Association of America (DebRA )
and father to a 5-year-old girl with recessive dystrophic EB. “While there is currently no
cure for EB, I am encouraged that ABH001 is…targeting the chronic wounds that are the
hallmark of this disease. I applaud Shire for pushing this forward and look forward to
working closely with them as the trial progresses.”
“We are very eager to begin evaluating ABH001 as a potential wound treatment option
for people with EB. We believe it has the potential to initiate and continue wound healing
in this patient population,” said Jeff Jonas, MD, President of Shire Regenerative
Medicine. “We are committed to developing regenerative medicine solutions that enable
people with life-altering conditions to lead better lives, and are encouraged by the fast
track and orphan drug designations we have received to further develop this potential
therapy for people, most often young children, suffering from this devastating condition.”
Shire is also developing an intravenous protein replacement therapy for the treatment
of dystrophic EB, which the company’s Human Genetic Therapies business recently acquired
from Lotus Tissue Repair, Inc. Initiation of this pivotal trial of ABH001 for patients
with EB further demonstrates Shire’s commitment to developing a portfolio of products
targeted toward patients who suffer from this disease.
ABH001 is comprised of allogenic neonatal dermal fibroblasts seeded on a
poly(glycolide-co-L-lactide) scaffold, and is currently approved and marketed in the
United States as a Class III medical device under the trade name Dermagraft(R) for the
treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.
About Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB)
Epidermolysis Bullosa is a family of genetic skin fragility disorders, primarily
clinically characterized by blistering of the skin in response to friction or minor
trauma. Although genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous, the common factor in all EB
patients is the near constant presence of skin erosions and wounds. Severe forms of EB
cause patients to live with constant pain and scarring, and may be fatal.
About ABH001
ABH001 is a tissue-engineered, human fibroblast-derived dermal substitute generated by
culturing human neonatal dermal fibroblasts onto a bioabsorbable polyglactin (PGLLA) mesh
scaffold. The fibroblasts, which are grown onto the PGLLA mesh, secrete dermal collagen,
other extracellular matrix proteins, growth factors, and cytokines, creating a
three-dimensional human tissue containing metabolically active living cells. The final
product consists of a well-developed dermal matrix and evenly dispersed neonatal dermal
fibroblasts.
About Dermagraft
Dermagraft is indicated for use in the treatment of full-thickness diabetic foot
ulcers greater than six weeks duration, which extend through the dermis, but without
tendon, muscle, joint capsule, or bone exposure. Dermagraft should be used in conjunction
with standard wound care regimens and in patients that have adequate blood supply to the
involved foot. Dermagraft is contraindicated for use in ulcers that have signs of clinical
infection or in ulcers with sinus tracts. Dermagraft is contraindicated in patients with
known hypersensitivity to bovine products, as it may contain trace amounts of bovine
proteins from the manufacturing medium and storage solution.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Shire enables people with life-altering conditions to lead better lives.
Through our deep understanding of patients’ needs, we develop and provide healthcare
in the areas of:
- Behavioral Health and Gastro Intestinal conditions
- Rare Diseases
- Regenerative Medicine
as well as other symptomatic conditions treated by specialist physicians.
We aspire to imagine and lead the future of healthcare, creating value for patients,
physicians, policymakers, payors and our shareholders.
http://www.shire.com
FORWARD – LOOKING STATEMENTS – “SAFE HARBOR” STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES
LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
Statements included in this announcement that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and
uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. In the event such risks or
uncertainties materialize, Shire’s results could be materially adversely affected. The
risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, that:
- Shire's products may not be a commercial success;
- revenues from ADDERALL XR are subject to generic erosion;
- the failure to obtain and maintain reimbursement, or an adequate level of
reimbursement, by third-party payors in a timely manner for Shire's products may
impact future revenues and earnings;
- Shire relies on a single source for manufacture of certain of its products and
a disruption to the supply chain for those products may result in Shire being unable
to continue marketing or developing a product or may result in Shire being unable to
do so on a commercially viable basis;
- Shire uses third party manufacturers to manufacture many of its products and
is reliant upon third party contractors for certain goods and services, and any
inability of these third party manufacturers to manufacture products, or any failure
of these third party contractors to provide these goods and services, in each case in
accordance with its respective contractual obligations, could adversely affect Shire's
ability to manage its manufacturing processes or to operate its business;
- the development, approval and manufacturing of Shire's products is subject to
extensive oversight by various regulatory agencies and regulatory approvals or
interventions associated with changes to manufacturing sites, ingredients or
manufacturing processes could lead to significant delays, increase in operating costs,
lost product sales, an interruption of research activities or the delay of new product
launches;
- the actions of certain customers could affect Shire 's ability to sell or
market products profitably and fluctuations in buying or distribution patterns by such
customers could adversely impact Shire's revenues, financial conditions or results of
operations;
- investigations or enforcement action by regulatory authorities or law
enforcement agencies relating to Shire's activities in the highly regulated markets in
which it operates may result in the distraction of senior management, significant
legal costs and the payment of substantial compensation or fines;
- adverse outcomes in legal matters and other disputes, including Shire's
ability to obtain, maintain, enforce and defend patents and other intellectual
property rights required for its business, could have a material adverse effect on
Shire's revenues, financial condition or results of operations;
and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Shire’s filings with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-K.
i. Fine J-D, Johnson LB, Suchindran C, Gedde-DahI T (1999e) The Epidemiology of
Inherited Epidermolysis Bullosa: Findings in U.S., Canadian, and European Study
Populations. In: Epidermolysis bullosa : clinical, epidemiologic, and laboratory advances,
and the findings of the National Epidermolysis Bullosa Registry(Fine, J.-D. and National
Epidermolysis Bullosa Registry (U.S.), eds), pp 101-113 Baltimore: Johns Hopkins
University Press.
For further information please contact:
Investor Relations
Eric Rojas, erojas@shire.com, +1-781-482-0999
Sarah Elton-Farr, seltonfarr@shire.com, +44-1256-894157
Media
Jessica Mann (Corporate), jmann@shire.com, +44-1256-894-280
Lindsey Hart (Regenerative Medicine), lhart@shire.com, +1-206-335-0114
SOURCE Shire plc
