• Both primary endpoints met with a high level of significance; suggests potential for paradigm change for treatment of anxiety disorders
• BNC210 suppressed activation of the amygdala out-performing standard of care, lorazepam (Ativan)
• BNC210 caused significant changes in cerebral perfusion, measured by brain imaging, consistent with anti-anxiety activity
• Secondary endpoint met with a high level of significance; BNC210 suppressed anxiety-related defensive behaviour in the Joystick Operated Runway Task, out-performing lorazepam
• Phase 2 results strengthen BNC210 licensing package and provide a significant boost to partnering prospects
Melbourne, Australia, September 21, 2016 – Bionomics Limited (ASX: BNO, OTCQX: BNOEF), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative therapeutics for the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system and cancer, today announced positive top-line data from its Phase 2 clinical trial of BNC210, a novel, first in class, negative allosteric modulator of the ?7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, in patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
“These exciting Phase 2 data herald a potential paradigm shift for the treatment of anxiety disorders,” commented Professor Allan Young, Director of the Centre for Affective Disorders at King’s College London and Principal Investigator of the study. “This patient population is poorly served with current medications and BNC210, in contrast to benzodiazepines such as lorazepam, has shown no evidence of sedation or addictive potential,” Professor Young added.
The single centre, double-blinded, placebo and lorazepam-controlled, 4-way cross-over Phase 2 clinical trial was conducted in 24 patients with untreated GAD. The objective of the study was to evaluate the capacity of BNC210 to engage brain systems relevant to anxiety while resting and in response to anxiety-related tasks. The co-primary endpoints were change in cerebral perfusion measured by arterial spin labelling and change in task-related brain activity, specifically in the amygdala as measured by functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) during the Emotional Faces Task (EFT).
The results of the study show that BNC210 induced statistically significant changes in cerebral perfusion (300mg BNC210, p<0.05) and also significantly reduced amygdala activation in response to fearful faces during the EFT (300mg BNC210, p<0.05). In comparison, lorazepam exerted a modest suppressive effect on amygdala activation during performance of the EFT (1.5mg lorazepam, p=0.069).
Extensive evidence indicates that the amygdala plays a major role in fear and anxiety reactions. The data from this study indicates that BNC210 may exert anti-anxiety effects in patients via suppression of amygdala activation.
Eminent world expert on brain imaging, Professor Steve Williams, commented “We are pleased to report that BNC210 causes a significant change in localized brain perfusion which reassures us that these doses of BNC210 are having a central effect and there is proof of target engagement”.
A secondary endpoint of the trial was to determine the effect of BNC210 on defensive behaviour using the Joystick Operated Runway Task (JORT) which uses a force-sensing interface to obtain an objective measure of the intensity of threat avoidance motivation. BNC210 administration was associated with a significant decrease in the intensity of threat avoidance behaviour (300mg BNC210, p=0.007; 2,000mg BNC210, p=0.033). BNC210 outperformed lorazepam in this regard (1.5mg lorazepam, p=0.165).
Fear or anxiety result in the expression of a range of defensive behaviours, which are aimed at escaping from the source of danger or motivational conflict. The results of the JORT further support the anti-anxiety effect of BNC210.
Dr Adam Perkins, Lecturer in the Neurobiology of Personality at King’s College London and developer of the JORT commented “These data show that BNC210 engages anxiety-related brain systems more effectively than lorazepam. Moreover, the neuroimaging results were backed up by the behavioural findings, as BNC210 also reduced the intensity of threat avoidance behaviour to a significant degree, once again out-performing lorazepam”.
“The combined data from this trial support further development of BNC210 and give us confidence that the drug has the potential to bring relief to sufferers of anxiety and trauma and stress related disorders. We are currently recruiting for a Phase 2 trial in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with this in mind. Today’s ground-breaking data also greatly strengthen the BNC210 licensing package and provide a significant boost to partnering prospects,” commented Dr Deborah Rathjen CEO & Managing Director of Bionomics.
“Anxiety disorders are a significant burden for our communities. Approximately 40 million adults suffer from anxiety in the U.S. and of these, it is estimated that 6.8 million suffer from GAD, a chronic illness. Every year in Australia, approximately 14 per cent of the population (1 in 7) experiences an anxiety disorder and 2.7 per cent experiences GAD. Nearly 6 per cent of the Australian population will experience GAD in their lifetime1. We are very excited that BNC210 may make a positive contribution to treatment options in the future,” Dr Rathjen added.
The anxiety and depression treatments markets are projected to reach US$18.2 billion by 20202 highlighting the significant market opportunity for BNC210. The future growth of the market would depend on commercialisation of novel drugs, such as BNC210, for new indications.
INVESTOR CONFERENCE CALL:
Bionomics will today host an investor conference call to discuss the positive results from the phase 2 trial for BNC210 in treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The call has been scheduled for 4.30pm AEST (US PST 11.30pm / EST 2.30am; UK 7.30am).
Conference ID: 664149
Dial in details
Australia: 1800 908 299 or 02 9007 8048
International dial-in details:
These numbers are toll-free numbers for each country listed below. For countries not listed below, the Australian Participant Toll number listed above can be dialled.
Canada/United States 1855 624 0077
China 1080 0140 1776
Hong Kong 800 968 273
India 0000 800 321 8057
Japan 0066 3386 8000
New Zealand 0800 452 795
Singapore 800 101 2702
United Kingdom 0800 051 1453
To ask a question, participants will need to dial *1 (start 1) on their telephone keypad.
1 Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2008). National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 2007. Cat. no. (4326.0). Canberra: ABS.
2 Transparency Market Research (TMR), June 2015
