LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCBB:CAPR), a biotechnology company focused on developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, announced yesterday at the American Heart Association’s Annual Scientific Sessions 2014, the one-year results of the Phase I ALLSTAR (Allogeneic Heart Stem Cells to Achieve Myocardial Regeneration) clinical trial, which indicate that intracoronary injection of allogeneic cardiosphere-derived stem cells (CAP-1002) to achieve myocardial regeneration in patients with left-ventricular dysfunction who have had an anterior myocardial infarction appears to be safe, with no deaths, no acute myocarditis and no major adverse cardiac events.
The safety endpoints of the trial, including no acute myocarditis attributable to CAP-1002, no deaths due to ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, no sudden death and no major adverse cardiac events, were achieved with no endpoint events in the 14 enrolled subjects at 1 month and at 12 months. The results showed that none of the pre-specified safety endpoints occurred. In addition, exploratory efficacy data in this Phase I trial have shown improvements in ejection fraction and reduction in scar size, most notably in the Phase II equivalent population.
This study prospectively enrolled 14 adults from 40 to 66 years old with a recent (within 28 to 90 days) or chronic (within 91 to 365 days) anterior myocardial infarction, left-ventricular dysfunction and an infarct size >15 percent of left-ventricular mass and infused them with CAP-1002 at a dose of either 12.5M or 25M using stop-flow intracoronary infusion. At baseline, the participants had left-ventricular function impairment with a mean ejection fraction of 42 percent with a range of 26.7 percent to 55.1 percent. Phase I was funded in large part by a grant received from the NIH.
In addition, exploratory efficacy data in this Phase I trial have shown improvements in ejection fraction and reduction in scar size, most notably in those participants who would be included in the Phase II clinical study by virtue of dose and tissue type compatibility. With respect to those participants, the data showed a relative reduction at one year of 15 percent of infarct scar size and a nearly 4 percent absolute improvement in ejection fraction. The Company suggests that these data be interpreted with caution as the sample size was small and there was no contemporaneous control group.
The Phase II portion of the trial, currently underway, began enrollment in January 2014, and is expected to enroll approximately 300 patients who have had an anterior myocardial infarction within 30 days to one year prior to enrollment, left-ventricular function and an infarct size >15 percent of left-ventricular mass. The participants will be randomized to receive either CAP-1002 or placebo in a 2:1 ratio favoring CAP-1002.
In addition, the Phase II portion of the ALLSTAR trial will aim to further establish the safety and determine the efficacy of this therapy in reducing the scar size and improving the ejection fraction in these subjects with moderate to large anterior myocardial infarction who are at significant risk of deterioration into heart failure and early death. Phase II of the ALLSTAR trial has been funded with the support of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
“We are extremely pleased with the clinical results from our Phase I ALLSTAR trial, and look forward to completion of the ALLSTAR Phase II study, where in addition to safety, we will assess efficacy in a larger patient population,” said Capricor CEO, Linda Marbán, Ph.D.” Dr. Marbán added, “Coupled with the positive pre-clinical results in the mdx mouse model which were presented on Monday afternoon at AHA, we intend to present a clinical plan for Duchenne cardiomyopathy to FDA with our lead product, CAP-1002.”
About Capricor Therapeutics
Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. (CAPR), a publicly traded biotechnology company, is focused on the development of novel therapeutics to prevent and treat heart disease. The Company has two leading product candidates: CAP-1002 and Cenderitide. The Company was formed through the November 2013 merger between Capricor, Inc., a privately held company whose mission is to improve the treatment of heart disease by commercializing cardiac stem cell therapies for patients, and Nile Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative products for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. For additional information visit www.capricor.com.
About CAP-1002
CAP-1002, Capricor’s lead product candidate, is a proprietary allogeneic adult stem cell therapy for the treatment of heart disease. The product is derived from donor heart tissue. The cells are expanded in the laboratory using a specialized process and then introduced directly into a patient’s heart via infusion into a coronary artery using standard cardiac catheterization techniques.
CAP-1002 is currently not an approved product and is strictly for investigational purposes.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release regarding the efficacy, safety, and intended utilization of Capricor’s product candidates; the conduct, size, timing and results of discovery efforts and clinical trials; plans regarding regulatory filings, future research and clinical trials; plans regarding current and future collaborative activities and the ownership of commercial rights; future royalty streams, and any other statements about Capricor’s management team’s future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “believes,” “plans,” “could,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. More information about these and other risks that may impact our business are set forth in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2014, in our Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 23, 2014, and in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2014. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: For more information, please contact: Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. AJ Bergmann, Vice President of Finance +1-310-358-3200 abergmann@capricor.com ProActive Capital Group Kirin Smith, COO +1-646-863-6519 ksmith@ProActiveCapital.com www.ProActiveCapital.com
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