Crinetics Pharmaceuticals to Review 2020 Accomplishments and Provide 2021 Plans at 39th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crinetics Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: CRNX), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for rare endocrine diseases and endocrine-related tumors, today announced that company management will participate in the 39^th annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, which is taking place in a virtual format. Scott Struthers, Ph.D., Founder & CEO of Crinetics, will present a company update on Wednesday, January 13^th at 1:30 pm Pacific Time. A live audio webcast of Dr. Struthers’ presentation may be accessed on the Events section of the company’s website or directly on the J.P. Morgan virtual meeting platform.

During his presentation, Dr. Struthers will discuss Crinetics’ key priorities and anticipated milestones for 2021, including initiating the Phase 3 program for paltusotine (formerly CRN00808) for the treatment of acromegaly, initiating clinical trials for paltusotine in patients with carcinoid syndrome as well as for two new drug candidates for congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) and diseases of excess adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). To support the company’s growing pipeline, Crinetics has expanded its development and medical teams with the appointments of several additional clinical endocrinology experts, increasing the company’s total headcount to 90 with plans for continued hiring in 2021.

Dr. Struthers explained, “Crinetics is a leader in designing and developing small-molecule drugs for the treatment of endocrine diseases. Our current focus is on rare endocrine disorders that have serious health consequences that are not being satisfied by current therapeutic options. Looking forward to 2021 and beyond, we plan to advance these programs into late-stage clinical trials and to apply our drug discovery and development expertise to create new drug candidates for additional diseases that we believe can be treated by regulating endocrine systems. As we continue to grow our already exceptional team, we remain committed to creating new life-changing therapeutics that are designed to solve real problems faced by patients and their health care providers.”

2020 Accomplishments

• Paltusotine for Acromegaly: In the fourth quarter of 2020, Crinetics reported positive top-line data from its Phase 2 program evaluating paltusotine for the treatment of acromegaly. These results demonstrated that individuals with acromegaly who switched from standard-of-care injected somatostatin receptor ligand (SRL) depots to once-daily oral paltusotine were able to maintain the level of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) that was previously achieved on standard-of-care.
• Pipeline Programs Advanced Toward the Clinic: Crinetics selected CRN04894 as the company’s lead ACTH antagonist and completed first-in-human-enabling manufacturing and toxicology studies. Such studies were also completed for its somatostatin receptor type 5 (SST5) agonist (CRN04777) drug candidate. After review of preclinical and manufacturing data, as well as Phase 1 study designs, the U.S. Investigational New Drug (IND) application for CRN04894 is now open and Germany’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) has approved the start of the Phase 1 trial for CRN04777.
• In-house Expertise: Throughout 2020, Crinetics bolstered its clinical and medical teams with the addition of experts in the development of therapeutics and management of clinical trials for endocrine diseases. These new hires include Drs. Alessandra Casagrande, Peter Trainer and Hjalmar Lagast, who join Drs. Alan Krasner and Christine Ferrara-Cook.

2021 Goals

• Paltusotine for Acromegaly: Crinetics expects to hold an end-of-Phase-2 meeting with the FDA in the first quarter of 2021 and start its Phase 3 program in the first half of 2021. Crinetics intends to use a new, improved tablet formulation of paltusotine in the Phase 3 program for acromegaly. This formulation is designed to provide convenient once-daily administration but enable a reduced fasting requirement (0.5 to 1 hour before eating) and improved dose-proportional exposure compared to the prior formulation. In addition, the new tablet formulation is designed to enable the administration of paltusotine with commonly used proton pump inhibitors.
• Paltusotine for Carcinoid Syndrome: Crinetics expects to advance paltusotine into a clinical study in patients with carcinoid syndrome due to neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Injected SRLs are the standard of care for patients with carcinoid syndrome, but many patients become increasingly resistant to treatment over time, requiring increased dosage of depot preparations or the addition of short-acting analogs. Crinetics believes that an oral therapy with a long half-life and dose-proportional exposure would be a useful option for these patients, if approved.
• CRN04894: A Phase 1 study evaluating the ability of CRN04894 to suppress ACTH-stimulated cortisol secretion in healthy volunteers is planned to commence in January 2021. Results are expected in the first half of 2021 and, if positive, may provide proof-of-concept data supporting further evaluation of CRN04894 in the treatment of diseases associated with excess ACTH such as Cushing’s disease and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). CRN04894 is an investigational, oral, selective ACTH antagonist designed to block the action of excess ACTH on the adrenal gland resulting in excess cortisol in Cushing’s disease and excess adrenal androgens in CAH.
• CRN04777: A Phase 1 study evaluating the ability of CRN04777 to reduce stimulated insulin secretion in healthy volunteers is planned to commence in February 2021. Data is expected in mid-2021 and, if positive, the results of this trial may provide proof-of-concept data to support further evaluation of CRN04777 in the treatment of children with CHI. CRN04777 is an investigational, oral, selective non-peptide SST5 receptor agonist designed to reduce insulin secretion and thereby correct the life-threatening hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) that affects these children.
• In 2021, Crinetics expects to continue its drug discovery efforts with programs to identify drug candidates for hyperparathyroidism, nonfunctional pituitary adenomas and polycystic kidney disease, among other indications. This pipeline expansion is intended to drive continued growth and value for stakeholders.

About Crinetics Pharmaceuticals
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapeutics for rare endocrine diseases and endocrine-related tumors. The company’s lead product candidate, paltusotine (formerly CRN00808), is an investigational, oral selective nonpeptide somatostatin receptor type 2 biased agonist for the treatment of acromegaly, an orphan disease affecting more than 25,000 people in the United States. Crinetics plans to advance paltusotine into a Phase 3 program in acromegaly and a Phase 2 trial for the treatment of carcinoid syndrome associated with NETs in 2021. The company is also developing CRN04777, an investigational, oral nonpeptide somatostatin receptor type 5 (SST5) agonist for congenital hyperinsulinism, as well as CRN04894, an investigational, oral nonpeptide ACTH antagonist for the treatment of Cushing’s disease, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and other diseases of excess ACTH. All of the company’s drug candidates are new chemical entities resulting from in-house drug discovery efforts and are wholly owned by the company. For more information, please visit crinetics.com.

Forward-looking Statements
Crinetics cautions you that statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the company’s current beliefs and expectations. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the potential benefits of paltusotine for acromegaly patients and for patients with carcinoid syndrome; the potential to initiate a Phase 3 program of paltusotine in acromegaly and the expected timing thereof; Crinetics’ plans to meet with the FDA in the first quarter of 2021; the benefits of Crinetics’ improved tablet formulation of paltusotine; the potential to initiate a of paltusotine in patients with carcinoid syndrome due to NETs and the expected timing thereof; the potential to begin Phase 1 clinical development with CRN04894 and CRN04777 and the expected timing for the commencement thereof and the related generation of proof-of-concept data in healthy volunteers; Crinetics’ plan to advance its programs into late-stage clinical trials and to create new drug candidates for additional diseases; and Crinetics’ plans to identify and create new drug candidates for additional diseases, including hyperparathyroidism, nonfunctional pituitary adenomas and polycystic kidney disease, among other indications. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Crinetics that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Crinetics’ business, including, without limitation: advancement of paltusotine into a Phase 3 program for acromegaly or a trial for carcinoid syndrome and CRN04894 and CRN04777 into Phase 1 trials are dependent on and subject to the receipt of further feedback from the FDA; the COVID-19 pandemic may disrupt Crinetics’ business and that of the third parties on which it depends, including delaying or otherwise disrupting its clinical trials and preclinical studies, manufacturing and supply chain, or impairing employee productivity; the company’s dependence on third parties in connection with product manufacturing, research and preclinical and clinical testing; the success of Crinetics’ clinical trials and nonclinical studies for paltusotine, CRN04894, CRN04777 and its other product candidates; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate efficacy of the company’s product candidates that may limit their development, regulatory approval and/or commercialization; Crinetics may use its capital resources sooner than it expects; and other risks described under the heading “Risk Factors” in documents the company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and Crinetics undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Contacts:
Marc Wilson
Chief Financial Officer
IR@crinetics.com
(858) 450-6464

Investors / Media:
Corey Davis
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
cdavis@lifesciadvisors.com
(212) 915-2577

Aline Sherwood
Scienta Communications
asherwood@scientapr.com
(312) 238-8957