SAN DIEGO, Dec. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Otonomy, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics for diseases and disorders of the inner and middle ear, today announced enrollment of the first patient in its pivotal Phase 2b study of OTO-104 for the reduction of vertigo in patients with unilateral Meniere’s disease. The company also announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted OTO-104 Fast Track designation, a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130806/MM59802LOGO)
This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2b study is designed to assess the efficacy and safety of OTO-104 for the treatment of Meniere’s disease in a total of 140 patients at approximately 50 centers in the United States and Canada. The primary endpoint is the reduction in vertigo frequency at week 12, measured during the 4-week interval from week 9 through week 12, compared to baseline. Otonomy expects to complete patient enrollment of the trial by mid-2014 and announce top line results during the fourth quarter of 2014.
“The commencement of enrollment marks an important clinical milestone for the advancement of OTO-104 as we expect this trial will serve as one of the two studies required to demonstrate efficacy for approval in the United States,” said David A. Weber, Ph.D., president and CEO of Otonomy. “The FDA’s Fast Track designation shows that the agency recognizes the potential for this product to address the important unmet medical need in Meniere’s disease.”
Added Paul R. Lambert, M.D., professor and chair of the department of otolaryngology head and neck surgery at Medical University of South Carolina, and clinical investigator for the Phase 2b clinical trial, “Unpredictable spontaneous vertigo is life altering and a source of considerable distress for patients with Meniere’s disease, and there are currently no FDA-approved drug therapies. This study may bring us closer to providing a safe and effective treatment option for the many patients with this debilitating disorder.”
The study will also assess the safety and tolerability of OTO-104, which is a proprietary, sustained-exposure otic formulation of dexamethasone. Upon screening, all subjects will enter into a 4-week observational period for a baseline assessment during which subjects will record their vertigo and tinnitus symptoms via a daily diary. Following the lead-in period, eligible subjects will be randomized 1:1 to a single intratympanic injection of 12 mg OTO-104 or placebo (gel vehicle). Tinnitus will also be assessed as a secondary endpoint in the study.
Additional information about study protocol and enrollment sites for the study can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov using the study identifier NCT01412177.
About OTO-104
OTO-104 is a sustained-exposure formulation of the steroid dexamethasone that has been designed for intratympanic (IT) injection into the middle ear for the potential treatment of a broad range of inner ear disorders including vertigo and acute onset hearing loss. OTO-104 is based on Otonomy’s proprietary formulation technology which is intended to overcome the limitations associated with the use of unapproved short-acting solutions in the ear. These include limited and variable drug exposure, need for repeat IT injections, and potential for suboptimal efficacy. OTO-104 successfully completed a Phase 1b trial in Meniere’s disease patients that demonstrated a clinically meaningful reduction in vertigo frequency and improvement in tinnitus following a single administration compared to placebo. Otonomy has initiated the first of two pivotal clinical studies for OTO-104 in patients with Meniere’s disease. OTO-104 has received Fast Track designation from the FDA.
About Meniere’s Disease
Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear characterized by acute episodes of vertigo, fluctuations in hearing, tinnitus and aural fullness. The underlying cause of Meniere’s disease is unknown and there are currently no FDA-approved drug treatments. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), there are more than 600,000 individuals diagnosed with Meniere’s disease in the United States.
About Otonomy
Otonomy is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics for diseases and disorders of the ear. Otonomy’s proprietary technology provides sustained exposure of drugs to the middle and inner ear following a single intratympanic (IT) injection. Otonomy has three product candidates in development. OTO-201 is an antibiotic that is in Phase 3 clinical trials in pediatric patients with middle ear effusion at the time of tympanostomy tube placement surgery. OTO-104 is a steroid that is in the first of two pivotal clinical studies for the treatment of patients with Meniere’s disease. OTO-311 is an NMDA antagonist in development as a treatment for tinnitus. For more information please visit: www.otonomy.com.
Contact:
Media Inquiries
Canale Communications
Ian Stone
Account Director
619.849.5388
ian@canalecomm.com
Investor Inquiries
Westwicke Partners
Stefan Loren, Ph.D.
Managing Director
443.213.0507
sloren@westwicke.com
Robert H. Uhl
Managing Director
858.356.5932
robert.uhl@westwicke.com
SOURCE Otonomy, Inc.
Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.
