PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Biogen Idec Inc. and PDL BioPharma, Inc. (PDL) announced today that Phase 2 data demonstrated a significant reduction in new or enlarged gadolinium-enhancing lesions when daclizumab is added to interferon beta therapy in patients with active relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). These data will be presented tomorrow at the 23rd Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research of Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in Prague, Czech Republic.
The ongoing Phase 2, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, known as the CHOICE trial, studies MS patients who continue to have active MS disease while receiving interferon beta therapy. The study patients who received daclizumab 2 mg/kg subcutaneously every two weeks showed a statistically significant 72% reduction in the number of new or enlarged gadolinium-enhancing lesions (Gd+) at week 24, compared to patients on interferon beta therapy alone. Patients from the CHOICE study were followed for an additional 48 weeks after the daclizumab treatment period to further assess safety and efficacy.
“Patients who received daclizumab every two weeks experienced far fewer new or enlarged gadolinium-enhancing lesions than the control group, which indicates that the antibody may be a promising option for patients with MS,” said Dr. Xavier Montalban, Director of the Unit of Clinical Neuroimmunology at the Hospital Val D’Hebron in Barcelona, Spain. “In addition, we were encouraged to see a trend in the reduction of the number of relapses, or exacerbations, that these MS patients experienced. Further study is warranted.”
Daclizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the IL-2 receptor on activated T cells. Biogen Idec and PDL plan to initiate the SELECT study, a Phase 2 trial of daclizumab alone in the same relapsing patient population, by the end of 2007.
“We are very pleased to see positive results from the CHOICE study, the first randomized trial of daclizumab in patients with relapsing MS,” said Mark A. McCamish, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer, PDL BioPharma. “We recognize how monoclonal antibodies have changed modern medicine and see great potential in their ability to treat serious diseases, including cancer and select immunological diseases such as MS. We’re very excited to move development of daclizumab forward with our partner Biogen Idec, the acknowledged leader in the MS field.”
“Daclizumab represents an exciting opportunity within our growing MS portfolio,” said Alfred Sandrock, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president, neurology research and development, Biogen Idec. “MS is a complex disease that requires an arsenal of treatment options for patients. We look forward to advancing the daclizumab development program and initiating the SELECT trial by the end of the year.”
Study Results
The CHOICE trial is evaluating the efficacy and safety of daclizumab or placebo added to interferon beta therapy in 230 patients with active MS who were enrolled at study centers in the U.S. and Europe. Patients were randomized to receive daclizumab 2 mg/kg every two weeks, daclizumab 1 mg/kg every four weeks, or placebo added to ongoing interferon beta treatment.
The primary efficacy analysis showed that at 24 weeks, the 75 patients in the 2 mg/kg group experienced 72% fewer new or enlarged Gd+ on average compared to the 77 patients who received a placebo (p=0.004). The 78 patients in the 1 mg/kg group experienced a 25% reduction in new or enlarged lesions compared with placebo but that measurement did not achieve statistical significance.
Based on data up to week 24, analysis of the relapse rate, which was a secondary endpoint, indicates that both daclizumab regimens revealed a trend in reducing the annualized relapse rate compared to placebo (an approximately 35% reduction), but these observations did not reach statistical significance.
Preliminary safety data showed similar rates of infection across all treatment groups with an overall greater incidence of serious infections in the daclizumab treated groups. (4.6% versus 1.3% placebo). Urinary tract infections were slightly higher with the 2 mg/kg dose (17% vs 13% placebo). The incidence of cutaneous events was higher in the combined daclizumab groups (34% daclizumab vs. 27% placebo) but was mild to moderate and most resolved with little or no treatment.
PDL and Biogen Idec entered into a collaboration agreement in 2005 to co- develop and commercialize daclizumab in MS and indications other than transplant and respiratory diseases. Under the collaboration, the companies are also co-developing volociximab (also known as M200), an antibody in Phase 2 development for the treatment of various solid tumors. PDL and Biogen Idec share equally the costs of all development activities and all operating profits for both products within the U.S. and Europe. The companies jointly oversee development, manufacturing and commercialization plans for collaboration products and divide implementation responsibilities to leverage each company’s capabilities and expertise. Each party will have co-promotion rights in the U.S. and Europe. Outside the U.S. and Europe, Biogen Idec will fund all incremental development and commercialization costs and pay a royalty to PDL on sales of collaboration products.
About Multiple Sclerosis
MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that affects approximately 400,000 people in North America and more than one million people worldwide. It is a disease that affects more women than men, with onset typically occurring between 20 and 50 years of age. MS is caused by damage to myelin, the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibers in the central nervous system, which interferes with messages from the brain to the body. Symptoms of MS may include vision problems, loss of balance, numbness, difficulty walking and paralysis.
About Daclizumab
Daclizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the IL-2 receptor on activated T cells, inhibiting the binding of IL-2 and the cascade of pro-inflammatory events contributing to organ transplant rejection and autoimmune-related diseases. Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc. currently markets daclizumab under the name Zenapax(R) under a license from PDL. Zenapax is indicated for intravenous use for the prophylaxis of acute organ rejection in patients receiving renal transplants. To conduct the CHOICE study, PDL prepared a high concentration formulation of Roche-produced daclizumab for subcutaneous administration. PDL has also developed a high yield manufacturing process and formulation for subcutaneously delivered daclizumab, which is in clinical development for MS by PDL and Biogen Idec. PDL has retained the rights for development of daclizumab for asthma and transplant maintenance.
About Biogen Idec
Biogen Idec creates new standards of care in therapeutic areas with high unmet medical needs. Founded in 1978, Biogen Idec is a global leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative therapies. Patients in more than 90 countries benefit from Biogen Idec’s significant products that address diseases such as lymphoma, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. For product labeling, press releases and additional information about the company, please visit www.biogenidec.com.
About PDL BioPharma
PDL BioPharma, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing innovative therapies for severe or life- threatening illnesses. For more information, please visit www.pdl.com.
Forward-looking Statement
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” regarding PDL and Biogen Idec’s development of daclizumab that are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Only a small number of research and development programs result in commercialization of a product. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from PDL and Biogen Idec’s current expectations include the risk that preliminary results observed in the Phase 2 trial known as CHOICE are based on week 24 data and may not be predictive of the results that would be observed upon review of the full set of data PDL and Biogen Idec plan to obtain through week 72. In addition, these preliminary results may not be predictive of results to be obtained in the additional evaluations and studies that would be necessary to demonstrate daclizumab to be safe and effective in the treatment of patients with relapsing MS, nor can there be assurance that PDL or Biogen Idec will initiate subsequent clinical trials of daclizumab, including the Phase 2 monotherapy trial known as SELECT, which PDL and Biogen Idec are currently planning. In addition, the companies may not be able to meet applicable regulatory standards or regulatory authorities may fail to approve daclizumab; and the companies may encounter other unexpected hurdles. For further information regarding factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences, please refer to the filings PDL and Biogen Idec have made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” sections of PDL’s and Biogen Idec’s Quarterly and Annual Reports, copies of which may be obtained at the “Investors” section on PDL’s website at www.pdl.com, with respect to PDL’s filings, and at www.biogenidec.com, with respect to Biogen Idec’s filings. PDL and Biogen Idec assume no obligation to update and specifically disclaim any duty to update the information in this press release for any reason, except as required by law, even as new information becomes available or other events occur in the future. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
Biogen Idec is considered a trademark of Biogen Idec, Inc. PDL BioPharma and the PDL BioPharma logo are considered trademarks of PDL BioPharma, Inc. Zenapax is a registered trademark of Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc.
CONTACT: Media, Amy Reilly, Associate Director, Public Affairs of Biogen
Idec Inc., +1-617-679-3860; or Investment Community, Eric S. Hoffman,
Ph.D., Associate Director, Investor Relations of Biogen Idec Inc.,
+1-617-679-2812; or Kathleen Rinehart, Director, Corporate Communications
of PDL BioPharma, +1-650-454-2543; or Jean Suzuki, Manager, Investor
Relations of PDL BioPharma +1-650-454-2648
Web site: http://www.pdl.com/
