Arrowhead Files for Regulatory Clearance to Initiate Phase 1/2a Study of ARO-MUC5AC for Treatment of Muco-Obstructive Lung Diseases

Rhea-AI Summary

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ARWR) has filed for clearance to initiate a Phase 1/2a clinical trial for its investigational RNA interference therapy, ARO-MUC5AC, aimed at treating asthma and muco-obstructive pulmonary diseases. The trial will assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics in 42 healthy volunteers and 16 asthma patients. Additionally, a Pulmonary R&D Day is scheduled for May 26, 2022, in New York, where further details about the therapy and the company’s pipeline will be shared.

Positive

• Initiation of Phase 1/2a clinical trial for ARO-MUC5AC, which targets MUC5AC implicated in asthma.
• Potential to establish a new treatment paradigm in muco-obstructive diseases beyond current bronchodilators.

Negative

• None.

- Company to Host Pulmonary R&D Day on May 26, 2022

PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ARWR) today announced that it has filed an application for clearance to initiate a Phase 1/2a clinical trial of ARO-MUC5AC, the company’s investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic designed to reduce production of the mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) as a potential treatment for asthma and various muco-obstructive pulmonary diseases. Arrowhead also announced plans to host a pulmonary R&D day on May 26, 2022, to be held in New York and webcast online. Additional details about the event and how to register will be released in the coming weeks.

James Hamilton, M.D., MBA, senior vice president of discovery and translational medicine at Arrowhead, said: “We continue to rapidly advance a robust pipeline of product candidates that leverage our inhaled pulmonary TRiM^TM platform. The newest candidate, ARO-MUC5AC, is designed to specifically silence pulmonary epithelial MUC5AC expression, which is highly upregulated in the asthmatic airway and implicated in the development of mucus plugging, airflow obstruction, and clinical exacerbations in multiple muco-obstructive diseases. Targeting mucus via inhibition of MUC5AC expression represents a fundamentally new way of treating muco-obstructive diseases, where current standard of care is dominated by bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory modalities. We look forward to sharing additional information about ARO-MUC5AC, ARO-RAGE, and Arrowhead’s pulmonary platform broadly at our upcoming pulmonary R&D day.”

An application for approval of the clinical trial was submitted to a local Ethics Committee and to the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority for review by the Standing Committee on Therapeutic Trials. Pending clearance, Arrowhead intends to proceed with AROMUC5AC-1001, a Phase 1/2a study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of ARO-MUC5AC in up to 42 healthy volunteers and in up to 16 patients with asthma.

About Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, Arrowhead therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep, and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference, or RNAi, is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Arrowhead’s RNAi-based therapeutics leverage this natural pathway of gene silencing.

For more information, please visit www.arrowheadpharma.com, or follow us on Twitter @ArrowheadPharma. To be added to the Company's email list and receive news directly, please visit http://ir.arrowheadpharma.com/email-alerts.

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This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements contained in this release except for historical information may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “hope,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “could,” “estimate,” or “continue” are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of our future financial performance, trends in our business, expectations for our product pipeline or product candidates, including anticipated regulatory submissions and clinical program results, prospects or benefits of our collaborations with other companies, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors and uncertainties, including the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on our business, the safety and efficacy of our product candidates, decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof, the duration and impact of regulatory delays in our clinical programs, our ability to finance our operations, the likelihood and timing of the receipt of future milestone and licensing fees, the future success of our scientific studies, our ability to successfully develop and commercialize drug candidates, the timing for starting and completing clinical trials, rapid technological change in our markets, the enforcement of our intellectual property rights, and the other risks and uncertainties described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. We assume no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances.

Source: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Vince Anzalone, CFA

626-304-3400

ir@arrowheadpharma.com

Investors:

LifeSci Advisors, LLC

Brian Ritchie

212-915-2578

britchie@lifesciadvisors.com

www.lifesciadvisors.com

Media:

LifeSci Communications, LLC

Josephine Belluardo, Ph.D.

646-751-4361

jo@lifescicomms.com

www.lifescicommunications.com

Source: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

FAQ

What is ARO-MUC5AC and its purpose?

ARO-MUC5AC is an investigational RNA interference therapy designed to reduce MUC5AC production, a key factor in asthma and muco-obstructive pulmonary diseases.

When will the clinical trial for ARO-MUC5AC start?

The clinical trial's start date is contingent on receiving clearance from regulatory authorities after the application submission.

What are the objectives of the Phase 1/2a trial for ARO-MUC5AC?

The trial aims to assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of ARO-MUC5AC in healthy volunteers and asthma patients.

What event is Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals hosting on May 26, 2022?

Arrowhead is hosting a Pulmonary R&D Day to discuss ARO-MUC5AC and its broader pulmonary pipeline.

How many participants will be involved in the ARO-MUC5AC clinical trial?

The Phase 1/2a clinical trial will involve up to 42 healthy volunteers and 16 patients with asthma.