Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Announces Publication of Santhera Pharmaceutical’s VISION-DMD Vamorolone (AGAMREE®) Study Results in the Peer-Reviewed Journal Neurology

Rhea-AI Summary

Santhera's study on Vamorolone in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patients showed positive long-term efficacy and safety results, supporting the use of Vamorolone. The study demonstrated that Vamorolone was well-tolerated and effective in improving motor outcomes over 48 weeks, with potential benefits in growth and bone health.

Insights

Medical Research Analyst

The publication of the VISION-DMD study results in a peer-reviewed journal represents a significant milestone for Santhera Pharmaceuticals and Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, especially considering the potential market implications for AGAMREE® (vamorolone). The data indicating long-term efficacy and safety of vamorolone in treating Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a pivotal factor for the drug's commercial success. From a medical research perspective, the transition from prednisone to vamorolone showing improvement in linear growth and bone turnover biomarkers is particularly noteworthy, as it suggests a potential advantage over traditional corticosteroids, which are associated with adverse effects on growth and bone health. The maintenance of motor outcomes over a 48-week period for the higher dose of vamorolone further supports its therapeutic potential.

It is also important to highlight that the study's crossover design provides valuable insights into the drug's effects when switching from prednisone or placebo, which is relevant for patients currently on established treatments. The observed stabilization of BMI after an initial increase could be an indicator of a more favorable long-term safety profile, addressing a common concern associated with corticosteroid therapy. These findings could influence prescribing practices and patient preferences, potentially affecting market share and revenue projections for Catalyst Pharmaceuticals.

Financial Analyst

Investors in the biopharmaceutical sector closely monitor clinical trial outcomes as they can significantly impact a company's stock price and market valuation. The positive results from the VISION-DMD study are likely to contribute to investor confidence in Catalyst Pharmaceuticals' commercial prospects for AGAMREE®. The drug's approval and subsequent successful commercialization in North America could provide a substantial revenue stream, particularly given the limited treatment options currently available for DMD.

However, it's crucial to consider the size of the target market and the drug's pricing strategy, as DMD is a rare disease. The cost-effectiveness of vamorolone compared to existing treatments will play a critical role in its adoption. Furthermore, investors should monitor the competitive landscape, as any new developments or approvals of competing drugs could influence Catalyst's market position. The publication in 'Neurology' serves as a scientific validation that may facilitate further partnerships, licensing agreements, or even attract acquisition interest, all of which could have material financial implications.

Market Research Analyst

The DMD treatment market is highly specialized, with a relatively small patient population but a high unmet medical need, which typically allows for premium pricing of effective therapies. The long-term data supporting vamorolone's efficacy and safety could make it a strong competitor against existing therapies, potentially leading to a significant market penetration. Market research would focus on assessing the potential adoption rate of vamorolone among healthcare providers, patient advocacy groups and patients themselves.

Understanding the demographic and geographic distribution of DMD patients, as well as the current treatment landscape, is essential for forecasting sales and market growth. Additionally, it's important to analyze how regulatory bodies, insurance companies and healthcare systems respond to new treatments for rare diseases, as these factors can greatly influence market access and success. The differentiation of vamorolone from other corticosteroids, particularly in terms of its safety profile, could be a key selling point that resonates with stakeholders looking to improve patient outcomes while managing long-term health risks.

Santhera's Study Reports the Results of the 48-Week Treatment with Vamorolone in Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in the VISION-DMD Study, Supporting the Long-Term Efficacy and Safety Profile of Vamorolone

CORAL GABLES, Fla., Feb. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Catalyst” or “Company”) (Nasdaq: CPRX), a commercial-stage, patient-centric biopharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing, developing, and commercializing novel high-quality medicines for patients living with rare and difficult to treat diseases, today announced that the peer-reviewed journal Neurology has published Santhera Pharmaceutical's ("Santhera") study titled “Efficacy and Safety of Vamorolone Over 48 Weeks in Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy” presenting the findings from Santhera's VISION-DMD study conducted by Santhera [1]. Catalyst holds the exclusive rights to commercialize AGAMREE® (vamorolone) in North America.

Santhera reports that the VISION-DMD study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and prednisone-controlled clinical trial of 2 doses of vamorolone in participants with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (“DMD”) in the ages four years to younger than seven years at baseline that was conducted at 33 sites in 11 countries from 2018 to 2021. Based on the published study, Santhera has reported that the results of the VISION-DMD study support the long-term efficacy and safety profile of vamorolone and conclude that vamorolone was generally well tolerated, consistent with the 24-week study findings, as published previously in JAMA Neurology [2]. As cited in Santhera's recent press release, the Neurology publication of their study states:

“Vamorolone is a dissociative corticosteroid that selectively binds to the glucocorticoid receptor and has shown similar efficacy and reduced safety concerns in comparison with prednisone in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)[2]. This study [VISION-DMD] was conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of vamorolone over 48 weeks and to study crossover participants (prednisone to vamorolone; placebo to vamorolone).

A total of 121 participants with DMD were randomized. Vamorolone at a dose of 6 mg/kg/d showed maintenance of improvement for all motor outcomes to week 48 (e.g., for primary outcome, time to stand from supine [TTSTAND] velocity, week 24 least squares mean [LSM] [SE] 0.052 [0.0130] rises/s vs week 48 LSM [SE] 0.0446 [0.0138]). After 48 weeks, vamorolone at a dose of 2 mg/kg/d showed similar improvements as 6 mg/kg/d for North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) (vamorolone 6 mg/kg/d– vamorolone 2 mg/kg/d LSM [SE] 0.49 [1.14]; 95% CI −1.80 to 2.78, p = 0.67), but less improvement for other motor outcomes. The placebo to vamorolone 6 mg/kg/d group showed rapid improvements after 20 weeks of treatment approaching benefit seen with 48-week 6 mg/kg/d of vamorolone treatment for TTSTAND, time to run/walk 10 m, and NSAA. There was significant improvement in linear growth after crossover in the prednisone to vamorolone 6 mg/kg/d group, and rapid reversal of prednisone-induced decline in bone turnover biomarkers in both crossover groups. There was an increase in BMI after 24 weeks of treatment that then stabilized for both vamorolone groups.

Improvements of motor outcomes seen with 6 mg/kg/d of vamorolone at 24 weeks of treatment were maintained to 48 weeks of treatment. Vamorolone at a dose of 6 mg/kg/d showed better maintenance of effect compared with vamorolone at a dose of 2 mg/kg/d for most (3/5) motor outcomes. Bone morbidities of prednisone (stunting of growth and declines in serum bone biomarkers) were reversed when treatment transitioned to vamorolone.”

AGAMREE® (vamorolone) oral suspension 40 mg/ml has been approved for commercialization in the United States for the treatment of DMD.

About AGAMREE® (vamorolone)
AGAMREE's unique mode of action is based on differential effects on glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors and modifying further downstream activity. As such, it is considered a novel corticosteroid with dissociative properties in maintaining efficacy that we hope has the potential to demonstrate comparable efficacy to steroid, with the potential for a better-tolerated side effect profile. This mechanism of action may allow vamorolone to emerge as an effective alternative to the current standard of care corticosteroids in children, adolescents, and adult patients with DMD. In the pivotal VISION-DMD study, vamorolone met the primary endpoint Time to Stand (TTSTAND) velocity versus placebo (p=0.002) at 24 weeks of treatment and showed a good safety and tolerability profile. The most commonly reported adverse events versus placebo from the VISION-DMD study were cushingoid features, vomiting, and vitamin D deficiency. Adverse events were generally of mild to moderate severity.

AGAMREE was granted U.S. FDA approval on October 26, 2023, and was granted Orphan Drug and Rare Pediatric Disease designation status for DMD in the U.S., making it eligible for seven years of orphan drug exclusivity upon approval. AGAMREE also has issued and pending patents that could provide protection until 2040. In Europe, it has received Promising Innovative Medicine (PIM) status from the UK MHRA for DMD.

References:
[1] Dang UJ et al. (2024) Neurology 2024;102:e208112. doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000208112. Link.
[2] Guglieri M et al (2022). JAMA Neurol. 2022;79(10):1005-1014. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.2480. Link.
[3] Liu X et al. (2020). Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 117:24285-24293
[4] Heier CR et al (2019). Life Science Alliance DOI: 10.26508
[5] Ward et al., WMS 2022, FP.27 - Poster 71. Link.
[6] Hasham et al., MDA 2022 Poster presentation. Link.
[7] Applicable drug labeling: Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). English. German.

About Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)
DMD, the most common form of muscular dystrophy, is a rare and life-threatening neuromuscular disorder characterized by progressive muscle dysfunction, ultimately leading to loss of ambulation, respiratory failure, and fatality. Current standard treatment for DMD involves corticosteroids, which often come with significant side effects. It is estimated that between 11,000 and 13,000 patients in the U.S. are affected by DMD, with approximately 70% of patients currently receiving concomitant corticosteroid treatment.

About Catalyst Pharmaceuticals
With exceptional patient focus, Catalyst is committed to developing and commercializing innovative first-in-class medicines that address rare and difficult to treat diseases. Catalyst's flagship U.S. commercial product is FIRDAPSE® (amifampridine) Tablets 10 mg, approved for the treatment of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome ("LEMS") for adults and for children ages six to seventeen. In January 2023, Catalyst acquired the U.S. commercial rights to FYCOMPA® (perampanel) CIII, a prescription medicine approved in people with epilepsy aged four and older alone or with other medicines to treat partial-onset seizures with or without secondarily generalized seizures and with other medicines to treat primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures for people with epilepsy aged 12 and older. Further, Canada's national healthcare regulatory agency, Health Canada, has approved the use of FIRDAPSE for the treatment of adult patients in Canada with LEMS. Finally, on July 18, 2023, Catalyst acquired an exclusive license for North America for AGAMREE® (vamorolone) oral suspension 40 mg/mL, a novel corticosteroid treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.  AGAMREE® previously received FDA Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations and was approved for commercialization in the U.S. on October 26, 2023.

For more information about Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., please visit the Company's website at www.catalystpharma.com. For Full Prescribing and Safety Information for FIRDAPSE®, please visit www.firdapse.com. For Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING for FYCOMPA®, please visit www.fycompa.com. For Full Prescribing Information for AGAMREE®, please visit www.agamree.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements regarding Catalyst’s expectations, beliefs, plans, or objectives regarding the intended use of net proceeds therefrom. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Catalyst's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. A number of factors, including (i) whether AGAMREE will be found to have a better safety profile than other corticosteroids, (ii) whether Catalyst's commercial launch of AGAMREE in the United States will be successful, and (iii) those factors described in Catalyst's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2022 and its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), could adversely affect Catalyst. Copies of Catalyst's filings with the SEC are available from the SEC, may be found on Catalyst's website, or may be obtained upon request from Catalyst. Catalyst does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.

Source: Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

FAQ

What study results were reported in the PR regarding Vamorolone in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patients?

The PR reported positive long-term efficacy and safety results of Vamorolone in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patients.

What is the commercial name of Vamorolone approved for use in the United States?

The commercial name of Vamorolone approved for use in the United States is AGAMREE®.

What was the primary outcome measure for Vamorolone treatment in the study mentioned in the PR?

The primary outcome measure for Vamorolone treatment in the study was time to stand from supine (TTSTAND) velocity.

How did Vamorolone at different doses compare in terms of motor outcomes improvement in the study?

Vamorolone at a dose of 6 mg/kg/d showed better maintenance of improvement for most motor outcomes compared to 2 mg/kg/d.

What were the key findings regarding bone health in the study related to Vamorolone treatment?

The study reported that Vamorolone reversed bone morbidities associated with prednisone treatment, showing improvements in growth and bone turnover biomarkers.