CytoDyn Inc. Announces Positive Preliminary Results of Unblinded Data from Long-Haulers Trial Showing Greater Improvement in Leronlimab Group over Placebo in 18 of 24 Symptoms
CytoDyn Inc. (OTCQB: CYDY) has released preliminary results from its clinical trial assessing the efficacy of leronlimab for COVID-19 long-haulers. In this trial, 56 patients reported improvements in 18 of 24 COVID-19 symptoms, with no significant safety issues noted. However, the study's small sample size limits statistical validity. The company aims to discuss future regulatory steps with the FDA, seeking Breakthrough Therapy designation for further trials. Leronlimab has previously received FDA Fast Track designation for HIV and metastatic cancer treatments, demonstrating its potential in multiple therapeutic areas.
- Preliminary results show significant symptom improvement in leronlimab-treated patients compared to placebo.
- No adverse safety signals reported during the trial.
- Potential for Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA, paving the way for future trials.
- The study had a small sample size of only 56 patients, limiting the statistical power of results.
- Not all symptoms showed clinically meaningful improvement; diarrhea was worse in the leronlimab group compared to placebo.
VANCOUVER, Washington, June 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CytoDyn Inc. (OTCQB: CYDY), ("CytoDyn" or the "Company"), a late-stage biotechnology company developing leronlimab, a CCR5 antagonist with the potential for multiple therapeutic indications, announced today preliminary results after unblinding the data from its COVID-19 long-haulers clinical trial.
The purpose of this clinical trial was to assess the safety and efficacy of leronlimab administered as weekly subcutaneous injection in subjects experiencing prolonged symptoms (> 12 weeks) of COVID-19. The primary outcome was change from baseline in daily COVID-19-related symptom severity score through Day 56. Secondary outcomes included progression (or worsening) of COVID-19-associated symptoms through Day 56 compared to baseline. Patient symptoms were self-reported daily throughout the 56-day evaluation period and reported electronically. The symptom scores were rated as severe, moderate, mild, and none.
Chris Recknor, M.D., CytoDyn’s Chief Operating Officer and Head of Clinical Development, commented, “We are very pleased with the preliminary results from our long-haulers trial, which showed a greater improvement in the leronlimab patient group over placebo in 18 of 24 COVID-19 symptoms. Although the study was not designed to show statistically significant differences due to the small sample size of 56 patients, clinically meaningful improvements in leronlimab over placebo were observed for cough, stuffy/runny nose, shortness of breath, tightness of chest, feeling of fast heartbeat, fatigue, muscle aches/cramps, muscle weakness, joint pain/swelling, chills/shivering, feeling hot or feverish, difficulty in concentration, sleep disturbance/insomnia, headache, dizziness, tingling/numbness, sense of taste, and sense of smell. Of the remaining 6 symptoms, sore throat, exertional malaise, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting had no clinically meaningful change. Diarrhea was worse in leronlimab treated compared to placebo. Biomarkers at multiple timepoints are being analyzed to help determine reasons for response and to provide better insight into the mechanism of action of leronlimab. As in other previous trials with leronlimab, no adverse safety signals were noted. Once our final analysis is performed, we will seek to hold discussions with the FDA regarding next steps.”
Nader Pourhassan, Ph.D., CytoDyn’s President and Chief Executive Officer, concluded, “Prior to the commencement of this trial, the FDA advised us that our long-haulers trial is considered an exploratory trial; thus, a follow-on trial will be necessary prior to potential approval. Our hope, following the FDA’s review of all data, is that the agency will grant us a Breakthrough Therapy designation and provide guidance for a Phase 3 trial protocol. It is important to note that we must await the review of regulatory agencies in the U.S. and abroad and their guidance on how to proceed forward. However, I am impressed with leronlimab’s performance in this trial by demonstrating a positive improvement for a significant number of symptoms for the benefit of patients suffering from COVID long-haulers. In my opinion, our hypothesis that leronlimab is an immune modulator has received a very positive boost from this trial. We look forward to providing more detailed results in our conference call today at 1pm PT.”
About Long-Hauler CD15 Trial
This CD15 trial was similar to a Phase 2 study with the purpose of exploring up to 24 symptoms for a hint of efficacy prior to initiation of a scientific confirmation study. Phase 2 studies in general, and this study in particular, are limited because they set out to explore and do not pre-specify an appropriate primary endpoint. Also at this stage, precise biological variability for individual symptoms in this specific patient population is unknown. Consequently, the ranking of symptoms by superior leronlimab improvement relative to placebo could change. However, study results from this Phase 2 study can now be used to quantify that variability and use it to pre-specify endpoints to design a confirmatory study precisely.
About Leronlimab
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted CytoDyn Fast Track designation to explore two potential indications using leronlimab to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and metastatic cancer. The first indication is combination therapy with HAART for HIV-infected patients, and the second is for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). Leronlimab is an investigational humanized IgG4 mAb that binds to CCR5, a cellular receptor important in HIV infection, tumor metastases, and other diseases, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Leronlimab has been studied in 16 clinical trials involving more than 1,200 people and met its primary endpoints in a pivotal Phase 3 trial (leronlimab combined with HIV standard care in patients with multi-drug resistance to current available classes of HIV drugs).
Leronlimab, amongst many things, is a viral-entry inhibitor in HIV/AIDS. It binds to CCR5, thus protecting healthy T cells from viral infection by blocking the predominant HIV (R5) subtype from entering those cells. Leronlimab does not work on other strains of HIV (for example X4), however, R5 is the most dominant strain of HIV. Five clinical trials have demonstrated leronlimab could significantly reduce or control HIV viral load in humans. The leronlimab antibody appears to be a powerful antiviral agent with fewer side effects and less frequent dosing requirements than currently used daily drug therapies. Cancer research has shown CCR5 may play a role in tumor invasion, metastases, and tumor microenvironment control (for example, through angiogenesis). Published studies have shown that blocking CCR5 can reduce tumor metastases in laboratory and animal models of aggressive breast and prostate cancer. Leronlimab reduced human breast cancer metastasis by more than
The CCR5 receptor plays a central role in modulating immune cell trafficking to sites of inflammation. After completing two clinical trials with COVID-19 patients (a Phase 2 and a Phase 3), CytoDyn initiated a Phase 2 investigative trial for post-acute sequelae of SARS COV-2 (PASC), also known as COVID-19 Long-Haulers. This trial will evaluate the effect of leronlimab on clinical symptoms and laboratory biomarkers to further understand the pathophysiology of PASC. It is currently estimated that between 10
CytoDyn is also conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial for NASH to evaluate the effect of leronlimab on liver steatosis and fibrosis. Preclinical studies revealed a significant reduction in NAFLD and a reduction in liver fibrosis using leronlimab. There are currently no FDA approved treatments for NASH, which is a leading cause of liver transplant. About 30 to 40 percent of adults in the U.S. live with NAFLD, and 3 to 12 percent of adults in the U.S. live with NASH. There have been no strong safety signals identified in patients administered leronlimab in multiple disease spectrums, including patients with HIV, COVID-19, and oncology.
About CytoDyn
CytoDyn is a late-stage biotechnology company developing innovative treatments for multiple therapeutic indications using leronlimab, a novel humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the CCR5 receptor. CCR5 plays a critical role in the ability of HIV to enter and infect healthy T-cells and appears to be implicated in tumor metastasis and immune-mediated illnesses, such as NASH.
CytoDyn successfully completed a Phase 2b pivotal trial using leronlimab combined with standard antiretroviral therapies in HIV-infected patients who were heavily treatment-experienced individuals with limited treatment options. CytoDyn has been working diligently to refile its Biologics License Application ("BLA") for this HIV combination therapy since receiving a Refusal to File in July 2020 and subsequently meeting with the FDA telephonically to address their written guidance concerning the filing. CytoDyn expects to refile its BLA in the first half of the calendar year 2021 or shortly thereafter. CytoDyn also completed a Phase 2b/3 investigative trial with leronlimab used as a once-weekly monotherapy for HIV-infected patients. CytoDyn plans to initiate a registration-directed study of leronlimab monotherapy indication. If successful, it could support a label extension approval. Clinical results to date from two trials have shown that leronlimab can keep the viral load suppressed in a sub-population of R5 HIV patients who chose to switch from their daily pills regimen to once a week subcutaneous dose of leronlimab. Several patients on leronlimab’s Phase 2b extension arm have remained virally suppressed for almost 7 years and many patients in our Phase 2b/3 investigative trial are passing two and some four years of monotherapy with suppressed viral load.
CytoDyn is also conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial with leronlimab in mTNBC, a Phase 2 basket trial in solid tumor cancers (22 different cancer indications), Phase 2 investigative trial for post-acute sequelae of SARS COV-2, also known as COVID-19 long haulers, and a Phase 2 clinical trial for NASH. CytoDyn has already completed a Phase 2 and Phase 3 trial for mild-to-moderate and severe-to-critical COVID-19 patients, respectively, for which CytoDyn did not meet its primary or secondary endpoints except for the secondary endpoint in the critically ill subpopulation. More information is at www.cytodyn.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Words and expressions reflecting optimism, satisfaction or disappointment with current prospects, as well as words such as "believes," "hopes," "intends," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "plans," "anticipates" and variations thereof, or the use of future tense, identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements specifically include statements about leronlimab, its ability to provide positive health outcomes, the possible results of clinical trials, studies or other programs or ability to continue those programs, the ability to obtain regulatory approval for commercial sales, and the market for actual commercial sales. The Company's forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance, and actual results could vary materially from those contained in or expressed by such statements due to risks and uncertainties including: (i) the regulatory determination of leronlimab’s efficacy to treat COVID-19 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and various drug regulatory agencies in other countries, (ii) the Company's ability to raise additional capital to fund its operations, (iii) the Company's ability to meet its debt obligations, if any, (iv) the Company's ability to enter into partnership or licensing arrangements with third parties, (v) the Company's ability to identify patients to enroll in its clinical trials in a timely fashion, (vi) the Company's ability to achieve approval of a marketable product, (vii) the design, implementation and conduct of the Company's clinical trials, (viii) the results of the Company's clinical trials, including the possibility of unfavorable clinical trial results, (ix) the market for, and marketability of, any product that is approved, (x) the existence or development of vaccines, drugs, or other treatments that are viewed by medical professionals or patients as superior to the Company's products, (xi) regulatory initiatives, compliance with governmental regulations and the regulatory approval process, (xii) general economic and business conditions, (xiii) changes in foreign, political, and social conditions, and (xiv) various other matters, many of which are beyond the Company's control. The Company urges investors to consider specifically the various risk factors identified in its most recent Form 10-K, and any risk factors or cautionary statements included in any subsequent Form 10-Q or Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any responsibility to update any forward-looking statements to take into account events or circumstances that occur after the date of this press release.
CONTACTS
Investors:
Cristina De Leon
Office: 360.980.8524
ir@cytodyn.com
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