EyePoint Pharmaceuticals Announces Topline Data from the Phase 2 PAVIA Trial of DURAVYU™ in Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Rhea-AI Summary

EyePoint Pharmaceuticals announced topline results of the Phase 2 PAVIA trial evaluating DURAVYU in patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). Although the trial did not meet the primary endpoint, DURAVYU demonstrated a favorable safety profile and potential in reducing NPDR progression at nine months. The Company plans to review full 12-month data to determine the future path for DURAVYU. Dr. Duker expressed optimism for DURAVYU's potential as a maintenance therapy for wet AMD patients based on positive data from DAVIO 2.

Positive

• DURAVYU demonstrated a stable or improved disease severity with reduced NPDR progression rates at nine months.

• DURAVYU has a favorable safety and tolerability profile with no drug-related serious adverse events reported.

• 86% of patients in the 3mg arm and 80% in the 2mg arm showed stable or improved disease at nine months versus 70% in the control arm.

• Continued favorable safety profile with no DURAVYU-related serious adverse events reported.

• The Company is on track for the initiation of the LUGANO trial for wet AMD in the second half of 2024.

Negative

• The trial did not meet the pre-specified primary endpoint.

• 5% of patients in the 3mg arm and 0% in the 2mg arm achieved a ≥2-step improvement in DRSS score at nine months versus 5% in the control arm.

• The future path for DURAVYU as a treatment for NPDR is uncertain pending review of full 12-month data.

• Dr. Duker expressed optimism for DURAVYU's potential based on previous data, which may not necessarily translate into successful trial outcomes.

Insights

Medical Research Analyst

The interim results from EyePoint Pharmaceuticals' Phase 2 PAVIA trial present a nuanced picture for investors. While the trial did not meet its primary endpoint, the reported data showing stable or improved disease severity in a significant percentage of patients—86% in the 3mg arm and 80% in the 2mg arm—is an optimistic sign. However, the absence of a marked improvement in the DRSS score for most patients is a concern. It's essential for investors to note that success in clinical trials is a key driver for pharmaceutical stock prices. Therefore, a missed primary endpoint often leads to negative market reaction. On the other hand, the safety profile of DURAVYU remains robust, with no serious adverse events reported, which may mitigate some investor concerns. The upcoming 12-month data will be critical in determining the drug’s efficacy over a longer term and the company’s regulatory strategy moving forward. As a treatment for NPDR, DURAVYU’s performance against current anti-VEGF treatments will be a deciding factor in its market potential. Given the current mixed results and pending further data, the short-term investor outlook may be cautious, while long-term prospects will rely heavily on comprehensive data from the full trial and subsequent Phase 3 studies.

Financial Analyst

From a financial perspective, the update from EyePoint Pharmaceuticals warrants close attention due to the high costs associated with drug development and the impact of trial results on a biotech company's valuation. The PAVIA trial's mixed results suggest cautious optimism but also highlight the inherent risks associated with biopharmaceutical investments. Investors should be aware that the development and approval process for new drugs is lengthy and costly, with no guaranteed outcome. The failure to meet the primary endpoint can raise concerns about the future revenue potential of DURAVYU. However, EyePoint's commitment to advancing into further trials and the possibility of addressing a large market in diabetic retinopathy provides a counterbalance. The mention of 'highly positive data' from another trial in wet AMD could be a signal to investors about the company's diversified pipeline and potential future growth areas. Nevertheless, tangible financial returns are still uncertain and contingent upon successful completion of ongoing trials, regulatory approval and market acceptance.

Biotechnology Market Analyst

The PAVIA trial's interim topline results are a mix of potential promise and setback within the competitive landscape of treatments for retinal diseases. The failure to meet the primary endpoint places DURAVYU behind other therapies if it cannot demonstrate statistically significant improvements over existing standards of care. A critical aspect for the investor to consider is the market size for NPDR treatments and the positioning of DURAVYU within that space, assuming eventual approval. Furthermore, the commitment to further trials indicates a long-term strategy that could eventually pay off if the full 12-month data and subsequent Phase 3 results are positive. Investors should also monitor advancements from competitors, as the retinal disease treatment market is rapidly evolving with potential new entrants. The long-term value of EyePoint's stock will be closely tied to its ability to generate positive clinical trial data and navigate the regulatory pathway effectively.

– DURAVYU demonstrates stable or improved disease severity with reduced rates of NPDR progression at nine months –

– DURAVYU continues to demonstrate favorable safety and tolerability profile with no drug-related serious adverse events –

– Conference call to discuss the results to be held at 8:00 a.m. ET –

WATERTOWN, Mass., May 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: EYPT), a company committed to developing and commercializing therapeutics to improve the lives of patients with serious retinal diseases, today announced topline results of its Phase 2 PAVIA clinical trial evaluating DURAVYU™ (vorolanib intravitreal insert), previously known as EYP-1901, in patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). The data demonstrated that DURAVYU has a biologic effect in patients with NPDR with a favorable safety and tolerability profile, however the trial did not meet the pre-specified primary endpoint. The Company plans to provide an update on the path forward for DURAVYU as a potential treatment in NPDR following a review of the full 12-month data.

“The objective of the PAVIA trial was, for the first time, to evaluate DURAVYU as a potential treatment in a non-proliferative diabetic patient population,” said Jay Duker, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of EyePoint Pharmaceuticals. “Although the trial did not meet the pre-specified primary endpoint, we are encouraged that DURAVYU continues to be well tolerated and appears to reduce rates of NPDR progression at nine months. We plan to analyze the full twelve-month data once it is available to gain the clarity needed to assess the future of DURAVYU as a potential treatment for NPDR. I would like to thank the patients, the investigators and their site staff who participated in the PAVIA trial. We look forward to providing additional clinical and regulatory updates on the NPDR program in the coming months.”

Dr. Duker continued, “We remain laser focused on our preparation for the initiation of the LUGANO trial, the first pivotal, non-inferiority clinical trial for wet AMD, in the second half of this year. We remain confident that DURAVYU has the potential to change the treatment paradigm as a maintenance therapy for wet AMD patients based on the highly positive data seen in DAVIO 2, the largest intravitreal sustained release TKI study in wet AMD to date.”

PAVIA topline interim results include:

• 86% of patients in the 3mg arm and 80% of patients in the 2mg arm demonstrated stable or improved disease at nine months versus 70% in the control arm.
• 0% of patients in the 3mg arm and 5% of patients in the 2mg arm worsened ≥2-step at nine months vs. 10% in the control arm.
• 5% of patients in the 3mg arm and 0% of patients in the 2mg arm achieved a ≥2-step improvement in DRSS score at nine months versus 5% in the control arm.
• Continued favorable safety and tolerability profile with no DURAVYU-related ocular or systemic serious adverse events reported.
  • No cases of endophthalmitis or retinal vasculitis (occlusive or non-occlusive) were observed.
    

PAVIA is a 12-month, randomized, controlled Phase 2 clinical trial of DURAVYU in patients with moderately-severe to severe NPDR. The trial enrolled 77 patients randomly assigned to one of two doses of DURAVYU, or to the control group receiving a sham injection. DURAVYU is delivered with a routine intravitreal injection in the physician's office, similar to current FDA approved anti-VEGF treatments. The primary efficacy endpoint of the trial is improvement of at least two DRSS levels as of week 36 (approximately nine months) after the DURAVYU injection. Secondary endpoints include reduction in vision-threatening complications, occurrence of diabetic macular edema and/or proliferative disease, retinal ischemia/nonperfusion and safety. More information about the study is available at clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT05383209).

The Company remains on track to reach additional clinical milestones with DURAVYU with the initiation of the first Phase 3 pivotal trial in wet AMD, LUGANO, anticipated in the second half of 2024 and the second global Phase 3 pivotal trial in wet AMD, LUCIA, to follow, and with the readout of topline data from the Phase 2 VERONA trial in diabetic macular edema (DME) anticipated in the first quarter of 2025.

DURAVYU™ has been conditionally accepted by the FDA as the proprietary name for EYP-1901. DURAVYU is an investigational product; it has not been approved by the FDA. FDA approval and the timeline for potential approval is uncertain.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

EyePoint will host a conference call today, May 6, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results. To access the live conference call, please register at https://register.vevent.com/register/BI460f77365f6c4d0cb4ea3f56f0ecdbd4. A live audio webcast of the event can be accessed via the Investors section of the Company website at www.eyepointpharma.com. A webcast replay will also be available on the corporate website at the conclusion of the call.

About Non-proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR)

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a frequent complication of diabetes mellitus, and it is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults. DR affects approximately 40 percent of people with diabetes and is projected to impact 14.6 million Americans by 2050. Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the early stage of the disease in which symptoms may be mild or nonexistent. In NPDR, the blood vessels in the retina are weakened, and tiny bulges in the blood vessels, called microaneurysms, may leak fluid into the retina. This leakage may lead to swelling of the macula and cause vision changes and blurriness. Those with moderately severe to severe NPDR are at high risk of progressing to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and other vision-threatening complications including diabetic macular edema (DME) and neovascularization that can lead to blindness if left uncontrolled. The majority of patients with NPDR receive no course of treatment apart from observation by their eye doctor until their disease progresses to DME and/or PDR. This is largely because currently approved treatments are short-acting and therefore require frequent injections. A treatment with a convenient dosing regimen aligned to the cadence of a patient’s visit to their eye doctor that proactively reduces the risk of progressing to a sight-threatening complication over the long term could help reduce the vision threatening effects of diabetic eye disease.

About DURAVYU™ (vorolanib intravitreal insert)

DURAVYU is being developed as a potential paradigm-altering treatment for patients suffering from VEGF-mediated retinal diseases. DURAVYU delivers vorolanib, a selective and patent-protected tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) formulated in a solid bioerodible insert using EyePoint’s proprietary sustained-release Durasert E^™ technology. Vorolanib brings a new mechanistic approach to the treatment of VEGF-mediated retinal diseases as a pan-VEGF receptor inhibitor, inhibiting all VEGF receptors. Further, in an in-vivo model of retinal detachment, vorolanib demonstrated neuroprotection, and it may have potential antifibrotic benefits as it also inhibits the PDGF receptor. DURAVYU is delivered by a routine intravitreal injection in the physician's office and is designed to fully elute vorolanib prior to complete bioerosion of the insert matrix to control release and allow for a redosing regimen. Once inserted, DURAVYU is immediately bioavailable, featuring an initial burst of drug, followed by near constant zero-order release kinetics for approximately nine months. Additionally, unlike currently approved biologics and other sustained release anti-VEGFs in development, DURAVYU is shipped and stored at ambient temperature.

DURAVYU is currently being evaluated in three ongoing Phase 2 clinical trials in wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and diabetic macular edema (DME). In December 2023, the Company reported positive topline results from its Phase 2 DAVIO 2 clinical trial in wet AMD, which showed all primary and secondary endpoints were met. The data from the DAVIO 2 clinical trial supports the advancement of the wet AMD program into Phase 3 pivotal trials which are anticipated to initiate in the second half of 2024. Data from the Phase 2 PAVIA trial demonstrated stable or improved disease severity with reduced rates of NPDR progression at nine months and a continued favorable safety profile. The Phase 2 VERONA trial in DME is fully enrolled with topline data anticipated in the first quarter of 2025.

Vorolanib is licensed to EyePoint exclusively by Equinox Sciences, a Betta Pharmaceuticals affiliate, for the localized treatment of all ophthalmic diseases outside of China, Macao, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

About EyePoint Pharmaceuticals

EyePoint Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: EYPT) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing and commercializing therapeutics to help improve the lives of patients with serious retinal diseases. The Company's pipeline leverages its proprietary bioerodible Durasert E^™ technology for sustained intraocular drug delivery. The Company’s lead product candidate, DURAVYU, is an investigational sustained delivery treatment for VEGF-mediated retinal diseases combining vorolanib, a selective and patent-protected tyrosine kinase inhibitor with Durasert E™. Pipeline programs include EYP-2301, a promising TIE-2 agonist, razuprotafib, formulated in Durasert E™ to potentially improve outcomes in serious retinal diseases. The proven Durasert^® drug delivery technology has been safely administered to thousands of patient eyes across four U.S. FDA approved products. EyePoint Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Forward Looking Statements
EYEPOINT PHARMACEUTICALS SAFE HARBOR STATEMENTS UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION ACT OF 1995: To the extent any statements made in this press release deal with information that is not historical, these are forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the use of proceeds for the offering and other statements identified by words such as “will,” “potential,” “could,” “can,” “believe,” “intends,” “continue,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “may,” other words of similar meaning or the use of future dates. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Uncertainties and risks may cause EyePoint’s actual results to be materially different than those expressed in or implied by EyePoint’s forward-looking statements. For EyePoint, this includes statements about the sufficiency of our existing cash resources through topline data for Phase 3 clinical trials for DURAVYU™ in wet AMD; our expectations regarding the timing and clinical development of our product candidates, including DURAVYU and EYP-2301; the potential for DURAVYU as a novel sustained delivery treatment for serious eye diseases, including wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and diabetic macular edema (DME); the effectiveness and timeliness of clinical trials, and the usefulness of the data; the timeliness of regulatory approvals including potential U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory approval of DURAVYU and EYP-2301; the success of current and future license agreements; our dependence on contract research organizations, co-promotion partners, and other outside vendors and service providers; the success of Durasert® as a drug delivery platform in FDA approved products; product liability; industry consolidation; compliance with environmental laws; risks and costs of international business operations; volatility of stock price; possible dilution; absence of dividends; the impact of general business and economic conditions; protection of our intellectual property and avoiding intellectual property infringement; retention of key personnel; manufacturing risks; and other factors described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We cannot guarantee that the results and other expectations expressed, anticipated or implied in any forward-looking statement will be realized. A variety of factors, including these risks, could cause our actual results and other expectations to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed, anticipated or implied in our forward-looking statements. Should known or unknown risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could differ materially from past results and those anticipated, estimated or projected in the forward-looking statements. You should bear this in mind as you consider any forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the dates on which they are made. EyePoint undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Investors:
Christina Tartaglia
Stern IR
Direct: 212-698-8700
christina.tartaglia@sternir.com

Media Contact:
Amy Phillips
Green Room Communications
Direct: 412-327-9499
aphillips@greenroompr.com

FAQ

What are the topline results of the Phase 2 PAVIA trial for DURAVYU in patients with NPDR?

DURAVYU demonstrated stable or improved disease severity with reduced rates of NPDR progression at nine months.

What is the primary endpoint that the PAVIA trial did not meet?

The trial did not meet the pre-specified primary endpoint.

What are the plans for DURAVYU following the topline results of the Phase 2 PAVIA trial?

The Company plans to review full 12-month data to determine the future path for DURAVYU in treating NPDR.

When is the LUGANO trial, the first pivotal trial for wet AMD, expected to be initiated?

The LUGANO trial for wet AMD is anticipated to be initiated in the second half of 2024.

What is the proprietary name for EYP-1901?

DURAVYU™ has been conditionally accepted by the FDA as the proprietary name for EYP-1901.