Vivani Medical Announces FDA Clears Investigational New Drug Application and Lifts Clinical Hold for NPM-119, a Miniature Long-Term Subdermal GLP-1 Drug Implant
Vivani Medical has received FDA clearance for its Investigational New Drug Application (IND) and the lifting of a clinical hold on NPM-119, enabling the initiation of the LIBERATE-1 Phase 1 clinical trial. This trial will assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of NPM-119, a miniature six-month GLP-1 implant for type 2 diabetes. The LIBERATE-1 trial will be the first clinical application of Vivani's NanoPortal™ implant technology in humans. NPM-119 aims to address medication non-adherence and improve tolerability issues associated with oral and injectable type 2 diabetes medications. Vivani is also developing NPM-115 and NPM-139 for chronic weight management. The company anticipates starting the LIBERATE-1 trial in the second half of the year.
- FDA clearance for IND and lifting of clinical hold on NPM-119.
- Initiation of LIBERATE-1 Phase 1 trial for NPM-119.
- First clinical application of NanoPortal™ technology.
- Addressing medication non-adherence in type 2 diabetes.
- Potential improvement in tolerability compared to oral and injectable medications.
- Pipeline includes NPM-115 and NPM-139 for chronic weight management.
- NPM-115 demonstrated weight loss comparable to market leaders Ozempic® and Wegovy® in preclinical studies.
- NPM-139 has potential for once-yearly treatment duration.
- LIBERATE-1 trial only in the Phase 1 stage, with uncertain outcomes and further stages required.
- Potential delays in trial initiation and results, with plans to start in the second half of the year.
- Regulatory approval still pending for NPM-115 and NPM-139.
The FDA clearance for Vivani Medical's Investigational New Drug Application (IND) and the lifting of the clinical hold for NPM-119 signals a pivotal moment for the company. This clearance allows Vivani to proceed with LIBERATE-1, a Phase 1 clinical trial that will test the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of their six-month GLP-1 implant designed to treat type 2 diabetes.
The significance of this trial is notable because it addresses medication non-adherence, a common issue for type 2 diabetes patients, who often struggle to maintain consistent medication routines. By leveraging their innovative NanoPortal™ technology, Vivani aims to provide a long-term therapeutic delivery mechanism, potentially improving patient outcomes and adherence rates.
This trial's outcome will be critical for Vivani, impacting not only NPM-119 but also their broader pipeline, including NPM-115 for chronic weight management. Should the results align with preclinical expectations, the company could see significant advancement in their product offerings. Understanding pharmacokinetics—how the drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized and excreted in the body—is essential for validating the efficacy and safety of NPM-119 in a clinical setting.
Vivani Medical's transition to a clinical-stage company, marked by the FDA's clearance, could have substantial financial implications. The movement from preclinical to clinical trials typically attracts greater investor interest and potential funding opportunities. Vivani's focus on the type 2 diabetes and obesity market, both of which are large and growing, presents significant revenue potential.
The company's proprietary NanoPortal™ technology could be a differentiator in the market, potentially offering a competitive edge over existing therapies. If NPM-119 demonstrates favorable outcomes in the LIBERATE-1 trial, it could pave the way for accelerated regulatory approval and commercialization, translating to revenue generation.
However, investors should be mindful of the risks inherent in clinical trials. The outcome is uncertain and unfavorable results could impact the company's stock performance and future funding prospects. Additionally, the competitive landscape in diabetes and weight management treatments is intense, requiring Vivani to not only demonstrate efficacy but also superior patient outcomes and adherence rates.
The potential of NPM-119 in addressing medication non-adherence in type 2 diabetes patients is significant. With approximately 50% of patients struggling with adherence, Vivani’s solution could fill a critical need in the market. This creates a unique market positioning for Vivani, distinguishing it from traditional oral and injectable therapies.
Furthermore, the company's pipeline, including NPM-115 for chronic weight management, indicates a strategic focus on chronic conditions that demand long-term treatment. The competitive advantage of a six-month dosage form could be critical, especially in a rapidly growing market such as obesity management, where convenience and adherence are paramount concerns for patients.
The strategic emphasis on NanoPortal™ technology leverages both the innovation in drug delivery and the growing demand for effective chronic disease management solutions. Should the clinical trials prove successful, Vivani could capture substantial market share, particularly if their products demonstrate superior patient outcomes and adherence compared to existing options.
NPM-119 is being studied to address medication non-adherence and potentially improve tolerability issues associated with oral and injectable type 2 diabetes medications, by providing long-term therapeutic delivery of exenatide for six months
Study will represent first clinical application of NanoPortal™, the company’s proprietary, implant platform technology
“Today marks a significant milestone for Vivani as we transition to a clinical-stage company with a promising drug candidate that has the potential to address medication non-adherence, which affects approximately
Dr. Mendelsohn added: “The results of the study will also apply to our lead program, NPM-115, which is under development for chronic weight management and demonstrated weight loss comparable to injections of semaglutide, the active ingredient in blockbuster products Ozempic® and Wegovy®, in preclinical studies earlier this year. Subject to regulatory approval, we believe that NPM-115’s six-month dosage form will make it an attractive and highly differentiated option within the extraordinarily large and rapidly growing obesity market. We are focused on final study preparations and anticipate initiating LIBERATE-1 during the second half of the year.”
LIBERATE-1 is a randomized, 12-week investigation of the safety, tolerability, and full pharmacokinetic profile of NPM-119 in patients with type 2 diabetes. LIBERATE-1 will enroll patients who have previously received GLP-1 therapy, which will be discontinued prior to receiving either NPM-119 or the active comparator.
Vivani continues advancing its emerging pipeline of innovative, highly differentiated drug implants leveraging its proprietary NanoPortal™ subdermal implant technology, designed to guarantee medication adherence and improve patient outcomes in the treatment of chronic diseases such as chronic weight management and type 2 diabetes.
In addition to NPM-119 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, Vivani is advancing the development of NPM-115 (high-dose exenatide implant) and NPM-139 (semaglutide implant), both promising treatments under development for chronic weight management. NPM-139 has the added potential for a once-yearly treatment duration.
About Vivani Medical, Inc.
Leveraging its proprietary NanoPortal platform, Vivani develops biopharmaceutical implants designed to deliver drug molecules steadily over extended periods of time with the goal of guaranteeing adherence, and potentially to improve tolerance to their medication. Vivani’s lead programs, NPM-115 and NPM-119, are miniature, six-month, GLP-1 implants in development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management in obese or overweight patients, respectively. Both NPM-115 and NPM-119 are exenatide based products with a higher-dose associated with NPM-115 for the treatment of chronic weight management in obese or overweight patients. These NanoPortal implants are designed to provide patients with the opportunity to realize the full potential benefit of their medication by avoiding the challenges associated with the daily or weekly administration of orals and injectables. Medication non-adherence occurs when patients do not take their medication as prescribed. This affects an alarming number of patients, approximately
Vivani’s wholly owned subsidiary Cortigent is developing targeted neurostimulation systems intended to help patients recover critical body functions. Investigational devices include Orion®, designed to provide artificial vision to people who are profoundly blind, and a new system intended to accelerate the recovery of arm and hand function in patients who are partially paralyzed due to stroke. The company has developed, manufactured, and marketed an implantable visual prosthetic device, Argus II®, that delivered meaningful visual perception to blind individuals. Vivani continues to assess strategic options for advancing Cortigent’s pioneering technology.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “target,” “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “may,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “would,” “positioned,” “future,” and other similar expressions that in this press release, including statements regarding our business, products in development, including the therapeutic potential thereof, the planned development therefor, the initiation of the LIBERATE-1 trial and reporting of trial results, our emerging development plans for NPM-115, NPM-139, or our plans with respect to Cortigent and its proposed initial public offering, technology, strategy, cash position and financial runway. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, risks related to the development and commercialization of our products, including NPM-115 and NPM-119; delays and changes in the development of our products, including as a result of applicable laws, regulations and guidelines, potential delays in submitting and receiving regulatory clearance or approval to conduct our development activities, including our ability to commence clinical development of NPM-119; risks related to the initiation, enrollment and conduct of our planned clinical trials and the results therefrom; our history of losses and our ability to access additional capital or otherwise fund our business; market conditions and the ability of Cortigent to complete its initial public offering. There may be additional risks that the Company considers immaterial, or which are unknown. A further list and description of risks and uncertainties can be found in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC filed on March 26, 2024, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to the Company and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of added information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.
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Company Contact:
Donald Dwyer
Chief Business Officer
info@vivani.com
(415) 506-8462
Investor Relations Contact:
Brigid A. Makes
Chief Financial Officer
investors@vivani.com
(415) 506-8462
Media Contact:
Sean Leous
ICR Westwicke
Sean.Leous@westwicke.com
(646) 866-4012
Source: Vivani Medical, Inc.
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