Clinical update

Allergy Therapeutics PLC 24 March 2006 Allergy Therapeutics plc Positive outcome of pivotal Pollinex(R) Quattro Ragweed study - R204 Allergy Therapeutics plc, the specialist pharmaceutical company focused on allergy vaccination, today announces that it has achieved a positive outcome for its key clinical efficacy and safety study R204. The R204 study is a crucial part of the company's development of their ultra short course allergy vaccines, Pollinex Quattro. These four shot products are based on MPL(R), the company's innovative TLR4-agonist which acts as an efficient allergy vaccine adjuvant. Pollinex Quattro Ragweed is designed to treat patients allergic to ragweed pollen. It is estimated that more than 30 million people in North America suffer from allergies to ragweed. The Pollinex Quattro allergy vaccines, which require only four injections per year, have the potential to transform allergy treatment, by providing a convenient, safe, effective and potentially curative method of vaccination. The positive R204 study results mark an important step in the development of Pollinex Quattro for ragweed allergy. In addition, the R204 outcome: • supports the Company's application for registration in Canada planned for the middle of 2006; • is a key element in "End of Phase II" discussions with the FDA and other authorities prior to initiating Phase III; • contributes to the data on safety and efficacy of the company's other ultra short course Pollinex Quattro vaccines in Grass and Tree, which are also in development. The R204 study was conducted in an Environmental Exposure Chamber (EEC). A group of 177 ragweed sensitive patients were exposed to controlled quantities of ragweed pollen to simulate a heavy pollen day and their reactions before and after treatment were compared. The initial results of this study demonstrate that Pollinex Quattro Ragweed was well tolerated and significantly reduced clinical symptoms compared with placebo. The Pollinex Quattro treatment group total symptom score had fallen to 9.1 from a baseline of 15.7. The 'primary endpoint' of the study, this change from baseline in the active treatment group, was statistically significant (p<0.01) compared with placebo and demonstrates a clinically significant 42% improvement in symptoms and a 48% relative superiority over placebo. These results represent an improvement in the average patient's symptoms from 'moderate' to 'mild', and will shortly be augmented with further ongoing analyses of secondary outcomes. In addition to these clinical results, a highly significant immunological response (increase in serum IgG) was observed (p<0.001). Commenting on today's announcement, Dr. Piyush Patel, Principle Scientist, Medical Monitor for the study and Allergist, said: "Ragweed is the major allergen in North America and the cause of a great deal of suffering. The EEC is a particularly rigorous test methodology for studying allergy and medication efficacy. Testing involves real patients, real pollen, real symptoms and this study has demonstrated a real clinical benefit. The treatment schedule and speed of action of this ultra short course therapy should translate into rapid acceptance." Dr Tom Holdich, Allergy Therapeutics' R&D Director, commented: "This is the climax of all the pre-Phase III work that we have conducted over the last year and probably the most important data that we have generated in the last 5 years. North America is now firmly in our sights. It's a fantastic shot in the arm" Keith Carter, Allergy Therapeutics' Chief Executive Officer, said: "I am delighted to be able to deliver such positive news. Today's announcement is a landmark step in the process for achieving global registration and launches for Pollinex Quattro. We have tremendous confidence in Pollinex Quattro which has already sold over 143,000 treatment sets and successfully treated over 74,000 patients. This is an exciting time for Allergy Therapeutics as we continue to make good progress in the development of our entire pipeline of innovative MPL-based vaccines all of which will help in bringing allergy vaccination into the mainstream" -ends- For further information: Allergy Therapeutics plc Keith Carter, Chief Executive Officer +44 (0)1903 845 820 Bell Pottinger Dan de Belder/Emma Charlton +44 (0)20 7861 3232 About the R204 Study R204 is a double-blind, placebo controlled, Phase IIb study to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Pollinex Quattro Ragweed using an Environmental Exposure Chamber. The trial included 188 patients with a history of moderate to severe seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis, a positive skin prick test and a positive radioallergosorbent test (RAST) to ragweed allergen. Patients had a baseline, pre-treatment, exposure to ragweed pollen in the EEC for 3 hours on four consecutive days and recorded nasal and non-nasal symptoms every 30 minutes. These patients then received 4 weekly subcutaneous injections with either Pollinex Quattro Ragweed (95 pts) or placebo (93 pts). After a period of approximately three weeks to allow for the immune response, patients had a second, post-treatment, series of exposures in the EEC. Primary efficacy outcome has been assessed as the change from baseline in the post-treatment total symptom scores ('TSS') in the Pollinex Quattro Ragweed group compared with placebo in the per-protocol population of 177 patients. TSS is a combination of all the major nasal (rhinorrhea, congestion, sneezing and itchiness) and non nasal (itchy/gritty eyes, tearing/watery eyes, red/burning eyes, ear/palate itching) allergy symptoms. Secondary outcomes include the assessment of immune response. Assessment of primary efficacy outcome indicated that total symptom score at baseline was comparable between treatment groups. Re-assessment following the 4 injection treatment course indicated that in the Pollinex Quattro Ragweed treatment group TSS had fallen from 15.7 to 9.1. This change from baseline in the active treatment group was statistically significant (p<0.01) compared with placebo and demonstrates a clinically significant 42% improvement in symptoms and a relative superiority over placebo of 48%. Analysis of the Intention To Treat population was of comparable magnitude and also statistically significant. This clinical improvement was supported by immunological changes demonstrating a statistically significant six-fold post-treatment rise in total ragweed specific IgG (p<0.001 compared with placebo). These antibodies are thought to be an important of component of the immunological processes which allow vaccination to modifying the underlying disease process as well as treat symptoms. There were no serious adverse experiences or severe systemic reactions reported during the study. The incidence and nature of adverse experiences were as expected with a subcutaneous vaccine. The commonest reported adverse experiences were injection site reactions, however, the majority of adverse experiences were mild. Analysis of additional secondary outcome measures is currently ongoing About Allergy Therapeutics' clinical trials programme To complement today's announcement, Allergy Therapeutics is also providing an update on its clinical trial programmes. There are three programmes of subcutaneous immunotherapy in clinical development. These are the Pollinex Quattro Grass, Tree & Ragweed programmes all of which are based on proprietary MPL technology. Since 2005, 11 pre-Phase III studies have been conducted in North America involving a total of approximately 700 patients and preparations for initiating all three Phase III developments later this year are well underway. Collectively these form the "Caution: Allergen" programme. In addition there is a sub-lingual trial programme currently at phase I/II. Grass Allergy Programme The Grass pre-Phase III programme has completed four studies, one of which (G203) recently reported results. Finalised data from the programme will be submitted to FDA in Q2 2006. Subject to agreement with the FDA a single, pivotal, international Phase III study in approximately 90 centres in North America and Europe will be initiated with treatment scheduled for Q4 2006. Tree Allergy Programme The Pollinex Quattro Tree programme has completed three studies with analysis of a fourth study currently ongoing. Subject to Phase III approval, treatment is scheduled to start during the second half of 2006 with symptom assessment during the 2007 season. Ragweed Programme R204 is pivotal for the registration of Pollinex Quattro in Canada. The Company is currently working on completion of the analysis of R204 and compiling a dossier for regulatory submission to Health Canada in mid-2006. This study is also an important part of the global registration strategy and compliments study R203, a dose-ranging study which is currently ongoing. These data will inform the assumptions and final design of the ragweed Phase III study. It is our intention, subject to Phase III approval, to initiate Phase III during 2006 with patient treatment and assessment focussed on 2007 season. Study R205, in a set-up phase, is designed to investigate the maintenance of clinical benefit in those patients who participated in R204. Maintenance of effect from year to year is crucial indicator of immune modulation that differentiates allergy vaccines from symptomatic therapies. Sublingual Programme The Company has commenced a Phase IIa clinical Proof of Concept study investigating the potential immunological and clinical benefits of MPL in sublingual immunotherapy. The first phase of this study has completed recruitment and sublingual treatment including MPL for the first time is currently underway. Initial results are scheduled around the middle of the year and, if successful, could represent a major therapeutic breakthrough in immunotherapy About MPL and M.A.T.A. MPL (Monophosphoryl Lipid A) is an immunostimulatory substance used to enhance the performance of vaccines (an "adjuvant"). It has been widely tested and can be characterized as a Toll-Like 4 Receptor (TLR4) agonist. Allergy Therapeutics is conducting a programme of late phase trials in injected vaccines (Pollinex Quattro) with MPL and GSK has several vaccine candidates containing the adjuvant including Fendrix(R), a vaccine for Hepatitis B which was approved by the EMEA (the EU-wide medicines evaluation agency) last year. M.A.T.A .stands for Modified Allergen Tyrosine Absorbate, other key components of the product, which enhance both safety and efficacy of the vaccine and enable this ultra short treatment regimen. About Allergy Therapeutics plc Allergy Therapeutics plc is a London Stock Exchange (AIM: AGY) listed specialist pharmaceutical company focused on allergy vaccination. It has a profitable core business achieving sales of allergy vaccines of over £22 million through its own sales and marketing infrastructure Allergy Therapeutics manufactures its own vaccine products in a MHRA approved, sterile manufacturing facility in Worthing, United Kingdom. In January 2006 the Company successfully underwent an audit by the MHRA. Allergy Therapeutics has certain exclusive intellectual property rights to the use of MPL in both injected and sublingual vaccines This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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