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Vertex and Parion Sciences Establish Collaboration to Develop Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC) Inhibitors in Cystic Fibrosis and Other Pulmonary Diseases
-ENaC inhibition aims to restore or improve hydration of cell surfaces in the lungs to improve lung function-
-Parion to receive
"This collaboration with Parion complements our ongoing work in CF and
supports our two key goals in this disease - to increase the number of
people eligible for new CF medicines and to enhance the benefit of
treatment," said
"ENaC inhibition represents a promising opportunity to potentially
enhance the benefit of existing treatments for people with CF, and we
have worked diligently to bring P-1037 from our research labs and into
Phase 2 development," said
Cystic fibrosis is a rare genetic disease that is caused by defective or missing cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulatory (CFTR) proteins resulting from mutations in the CFTR gene. The defective or missing CFTR proteins result in poor flow of salt and water into and out of the cell in a number of organs, including the lungs. The defective CFTR protein that causes CF is also believed to increase the function of ENaC, which may contribute to dehydration of the cell surface of lungs in people with CF. In CF, the poor flow of salt and water in cells prevents cilia on the surface of the cell from beating properly, which leads to a buildup of abnormally thick, sticky mucus that can cause chronic lung infections and progressive lung damage, eventually leading to death.
About the Collaboration
Under the terms of the collaboration, Vertex obtained worldwide
development and commercial rights to Parion's lead investigational ENaC
inhibitors, including P-1037 and P-1055, for the potential treatment of
CF and all other pulmonary diseases. Parion received an
Parion recently initiated an exploratory Phase 2a study of inhaled P-1037 in approximately 120 people with CF. The study is enrolling people with a confirmed diagnosis of CF and any CFTR mutation, including those who have mutations not expected to respond to ivacaftor alone. The study is evaluating the use of P-1037, with and without hypertonic saline, compared to placebo. Patients in the study will continue to receive standard CF medicines.
Preclinical evaluation in human bronchial epithelial cells from people with CF who have two copies of the F508del mutation showed that the addition of investigational P-1037 to the investigational combination of lumacaftor and ivacaftor resulted in an additional increase in both airway surface liquid and cilia beat frequency compared to baseline and to the use of P-1037 or lumacaftor/ivacaftor alone. Improvements in airway surface liquid height and cilia beat frequency are direct measures of increased hydration of the cell surface. This in vitro observation suggests that the addition of P-1037 to the investigational combination of lumacaftor and ivacaftor could enable enhanced function of the cell's cilia to clear mucus from the cell surface, potentially resulting in improved lung function. Based on these preclinical results, Vertex is preparing to conduct a Phase 2a study to evaluate whether the addition of P-1037 to the combination of lumacaftor and ivacaftor in people with CF who have two copies of the F508del mutation provides additional benefit as compared to the combination of lumacaftor and ivacaftor alone. This Phase 2a study is expected to begin in early 2016.
Beyond CF, Vertex and Parion plan to conduct additional Phase 2a studies of P-1037 across multiple other pulmonary diseases where the disease results in defective hydration of the cell surfaces in the lung. These diseases include Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Non-CF Bronchiectasis (NCFB) and Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD). Parion will conduct Phase 2a development in these diseases and retains an option to participate in co-development and co-commercialization activities related to one of these non-CF pulmonary diseases.
Vertex continues to expect 2015 non-
About Cystic Fibrosis
CF is a rare, life-threatening genetic disease affecting approximately 75,000 people in North America, Europe and Australia. Children must inherit two defective CFTR genes — one from each parent — to have CF. There are more than 1,900 known mutations in the CFTR gene. Some of these mutations, which can be determined by a genetic, or genotyping, test, lead to CF by creating non-working or too few CFTR proteins at the cell surface. The defective or missing CFTR protein results in poor flow of salt and water into and out of the cell in a number of organs, including the lungs. This leads to the buildup of abnormally thick, sticky mucus that can cause chronic lung infections and progressive lung damage. The defective CFTR protein that causes CF is also believed to increase the function of ENaC, which may contribute to dehydration of the cell surface of lungs in people with CF. Today, the median predicted age of survival for a person with CF is between 34 and 47 years, but the median age of death remains in the mid-20s.
About Parion Sciences
Parion Sciences is a development stage biopharmaceutical company
dedicated to research, development and commercialization of treatments
to improve and extend the lives of patients with innate mucosal surface
defense deficiencies of the lung or eye. Parion has a diverse pipeline
of pre- clinical and clinical candidates for the treatment of these
diseases via distinctive mechanisms of action and approaches. Parion is
at the forefront of ENaC development and leverages its scientific
expertise in epithelial biology to expand the company's platforms and
novel chemical compounds into new potential indications to treat mucosal
defects. Parion has received grant funding from the
About Vertex
Vertex is a global biotechnology company that aims to discover, develop and commercialize innovative medicines so people with serious diseases can lead better lives. In addition to our clinical development programs focused on cystic fibrosis, Vertex has more than a dozen ongoing research programs aimed at other serious and life-threatening diseases.
Founded in 1989 in Cambridge, Mass., Vertex today has research and
development sites and commercial offices in the United
States, Europe, Canada and
Special Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without
limitation, Dr. Chodakewitz's statements in the second paragraph of the
press release, Mr. Boucher's statements in the third paragraph of the
press release, information regarding Vertex's 2015 non-GAAP operating
expenses and the information provided regarding the development
timeframe of P-1037. While Vertex believes the forward-looking
statements contained in this press release are accurate, these
forward-looking statements represent the company's beliefs only as of
the date of this press release and there are a number of factors that
could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those
indicated by such forward-looking statements. Those risks and
uncertainties include, among other things, that the company's
expectations regarding its 2015 non-GAAP operating expenses may be
incorrect (including because one or more of the company's assumptions
underlying its expense expectations may not be realized) or that data
may not support further development of the compounds subject to the
collaboration due to safety, efficacy or other reasons, and other risks
listed under Risk Factors in Vertex's annual report and quarterly
reports filed with the
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