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Mereo BioPharma Announces Additional Positive Data from Phase 2b ASTEROID Study of Setrusumab in Adults with Osteogenesis Imperfecta and Provides Update on Regulatory ProgressAdditional Data Demonstrate Dose-Dependent Increase in Bone Strength Stiffness and Failure Load at the Radius as Measured by Finite Element Analysis, a Second Prespecified Primary Endpoint, Reaching Statistical Significance in High Dose Cohort Statistically Significant Increase in Trabecular Bone Score at the Lumbar Spine in Both Medium and High Dose Cohorts EMA Supports Initiation of Planned Pivotal Pediatric Study; FDA Type B End-of-Phase 2 Meeting Scheduled for Q1 2020 LONDON and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Jan. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mereo BioPharma Group plc (NASDAQ: MREO, AIM: MPH), "Mereo" or the "Company," today announced additional endpoint data from the Company’s Phase 2b dose-ranging "ASTEROID" clinical study of setrusumab (BPS-804), an anti-sclerostin antibody, in adults with Type I, III or IV osteogenesis imperfecta (“OI”). These additional prespecified endpoint data build upon the Company’s 12-month topline data from the ASTEROID study announced in November 2019, which demonstrated a dose-dependent, statistically significant bone building effect of setrusumab at multiple anatomical sites in adult OI patients (irrespective of OI subtype). OI is a rare disorder characterized by fragile bones and reduced bone mass with no approved treatments. “Based upon our review of the comprehensive data set from the Phase 2b ASTEROID study, these additional prespecified analyses support our previous conclusions that setrusumab is building bone at the lumbar spine and is increasing bone strength at multiple peripheral sites in adult OI patients,” said Dr. Alastair MacKinnon, Chief Medical Officer of Mereo. “We believe these additional endpoint data, together with the totality of the 12-month topline data and trend in fracture rate reduction in the high dose cohort, are fully supportive of moving forward with our planned pivotal trial in children with OI. To this end, we have made additional progress on the regulatory front, including a positive recent meeting with the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”), and are currently preparing for a Type B End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA, scheduled for the first quarter of 2020.” “Finite element analysis (“FEA”) is one of the best measures available to monitor bone strength in clinical studies, being sensitive to important changes in trabecular and cortical bone as well as overall bone structure. In OI patients given setrusumab for 12 months, the FEA technique was used to assess forearm (radius) bone strength at the beginning and end of the treatment period,” said Dr. Ken Poole, Reader in Metabolic Bone Disease at the University of Cambridge. “These new data are consistent with an effect of setrusumab at the high dose on improving radius bone strength as evidenced by a better ability to resist experimental deformation and improved failure load. There are no currently approved therapies for osteogenesis imperfecta, and treatment options are greatly needed." Additional Prespecified Efficacy Endpoint Results Finite Element Analysis to Measure Bone Strength by Failure Load and Stiffness at the Radius (Second Primary Endpoint on a Hierarchical Basis) The primary endpoint of the ASTEROID study was change in Trabecular Volumetric Bone Mineral Density (Tr. vBMD) of the radius (wrist) over baseline after 12 months of treatment as measured by High Resolution peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (HR-pQCT), followed by bone strength as calculated using FEA, a derived measurement of the mechanical strength gained by accumulated material in the bone. Setrusumab demonstrated a dose dependent increase in both failure load and stiffness at the radius at 12 months, achieving statistical significance in the high dose cohort across both of these parameters (p=0.037 for failure load and p=0.022 for stiffness). FEA is based on the totality of the bone compartments (trabecular and cortical bone) and these data demonstrate that treatment with high dose setrusumab results in a significant increase in bone strength at the peripheral bone sites, consistent with the previously reported statistically significant increases in total vBMD as measured by HRpQCT (a secondary endpoint of the study). Table 1: Increase in Failure Load at the radius determined by FEA and by dose cohort (all OI subtypes)
Table 2: Increase in stiffness at the radius determined by FEA and by dose cohort (all OI subtypes)
Trabecular bone score (TBS) is a gray-level texture index determined from patient lumbar spine dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans that correlates with 3D parameters of trabecular bone architecture thought to help predict fracture. DXA is a well-established measurement tool of bone mineral density (cortical + trabecular bone). Setrusumab demonstrated a statistically significant increase in TBS at both the high (p<0.001) and medium dose cohorts (p<0.001). Importantly, the spine is composed of both trabecular and cortical bone and these data demonstrate efficacy of setrusumab in the trabecular bone compartment at the lumbar spine which can be combined with the previously reported data from HRpQCT at the radius showing the impact of setrusumab on the cortical bone. Table 3: Increase in TBS at the vertebral spine (all OI subtypes)
As previously reported, topline 12-month safety results suggest setrusumab was safe and well tolerated in the ASTEROID study. Regulatory Progress Update Mereo expects to conduct a Type B End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Q1 2020 to discuss the data from the Phase 2b ASTEROID study as well as the proposed pediatric pivotal study design. Mereo intends to announce the outcome of these discussions following the meeting. About the Phase 2b ASTEROID Study About Osteogenesis Imperfecta About Setrusumab Mereo has obtained orphan drug designation in OI for setrusumab in both the United States and the EU, in February 2017 setrusumab was accepted into the EMA’s adaptive pathways program in the EU and, in November 2017 it was accepted into the EMA’s Priority Medicines scheme (PRIME). About Mereo BioPharma Mereo’s broader pipeline consists of four additional clinical-stage product candidates; acumapimod for the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (“AECOPD”), leflutrozole for the treatment of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (“HH”) in obese men, navicixizumab for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (recently licensed to Oncologie), and etigilimab for patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. Forward-Looking Statements Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include risks relating to unanticipated costs, liabilities or delays; failure or delays in research and development programs, including expected timing of topline data for the Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical trial evaluating the Company’s second lead product candidate, alvelestat, in patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency; the safety and efficacy of the Company’s product candidates and the likelihood of clinical data to be positive and of such product candidates to be approved by the applicable regulatory authorities; unanticipated changes relating to competitive factors in the Company’s industry; risks relating to the Company’s capitalization, resources and ownership structure, including as a result of circumstances affecting the Company’s former principal shareholder; the availability of sufficient resources for company operations and to conduct or continue planned clinical development programs, including the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; changes in law or regulations affecting the Company. All of the Company’s forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties (some of which are significant or beyond its control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s historical experience and its present expectations or projections. The foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that affect the Company’s business, including those described in its Annual Report on Form 20-F, Reports on Form 6-K and other documents filed from time to time by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and those described in other documents the Company may publish from time to time should be carefully considered. The Company wishes to caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of our forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. Mereo BioPharma Contacts:
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