ProMetic receives clearance from Health Canada to proceed with its PBI-4050 placebo-controlled phase 2 clinical trial in patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes

LAVAL, QC, Nov. 16, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (TSX: PLI) (OTCQX: PFSCF) ("ProMetic" or the "Corporation") today reported that it has received clearance by Health Canada to commence a placebo-controlled phase 2 clinical trial with its PBI-4050, the company's orally active, lead small molecule anti-fibrosis drug candidate, in patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.  

The objectives of this 12 week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center, 4 arm with 67 patients per arm (1 placebo, 3 escalating doses) phase 2 clinical trial includes the evaluation of the effects of PBI-4050 on metabolic syndrome parameters and on pro-inflammatory/fibrotic and diabetic biomarkers in the blood and urine. The phase 2 clinical trial is expected to commence in Q4 2016.

ProMetic has recently reported data from its completed open label Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes where PBI-4050 (800 mg) was administered once daily to 24 patients for a period of 12 weeks, and for an additional 12 weeks to 10 patients. The data collected confirmed the achievement of the clinical trial primary and secondary endpoints. The pharmacological activity of PBI-4050 was confirmed through the clinically significant reduction in HbA1c observed between the date of screening and Week 12; a reduction that was maintained at 24 week. Several biomarkers measured in the blood or urine of patients and associated with a high incidence of cardiovascular complications and kidney injuries when found to be elevated in metabolic syndrome patients were significantly reduced by PBI-4050.  

Mr. Pierre Laurin, CEO of ProMetic commented: "We are very excited to quickly move to the placebo controlled portion of our metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes clinical program. Based on the level of clinical efficacy observed in the open label portion of the program, we are very confident in the ability of PBI-4050 to replicate the same significant reduction in key metabolic parameters in a placebo controlled clinical trial environment".

More data from the open label phase 2 clinical trial will be disclosed during the forthcoming annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology in Chicago (Nov. 18) and at the Corporation's Analyst Day scheduled for November 21 in NYC.

More on Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and for Type 2 diabetes, and consists of the constellation of central (truncal) obesity, high blood triglycerides, low HDL ("good") cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and elevated blood glucose. Obesity is believed to cause a chronic inflammatory state, which leads to insulin resistance and so may in turn result in cardiovascular disease and/or Type 2 diabetes. Given the global epidemic of obesity, both in the developed and developing world, the metabolic syndrome and its consequences present a devastating public health problem. It is difficult to grasp the numbers and the overwhelming public health issues presented by the global epidemic of obesity, the metabolic syndrome, and Type 2 diabetes. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that in 2013 there were 300 million diabetics world-wide, and that that number will increase to 600 million by the year 2035. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 34% of US adults have the metabolic syndrome, and that 1 of 3 children born in the U.S. during the year 2000 will develop diabetes during their lifetime.

More on PBI-4050

PBI-4050 is an orally active lead drug candidate with excellent safety and efficacy profiles confirmed in several in vivo experiments targeting fibrosis. Fibrosis is a very complex process by which continuing inflammation causes vital organs to lose their function as normal tissue is replaced by fibrotic scar tissue. The proof of concept data generated to date confirms our lead drug candidates' anti-fibrotic activity in several key organs including the kidneys, the heart, the lungs and the liver. Twenty six million patients in the U.S. alone are believed to suffer from chronic kidney diseases ("CKD"). Patients with severe CKD stages (3 and 4) suffer from a progressive loss of their renal function leading to end-stage renal disease and the need for dialysis or kidney transplant. Cardiovascular complications are the most common cause of death in dialysis patients.

About ProMetic Life Sciences Inc.

ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (www.prometic.com) is a long established biopharmaceutical company with globally recognized expertise in bioseparations, plasma-derived therapeutics and small-molecule drug development. ProMetic offers its state of the art technologies for large-scale purification of biologics, drug development, proteomics and the elimination of pathogens to a growing base of industry leaders and uses its own affinity technology that provides for highly efficient extraction and purification of therapeutic proteins from human plasma in order to develop best-in-class therapeutics and orphan drugs. ProMetic is also active in developing its own novel small-molecule therapeutic products targeting unmet medical needs in the field of fibrosis, anemia, neutropenia, cancer and autoimmune diseases/inflammation as well as certain nephropathies. Headquartered in Laval (Canada), ProMetic has R&D facilities in the UK, the U.S. and Canada, manufacturing facilities in the UK and commercial activities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Russia, Asia and Australia.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about ProMetic's objectives, strategies and businesses that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are "forward-looking" because they are based on our current expectations about the markets we operate in and on various estimates and assumptions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks affect our business, or if our estimates or assumptions turn out to be inaccurate. Such risks and assumptions include, but are not limited to, ProMetic's ability to develop, manufacture, and successfully commercialize value-added pharmaceutical products, the availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the ability of ProMetic to take advantage of business opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes in economic conditions. You will find a more detailed assessment of the risks that could cause actual events or results to materially differ from our current expectations in ProMetic's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2015, under the heading "Risk and Uncertainties related to ProMetic's business". As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement even if new information becomes available, as a result of future events or for any other reason, unless required by applicable securities laws and regulations. All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless indicated otherwise.

                                                           

SOURCE ProMetic Life Sciences Inc.

Pierre Laurin, President and CEO, ProMetic Life Sciences Inc., [email protected], +1.450.781.0115; Frédéric Dumais, Senior Director, Communications and Investor Relations, ProMetic Life Sciences Inc., [email protected], +1.450.781.0115