Synergy Pharmaceuticals
28.01.2013 11:00
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SP-333 Advances to Multiple-Dosing Safety Study
NEW YORK, 2013-01-28 11:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Synergy Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGYP), a developer of new drugs to treat
gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, announced today that oral dosing of healthy
volunteers has begun in a Phase I clinical trial of SP-333, a guanylate cyclase
C (GC-C) agonist for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
including ulcerative colitis (UC). SP-333 has exhibited potent
anti-inflammatory activity in animal studies of colitis, displaying a novel
mechanism-of-action that the company believes could provide a new way to treat
UC patients with mild-to-moderate disease.
'We're pleased with the results of our SP-333 single-dose-ascending trial in
healthy volunteers, which was completed in late 2012, and are eager to move
forward with further development of SP-333,' said Dr. Gary S. Jacob, President
and CEO of Synergy Pharmaceuticals. 'This second trial is an important step in
ultimately evaluating SP-333's potential to treat GI inflammatory diseases such
as UC.'
The present trial, designed as a placebo-controlled, dose-escalating,
multiple-dose study in 64 healthy adult volunteers, is focused on exploring the
safety profile of SP-333. The study will take place in one site in the United
States.
'SP-333 is our first clinical candidate for evaluating the anti-inflammatory
potential of GC-C receptors to treat GI anti-inflammatory conditions such as
UC,' said Dr. Kunwar Shailubhai, Synergy's Chief Scientific Officer. 'In
experimental models of colitis in mice, we have found that treatment with
SP-333 ameliorates GI inflammation, likely through inhibition of NF-kappa B
signaling to suppress production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.'
About SP-333
SP-333 is a synthetic analog of uroguanylin, a natriuretic peptide hormone
normally produced in the lumen of the intestinal tract. Deficiency of
uroguanylin is likely to be one of the primary causes for the formation of
polyps, as well as debilitating and difficult-to-treat GI inflammatory
disorders such as UC and Crohn's disease. Orally-administered SP-333 binds to
and activates the GC-C receptor expressed on epithelial cells lining the GI
mucosa, thereby stimulating cyclic GMP in target tissues. SP-333 was shown to
be highly stable against proteolysis in simulated intestinal fluid for up to 24
hours. Its stability profile has made this peptide an extremely potent GC-C
agonist in studies of mice and monkeys. SP-333 promoted bowel movement in
studies of monkeys and ameliorated GI inflammation in studies of mice.
About Ulcerative Colitis
More than a half million Americans live with UC, a type of IBD that causes
chronic inflammation of the colon. Along with Crohn's disease, the other major
form of IBD, UC is painful and debilitating. Patients with UC are at increased
risk for colon cancer and may ultimately require surgical removal of the colon.
There are no medical cures for UC, and long-term remission with current
treatments is limited. New treatments for UC patients are urgently needed.
About Synergy Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Synergy is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new drugs
to treat gastrointestinal disorders and diseases. Synergy's lead proprietary
drug candidate, plecanatide, is a synthetic analog of the human
gastrointestinal hormone uroguanylin, and functions by activating the guanylate
cyclase C receptor on epithelial cells of the GI tract. Synergy completed a
positive Phase I study of plecanatide in healthy volunteers, and positive Phase
IIa and Phase IIb/III clinical trials in patients with chronic idiopathic
constipation (CIC). Detailed positive findings from a recently completed Phase
IIb/III clinical trial will be presented at a major scientific meeting this
year. Synergy is also developing plecanatide for the treatment of irritable
bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), having initiated the first trial in
IBS-C patients in late 2012. Synergy's second GC-C agonist, SP-333, is in
clinical development to treat inflammatory bowel diseases, and has just
completed its first Phase I trial in healthy volunteers. More information is
available at http://www.synergypharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may
be identified by the use of forward- looking words such as 'anticipate,'
'planned,' 'believe,' 'forecast,' 'estimated,' 'expected,' and 'intend,' among
others. These forward-looking statements are based on Synergy's current
expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of
factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those
indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are
not limited to, substantial competition; our ability to continue as a going
concern; our need for additional financing; uncertainties of patent protection
and litigation; uncertainties of government or third party payer reimbursement;
limited sales and marketing efforts and dependence upon third parties; and
risks related to failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and
noncompliance with FDA regulations. As with any pharmaceutical under
development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory
approval and commercialization of new products. There are no guarantees that
future clinical trials discussed in this press release will be completed or
successful or that any product will receive regulatory approval for any
indication or prove to be commercially successful. Investors should read the
risk factors set forth in Synergy's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2011 and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. While the list of factors presented here is considered
representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of
all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant
additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the date hereof, and
Synergy does not undertake any obligation to update publicly such statements to
reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
Media Contact:
Janet Skidmore
Office: 215-658-4915
Mobile: 215-429-2917
skidmorecomm@earthlink.net
Investor Contact:
Danielle Spangler
The Trout Group
synergy@troutgroup.com
(646) 378-2924
News Source: NASDAQ OMX
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Language: English
Company: Synergy Pharmaceuticals
United States
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ISIN: US8716393082
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DGAP-News: Synergy Pharmaceuticals Initiates Multiple Ascending Dose Phase Ib Trial in Healthy Volunteers of SP-333, a Second Generation Guanylate Cyclase C Agonist for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis
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