Anthera announces results from blisibimod Phase 2b study on SLE

Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANTH), a biopharmaceutical company developing drugs to treat serious diseases associated with inflammation and autoimmune disorders, today announced results from the Phase 2b PEARL-SC clinical study in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.  

The purpose of the PEARL-SC study was to identify an effective and safe dose for future phase 3 clinical studies and explore key inclusion criteria and clinical endpoints in an effort to maximize differentiation of blisibimod from currently available therapies.  The 200mg weekly subcutaneous dose of blisibimod demonstrated a strong trend in improved clinical response as early as week 16 (p= 0.14), at the primary endpoint (p=0.15) and throughout week 44 including a statistically significant improvement at week 20 versus placebo (p=0.02).

In a predefined phase 3 target population of severely ill, seropositive lupus patients, defined as SELENA-SLEDAI ≥10 and receiving background corticosteroid medication, a more pronounced effect was seen in the 200mg weekly dose group demonstrating a 13.8% treatment difference compared to placebo at 24 weeks.  In this subgroup, planned for phase 3 studies, separation of clinical response occurred as early as week 8 and was also sustained through week 44.

"The extensive data in the target severe population from our Phase 2 clinical program supports the initiation of a much smaller yet differentiated Phase 3 registration plan with the selected dose of blisibimod in patients with severe systemic lupus erythematosus.  We have prospectively demonstrated for the first time the possibility for a subcutaneously administered BAFF inhibitor to be used in the treatment of a severe lupus population.  The subgroup of severe patients from our Phase 2 study clearly identifies those patients most in need of therapy and most likely to benefit from our potent BAFF inhibitor blisibimod," said Paul F. Truex, Anthera's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Feedback from the EMA Scientific Advice process combined with an End of Phase 2 meeting in the third quarter will form the basis of our final phase 3 study designs."

The pre-specified primary efficacy endpoint, clinical improvement at 24 weeks in the SLE responder index for the pooled blisibimod dose groups, was not met due to a lack of clinical efficacy in the 100mg weekly and 200mg monthly dose groups.  All doses of blisibimod demonstrated consistent serological response including reductions of B-cells, ds-DNA and improvements in both complement C3 and C4.  Blisibimod was safe and well-tolerated at all dose levels with no meaningful imbalances in serious adverse events.  A single suicide attempt and a non-fatal single tuberculosis infection were seen in the placebo group.  There were seven deaths during the study - three in placebo and four blisibimod. 

Following a submission in April of 2012 the Company received written Scientific Advice from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) confirming the acceptability of the Company's proposed Phase 3 design for the treatment of severe systemic lupus erythematosus patients as a basis for a marketing authorization application (MAA).  The EMA feedback confirms that our development program, including the heightened SRI-5 endpoint, is acceptable and that positive results from Phase 3 clinical studies in a severe lupus population would support approval of the product. The EMA has endorsed the Company's proposed Phase 3 manufacturing plan, which includes utilization of the recently manufactured drug substance and the use of a pre-filled syringe.

"The 200mg weekly dose was clearly the most clinically effective blisibimod dose.  In the severe lupus patients the treatment effect is evident after 12 weeks with a numerically greater number of responders at all subsequent time points despite early withdrawal of background therapy.  This is particularly evident among the most severely ill patients who require aggressive corticosteroid therapy," said Colin Hislop, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President. "The PEARL-SC results demonstrate an ability to clinically differentiate blisibimod from currently available lupus therapies."