Praxis Precision Medicines Announces Plans to Begin Ulixacaltamide Phase 3 in Essential Tremor by Year End After Completing End of Phase 2 Meeting with FDA
June 09 2023 - 7:00AM
Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRAX), a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company translating genetic insights into the
development of therapies for central nervous system (CNS) disorders
characterized by neuronal excitation-inhibition imbalance, today
announced the outcomes from a recent end-of-Phase 2 meeting with
the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding plans to
advance ulixacaltamide into Phase 3 for essential tremor (ET).
“Our constructive discussion with the FDA established the path
forward towards registration in the U.S. for ulixacaltamide. This
program brings a new mechanism to a large and underserved
population. We are very glad to have the support for so many
aspects of the program, including two different Phase 3 trial
designs, which provide multiple ways to demonstrate efficacy while
also being efficient with resources,” said Marcio Souza, president
and chief executive officer of Praxis.
Key elements of the registration plan:
- Use of the modified Activities of
Daily Living 11 (mADL111) as the primary endpoint is acceptable. In
the Phase 2 Essential1 study, mADL11 was nominally significant
(p=0.042)
- Agreement to use a single dose of 60
mg for the Phase 3 trials
- Base case assumption confirmed for
two Phase 3 trials, one of which will be a 12-week, parallel design
study and one of which will be a 12-week randomized withdrawal
study for stable responders
- Safety database required for a New
Drug Application (NDA) at the minimum required by ICH guidelines:
300 patients with six-months of exposure and 100 patients with
one-year of exposure
- Agreement that
the completed and planned clinical pharmacology and toxicology
studies would be sufficient for submission of an NDA
The protocols for the Phase 3 trials are being finalized and
Praxis intends to submit to the current Investigational New Drug
Application shortly.
About Ulixacaltamide Ulixacaltamide is a
differentiated and highly selective small molecule inhibitor of
T-type calcium channels designed to block abnormal neuronal burst
firing in the Cerebello-Thalamo-Cortical (CTC) circuit correlated
with tremor activity. Ulixacaltamide, the most advanced program
within Praxis’ Cerebrum™ small molecule platform, is currently in
development for the treatment of essential tremor and as a
non-dopaminergic treatment for the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s
disease.
About Essential Tremor Essential Tremor
(ET) is the most common movement disorder, affecting roughly seven
million people in the United States alone, including approximately
two million diagnosed patients. ET is characterized by involuntary
rhythmic movement in the upper limbs, with or without tremor in
other body locations such as the head, vocal cords, or legs. These
tremors significantly disrupt daily living and are progressive in
nature, with increases in tremor severity and amplitude commonly
observed over the course of the disease. There is only one approved
pharmacotherapy for ET, propranolol, a beta blocker approved by the
FDA in 1967, that offers limited efficacy and poor tolerability and
that is contraindicated for comorbidities that affect a significant
share of the ET population. Other beta blockers and
anti-convulsants are used off-label, though similarly are
characterized by limited efficacy and tolerability. For these
reasons, approximately 40% of patients who seek pharmacotherapy
treatment for ET discontinue within two years.
About PraxisPraxis Precision Medicines is a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company translating insights from
genetic epilepsies into the development of therapies for CNS
disorders characterized by neuronal excitation-inhibition
imbalance. Praxis is applying genetic insights to the discovery and
development of therapies for rare and more prevalent neurological
disorders through our proprietary small molecule platform,
Cerebrum™, and antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) platform, Solidus™,
using our understanding of shared biological targets and circuits
in the brain. Praxis has established a diversified, multimodal CNS
portfolio including multiple programs across movement disorders and
epilepsy, with four clinical-stage product candidates. For more
information, please visit www.praxismedicines.com and follow
us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
and other federal securities laws, including express or implied
statements regarding Praxis’ future expectations, plans and
prospects, including, without limitation, statements regarding the
clinical development of ulixacaltamide, as well as other statements
containing the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,”
“endeavor,” “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “may,”
“might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,”
“should,” “target,” “will” or “would” and similar expressions that
constitute forward-looking statements under the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
The express or implied forward-looking statements included in
this press release are only predictions and are subject to a number
of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without
limitation: uncertainties inherent in clinical trials; the expected
timing of submissions for regulatory approval or review by
governmental authorities; regulatory approvals to conduct trials;
and other risks concerning Praxis’ programs and operations as
described in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2022, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other
filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although
Praxis’ forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment
of its management, these statements are based only on information
and factors currently known by Praxis. As a result, you are
cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. Any
forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as
of the date on which it is made. Praxis undertakes no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as
a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
1 mADL11 comprises 11 elements of the TETRAS Activities of Daily
Living, excluding social impact, individually scored from 0-3.
Investor Contact
Praxis Precision Medicines
investors@praxismedicines.com
781-964-0053
Media Contact
Ian Stone
Canale Communications
Ian.stone@canalecomm.com
619-849-5388
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