NASDAQ:CNAT Forward-looking Statements This presentation contains - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
NASDAQ:CNAT Forward-looking Statements This presentation contains - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
NASDAQ:CNAT Forward-looking Statements This presentation contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this presentation, including statements regarding our future results of operations
Forward-looking Statements
This presentation contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this presentation, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, prospective products, product approvals, research and development costs, timing and likelihood of success, plans and objectives of management for future operations, and future results of current and anticipated products are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These known risks and uncertainties are described in detail in our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified and some of which are beyond our control, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and we undertake no obligation to revise or update this presentation to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
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Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver in response to a variety of insults (viral infection, alcohol, obesity, etc.) There are no approved drugs that prevent progression to cirrhosis if the insult persists Liver cirrhosis kills 32,000 Americans each year
The only “cure” is a transplant
Portal hypertension is a severe and almost unavoidable complication of cirrhosis
Responsible for the main clinical consequences including variceal bleeding, decreased liver function, ascites, and encephalopathy
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As Cirrhosis Progresses, Symptoms Worsen
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Spectrum of Liver Disease
Portal hypertension
Emricasan:
A drug candidate with potential to achieve long-term resolution
- f fibrosis and cirrhosis
Latest trial results:
Demonstrated emricasan’s ability to induce a rapid and clinically meaningful reduction of severe portal hypertension Set the stage for longer term, mixed etiology, Phase 2b studies Support the rationale for using HVPG as a registration endpoint
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Key Advances for Emricasan
Based on results from exploratory Phase 2 Portal Hypertension trial
September 24, 2015 Portal Hypertension
Open-label, multicenter (9 U.S. sites) pilot study 23 patients enrolled (22 evaluable)
Early stage cirrhosis patients Portal hypertension confirmed by HVPG (>5 mmHg) at baseline Mixed etiology of liver disease – most NASH or HCV (active or SVR)
28 day dosing at 25 mg emricasan twice daily Change from baseline in HVPG and cCK18 as primary endpoints
Two specified subgroups
Patients with baseline HVPG <12 mmHg Patients with baseline HVPG ≥12 mmHg
All sites trained on standardized HVPG measurement procedure All HVPG tracings evaluated by single independent expert reader Top-line data announced September 2015
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Exploratory Phase 2 Portal Hypertension Trial
Initiated September 2014
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Patient Group Mean Baseline HVPG Mean Change in HVPG HVPG ≥12 mmHg (N=12) 20.6 mmHg ‒ 3.7 mmHg (p<0.003) HVPG <12 mmHg (N=10) 8.1 mmHg + 1.9 mmHg (p=0.12) Total (N=22) 15.2 mmHg ‒ 1.1 mmHg (p=0.26)
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Phase 2 Portal Hypertension Pilot Study Top-line Results
Rapid, statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in severe portal pressure
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In severe PH patient group with baseline HVPG ≥12 mmHg:
8 of 12 achieved ≥10% reduction in HVPG 4 of 12 achieved ≥20% reduction in HVPG 2 of 12 achieved HVPG reductions to <12 mmHg Reducing HVPG by ≥10% or ≥20%, or to <12 mmHg is strongly associated with clinical benefit
In total evaluable patient population
cCK18 reduction was statistically significant (p<0.03)
Hepatic vein Sinusoid Portal vein Normal Liver Splenic vein Coronary vein
Normal Liver – Minimal Resistance to Blood Flow
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Liver functions:
- Process nutrients
- Produce essential substances
- Remove toxins
Gut vasculature:
Drains blood containing materials to be processed by the liver from the GI
- rgans into the portal vein
Total blood flow into the liver:
Averages about 1350ml/min or 27% of resting cardiac output
Cirrhotic Liver
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Varices Splenomegaly Hepatic vein Sinusoid Portal vein Splenic vein Coronary vein Cirrhotic Liver
Accumulating damage in the liver leads to Portal Hypertension (increased resistance to blood flow coming from the portal vein) and damage to the vessels that feed blood to the liver
Portal Hypertension
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↑ Resistance ↑ Flow GI vasodilation Hepatic vasoconstriction
Both resistance to blood flow in the cirrhotic liver and vasodilation in GI blood vessels outside the liver lead to increased portal pressure
Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG)
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HVPG is the measurement of the difference in pressure inside a hepatic vein with a balloon catheter inflated
- vs. deflated. This measurement
provides a good estimate of the elevation in pressure inside the portal vein vs. the pressure in unrestricted blood vessels. HVPG has been identified by the FDA as a validated, objective measure that may be acceptable as a surrogate endpoint for clinical trials of patients with liver cirrhosis.
Bosch, J et al. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009 Oct;6(10):573-82.
Portal Hypertension and Cirrhosis
Portal hypertension
HVPG ≥10 mm Hg defines clinically significant portal hypertension. Monitoring is indicated. HVPG ≥12 mm Hg defines severe portal hypertension with increased risk of blood vessel rupture. Treatment is indicated.
Causes
Fibrosis, restriction of blood flow (vasoconstriction) within the liver Vasodilation in the blood vessels feeding the liver caused in part by apoptotic microparticles derived from dying hepatocytes
Treatment
No current treatment addresses the vasoconstriction in the liver Beta blockers lower portal pressure through a systemic effect outside the liver to reduce blood flow into the liver
Associated with increased cardiovascular risks
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First-in-class, orally active, pan-caspase inhibitor
Suppresses apoptosis and inflammation Addresses all etiologies of cirrhosis
Pharmacodynamic effects
Inhibits the activation of stellate cells and decreases fibrosis Reduces apoptosis of hepatocytes which decreases the formation of vasoactive microparticles
Safe and well tolerated in fifteen clinical trials involving over 600 subjects
No dose-limiting toxicities or drug-related serious adverse events
Initial registration strategy to focus on cirrhosis
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Emricasan
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A novel treatment for cirrhosis
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Emricasan Addresses Two Main Drivers of Liver Damage Common Across Multiple Etiologies
Portal Hypertension
Various Insults
- Infections: HCV / HBV
- Obesity: NASH / NAFLD
- Alcohol-related conditions
- Autoimmune disorders
EMRICASAN
Excessive Apoptosis Plus Excessive Inflammation Rapid and sustained reductions in elevated biomarkers of apoptosis and inflammation
September 24, 2015
APOPTOTIC CASPASE ACTIVATION
ACTIVATED CASPASES 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
INFLAMMATORY CASPASE ACTIVATION
ACTIVATED CASPASES 1 | 4 | 5 Key biomarkers: ALT flCK18 (M65) Key biomarkers: Caspase 3/7 cCK18 (M30)
Apoptosis results in the release of pro-inflammatory, vasoactive microparticles
cCK18 is embedded in the microparticles
Increased inflammation exacerbates insult to liver and increases apoptosis
Greater severity of liver disease correlates with higher cCK18 levels
Emricasan reduces apoptosis, microparticle production, and related inflammation
Reductions in cCK18 levels confirm emricasan’s on target activity
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David McCarthy, Gut May 2008 57 (5)
Hepatocytes undergoing apoptosis Emricasan
X X X
cCK18 is a direct measure of microparticles
cCK18: A Measure of Microparticles
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Microparticles: Significance in Liver Disease
Important modulators of cell-to-cell communication in disease
Often associated with severity of disease stage
Biologically active substances are carried both on and in these particles
Contents and particle surface mirror the parent cell
Actively engulfed by Kupffer cells, stellate cells, endothelial cells
Excessive microparticle production overwhelms engulfment capacity
Caspase inhibition reduces the production of microparticles
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Barteneva, N et al. Circulating microparticles: square the circle. BMC Cell Biology 2013; 14:23
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Activated hepatic stellate cells constrict the capillaries in the liver of patients with cirrhosis, and restrict blood flow (in addition to the physical presence of collagen) Stellate cell activation is reversible Antifibrogenic activity through the reduced production of collagen – later phase response
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Emricasan Effects on Liver Vasculature
Emricasan inhibits the activation of hepatic stellate cells1
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1Canbay, A et al. Hepatology 2003, 38:1188.
Normal Liver Balanced vasoconstrictors and dilators Cirrhotic Liver Imbalance in vasoconstrictors and dilators
Iwakiri, Y et al. J of Hepatology 2014, 61:912.
↑ Resistance ↑ Flow
Emricasan May Have Multiple Opportunities to Benefit the Cirrhotic Liver
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- 1. Reduce vasodilation
and reduce inflow – in the short term
- 2. Reduce resistance and
improve liver function – in the medium term
- 3. Reduce collagen and
improve architecture – in the long term
↓ Flow GI vasodilation Hepatic vasoconstriction ↓ Resistance
Emricasan produced clinically meaningful and statistically significant reductions in HVPG in patients with liver cirrhosis dosed for 4 weeks
Significant reduction in HVPG in the severe patient population Significant reduction in cCK18 in the total evaluable patient population
Both NASH and HCV patients responded well Emricasan was safe and well tolerated consistent with prior trials The acute vasoactive effect of emricasan is unique and may greatly benefit patients with cirrhosis Sets the stage for longer term, mixed etiology, Phase 2b studies Supports the rationale for using HVPG as a registration endpoint
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Summary and Conclusions
Detailed results to be presented in future scientific forum
September 24, 2015 Portal Hypertension