-- 15 Year-Old with Stem Cell Transplant-Associated TMA Had
Previously Developed Additional Life-Threatening Condition while on
Soliris® --
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 2016--
Omeros Corporation (NASDAQ: OMER) today announced that, following
physician request, it will provide continued supply of OMS721 for a
pediatric patient with hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated
thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA) who is currently receiving the
drug under the company’s compassionate use program. The patient’s
treating physician requested extended access to OMS721 for his 15
year-old patient given her positive results with OMS721 treatment,
including discontinuation of dialysis. HSCT-TMA most commonly affects
the kidneys but can also damage the lungs, gastrointestinal tract and
central nervous system, and severe cases often require dialysis and
carry a mortality rate in excess of 90 percent. OMS721 is Omeros’ lead
human monoclonal antibody targeting mannan-binding lectin-associated
serine protease-2 (MASP-2). In addition to its Phase 2 clinical program
in TMA, OMS721 is currently in a Phase 3 program for patients suffering
from atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and in a Phase 2 program for
renal diseases, including immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy and
membranous nephropathy.
Approximately 20,000 HSCT procedures are performed in the U.S. annually,
and TMA is reported to occur in approximately 10 to 25 percent of HSCT
patients. HSCT-TMA patients frequently have a complex history of
disease. This pediatric patient had received a stem cell transplant to
treat a rare life-threatening anemia. Following her transplant, she
developed TMA. She began treatment with Soliris and improved but
developed pulmonary edema so Soliris treatment was stopped. Following
relapse of her HSCT-TMA, she received a low dose of Soliris and again
developed pulmonary edema, again requiring discontinuation of Soliris
treatment. Her TMA progressed and she developed renal failure requiring
dialysis. When she began OMS721 treatment, she had been on dialysis for
several months and required daily platelet transfusions.
After three weeks of OMS721 treatment the patient was able to
discontinue dialysis. The frequency of platelet transfusions has been
decreased by more than 50 percent despite bone marrow suppression caused
by other concurrent conditions. Two measures of red blood cell
destruction have also substantially improved on OMS721 treatment: her
haptoglobin has normalized on OMS721 treatment and her lactate
dehydrogenase (LDH) has decreased by more than 50% percent but still
remains slightly elevated. All OMS721 administrations have been well
tolerated by the patient, and no side effects have been observed with
this treatment. The patient is also now able to spend weekends at home
with her family. Because of the patient’s improvement on OMS721, her
treating physician requested, and Omeros granted, an extension of the
OMS721 compassionate use treatment protocol under which this pediatric
patient is being treated.
“The patient, her family and her team of physicians are obviously
thrilled with her improvement on OMS721,” stated Marco Zecca, M.D.,
Director of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Fondazione IRCCS
Policlinico San Matteo in Pavia, Italy. “Stem cell transplant-related
TMA is a devastating and often fatal condition, and this is a patient
who had failed other treatment. Her response to OMS721 is impressive,
underscored by her ability to stop dialysis. We appreciate receiving
ongoing access to OMS721 for her treatment, and we look forward to her
continued improvement and a return to a more healthy and normal life.”
“All of us at Omeros feel privileged to participate in the care of this
young girl,” stated Gregory A. Demopulos M.D., Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Omeros. “We remain committed to supporting both her
and her physicians in her care and to her continued recovery. While
treatment results are routinely described in numbers and statistics,
this patient demonstrates the human side of our work, and it is
heartening.”
Omeros’ OMS721 compassionate use program is active internationally.
About Omeros’ MASP-2 Program
Omeros controls the worldwide rights to MASP-2 and all therapeutics
targeting MASP-2, a novel pro-inflammatory protein target involved in
activation of the complement system, which is an important component of
the immune system. The complement system plays a role in the
inflammatory response and becomes activated as a result of tissue damage
or microbial infection. MASP-2 is the effector enzyme of the lectin
pathway, one of the principal complement activation pathways.
Importantly, inhibition of MASP-2 does not appear to interfere with the
antibody-dependent classical complement activation pathway, which is a
critical component of the acquired immune response to infection, and its
abnormal function is associated with a wide range of autoimmune
disorders. MASP-2 is generated by the liver and is then released into
circulation. Adult humans who are genetically deficient in one of the
proteins that activate MASP-2 do not appear to be detrimentally affected
by the deficiency. Omeros has received both Orphan Drug status and Fast
Track designation from the U.S. FDA for its lead human MASP-2 antibody
OMS721. Following discussions with both the FDA and the European
Medicines Agency, a Phase 3 program for OMS721 in atypical hemolytic
uremic syndrome is in progress. Also, two Phase 2 trials are ongoing.
One is evaluating OMS721 in glomerulonephropathies, which has generated
positive data in patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy and
with membranous nephropathy and the other is being conducted in patients
with thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs), with positive data reported in
patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated TMA. In
addition to potential intravenous administration, Omeros plans to
commercialize OMS721 for one or more therapeutic indications as a
subcutaneous injection and is also developing small-molecule inhibitors
of MASP-2. Based on requests from treating physicians, Omeros has
established a compassionate-use program for OMS721, which is active in
both the U.S. and Europe.
Omeros also has identified MASP-3 as the protein that is critical to the
activation of the complement system’s alternative pathway in humans,
which is linked to a wide range of immune-related disorders. In addition
to its lectin pathway inhibitors, the company is advancing its
development of antibodies and small-molecule inhibitors against MASP-3
to block activation of the alternative pathway.
About Omeros Corporation
Omeros is a biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering,
developing and commercializing both small-molecule and protein
therapeutics for large-market as well as orphan indications targeting
inflammation, coagulopathies and disorders of the central nervous
system. Part of its proprietary PharmacoSurgery® platform,
the company’s first drug product, OMIDRIA® (phenylephrine and
ketorolac injection) 1% / 0.3%, was broadly launched in the U.S. in
April 2015. OMIDRIA is the first and only FDA-approved drug (1) for use
during cataract surgery or intraocular lens (IOL) replacement to
maintain pupil size by preventing intraoperative miosis (pupil
constriction) and to reduce postoperative ocular pain and (2) that
contains an NSAID for intraocular use. In the European Union, the
European Commission has approved OMIDRIA for use in cataract surgery and
lens replacement procedures to maintain mydriasis (pupil dilation),
prevent miosis (pupil constriction), and to reduce postoperative eye
pain. Omeros has clinical-stage development programs focused on:
complement-associated thrombotic microangiopathies; complement-mediated
glomerulonephropathies; Huntington’s disease and cognitive impairment;
and addictive and compulsive disorders. In addition, Omeros has a
proprietary G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) platform, which is making
available an unprecedented number of new GPCR drug targets and
corresponding compounds to the pharmaceutical industry for drug
development, and a platform used to generate antibodies.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are subject to the “safe
harbor” created by those sections for such statements. All statements
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“could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “look forward to,”
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“would” and similar expressions and variations thereof. Forward-looking
statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on
information available to management only as of the date of this press
release. Omeros’ actual results could differ materially from those
anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons,
including, without limitation, risks associated with product
commercialization and commercial operations, unproven preclinical and
clinical development activities, regulatory oversight, intellectual
property claims, competitive developments, litigation, and the risks,
uncertainties and other factors described under the heading “Risk
Factors” in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2016. Given these
risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, and the company assumes no
obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new
information becomes available in the future.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161206005673/en/
Source: Omeros Corporation
Cook Williams Communications, Inc.
Jennifer Cook Williams
Investor
and Media Relations
360.668.3701
jennifer@cwcomm.org