Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Presents Data Supporting Edasalonexent as a Potential Foundational Treatment for
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
-- Boys on Edasalonexent Grew More than Two Inches Taller per Year on Average --
Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:CATB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today shared additional clinical
results from the MoveDMD trial of edasalonexent. In the Phase 2 MoveDMD trial and open-label extension, boys with Duchenne muscular
dystrophy (DMD) treated with edasalonexent on average grew in line with the growth of unaffected boys in the same age range. These
data were presented on Sunday, February 17, 2019, at the XVII International Conference on Duchenne and Becker
Muscular Dystrophy in Rome, Italy.
“While the primary goal in treating boys with Duchenne is to slow the progression of the disease, we recognize the significant
negative impact on boys’ quality of life when they do not grow and develop like their friends. We are pleased to see boys on
edasalonexent growing like their unaffected peers while also demonstrating substantially slowed disease progression,” said Joanne
Donovan, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Catabasis. “These characteristics are what make edasalonexent a great potential
foundational therapy for the treatment of Duchenne.”
In the MoveDMD trial, boys treated with edasalonexent grew an average of 2.1 inches taller per year and gained 2.9 pounds per
year, and their overall body mass index decreased from 70th percentile of unaffected boys to the 55th
percentile over 72 weeks of treatment, approaching the average body mass index for unaffected boys. Boys treated with
corticosteroids, the standard of care in DMD, typically experience excess weight gain and curtailed growth.
“Using corticosteroids can be very beneficial to many patients with DMD. However, alternatives are desperately needed as
steroids come with a long list of very unpleasant side effects, which includes stunted growth. This can affect self-esteem and
confidence. We are very encouraged by this early data suggesting that boys on edasalonexent did not have their growth affected, and
we look forward to seeing more results,” said Emily Crossley, co-founder and co-CEO, Duchenne UK.
Edasalonexent is being studied in the Phase 3 PolarisDMD trial, which is actively enrolling patients. The PolarisDMD trial is
evaluating the efficacy and safety of edasalonexent in patients with DMD and is intended to support an application for commercial
registration of edasalonexent. A total of 17 PolarisDMD clinical trial sites are now open for enrollment across the United States,
Canada and Australia. Additional PolarisDMD clinical trial sites are expected to open in the United States, Canada, Europe,
Australia and Israel in the next couple of months. In total, the PolarisDMD trial will include approximately 40 clinical trial
sites globally with enrollment expected to be completed in 2019.
The global Phase 3 PolarisDMD trial is a one-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Catabasis plans to enroll
approximately 125 patients ages 4 to 7 (up to 8th birthday) regardless of mutation type who have not been on steroids
for at least 6 months. Boys on a stable dose of eteplirsen may be eligible to enroll. The primary efficacy endpoint is change in
the North Star Ambulatory Assessment score after 12 months of treatment with edasalonexent compared to placebo. Key secondary
endpoints include the age-appropriate timed function tests: time to stand, 4-stair climb and 10-meter walk/run. Assessments of
growth, cardiac and bone health are also included as important potential areas of differentiation. Two boys will receive 100
mg/kg/day of edasalonexent for each boy that receives placebo, and, after 12 months, all boys are expected to receive edasalonexent
in an open-label extension study. The PolarisDMD trial design was informed by discussions with regulators as well as input from
treating physicians, patient organizations and families of boys affected by Duchenne.
The Phase 3 PolarisDMD trial is designed to further validate the positive efficacy seen in the MoveDMD Phase 2 trial and
open-label extension evaluating edasalonexent. In the MoveDMD trial, we observed that edasalonexent preserved muscle function and
substantially slowed DMD disease progression across all four assessments of muscle function (the North Star Ambulatory Assessment,
time to stand, 4-stair climb and 10-meter walk/run) through 72 weeks of treatment compared to an off-treatment control period.
Preclinical data and clinical biomarker data from the MoveDMD Phase 2 trial suggest that edasalonexent could have potential
benefits in skeletal muscle, diaphragm and heart. Edasalonexent has been well tolerated through more than 55 patient-years of
treatment with no safety signals observed.
More information about the Phase 3 PolarisDMD clinical trial is available on
clinicaltrials.gov and in a recently recorded
webinar with PPMD. Contact the Catabasis clinical team with any questions at DMDtrials@catabasis.com.
About Edasalonexent (CAT-1004)
Edasalonexent (CAT-1004) is an investigational oral small molecule that is being developed as a potential new standard of care for
all patients affected by DMD, regardless of their underlying mutation. Edasalonexent inhibits NF-kB, which is a key link between
loss of dystrophin and disease progression in DMD. NF-kB has a fundamental role in skeletal and cardiac muscle disease in DMD. We
are currently enrolling our global Phase 3 PolarisDMD trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of edasalonexent for registration
purposes. In our MoveDMD Phase 2 trial and open-label extension, we observed that edasalonexent preserved muscle function and
substantially slowed disease progression compared to rates of change in a control period, and significantly improved biomarkers of
muscle health and inflammation. Edasalonexent continues to be dosed in the open-label extension of the MoveDMD trial. The FDA has
granted orphan drug, fast track, and rare pediatric disease designations and the European Commission has granted orphan medicinal
product designation to edasalonexent for the treatment of DMD. For a summary of clinical results, please visit
www.catabasis.com.
About Catabasis
At Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, our mission is to bring hope and life-changing therapies to patients and their families. Our lead
program is edasalonexent, an NF-kB inhibitor in development for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Our global Phase 3
PolarisDMD trial is currently enrolling boys affected by Duchenne. For more information on edasalonexent and our Phase 3 PolarisDMD
trial, please visit
www.catabasis.com or
www.twitter.com/catabasispharma.
Forward Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including statements about
future clinical trial plans including, among other things, statements about the Company’s global Phase 3 PolarisDMD trial in DMD to
evaluate the efficacy and safety of edasalonexent for registration purposes, and other statements containing the words “believes,”
“anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “may” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking
statements as a result of various important factors, including: uncertainties inherent in the initiation and completion of
preclinical studies and clinical trials and clinical development of the Company’s product candidates; whether interim results from
a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of the trial or the results of future trials; expectations for regulatory
approvals to conduct trials or to market products; availability of funding sufficient for the Company’s foreseeable and
unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements; other matters that could affect the availability or
commercial potential of the Company’s product candidates; and general economic and market conditions and other factors discussed in
the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, which is on
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other filings that the Company may make with the Securities and Exchange
Commission in the future. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views
as of the date of this press release. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company’s
views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the
Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing
the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release.
Andrea Matthews
Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
T: (617) 349-1971
amatthews@catabasis.com
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