Rick Graham
Analyst · SVB Securities. Your question please
Thanks Rhonda. In my section today, I'll be discussing the YUPELRI PIFR-2 study at a high level and we'll spend most of the time discussing the underappreciated opportunity of ampreloxetine in development for the treatment of MSA patients with symptomatic nOH. Slide 13 serves as a reminder that we conducted a prior clinical trial called PIFR-1 that served to inform the design for the ongoing PIFR-2 trial. The left hand figure shows the results of the intent-to-treat population in PIFR-1. PIFR-1 included GOLD 2, 3, and 4 patients with a PIFR value of less than 60 liters per minute at inclusion, the left axis is least squares mean change from baseline and FEV1 at day 30. While the results demonstrated a larger change from baseline for revefenacin relative to tiotropium, this effect was not statistically significant. Importantly, a pre-specified analysis of GOLD 3 and 4 patients shown on the right hand figure demonstrated a clear 50 milliliter and clinically relevant treatment benefit of revefenacin over tiotropium. In addition to providing confidence on the probability of technical success, the results of PIFR-1 inform the design of the PIFR-2 study. Turning to Slide 14, the Phase 4 PIFR-2 study continues to actively enroll patients and will potentially provide even further competitive upside for YUPELRI. We continue to guide toward top line results in the second half of 2023. Transitioning to ampreloxetine, a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor being developed for the treatment of symptomatic nOH in patients with MSA. In MSA, patients with nOH, blood pressure falls when upright owing to impaired release of norepinephrine leading to debilitating symptoms which can have a profound impact on quality of life. Moving to Slide 16, we are pleased to announce that the Phase 3 study CYPRESS is open and actively recruiting patients. We are projecting that enrollment will be completed in the second half of 2024. Slide 17 illustrates how we believe ampreloxetine works on a cellular tissue and patient level. The top left panel shows the untreated state where the norepinephrine reuptake transporter reduces endogenous norepinephrine levels. In the middle panel, low norepinephrine causes blood vessels to dilate leading to a decrease in blood pressure. This condition can result in syncope when a patient stands up as depicted in the far right panel. In contrast, the bottom panel shows the effect of ampreloxetine by inhibiting the norepinephrine reuptake transporter, ampreloxetine increases norepinephrine levels leading to vasoconstriction and an increase in blood pressure. This ultimately leads to better organ perfusion and relief of symptoms for patients. As shown on Slide 18, we believe that effective treatment with ampreloxetine requires intact peripheral nerves. This has been a longstanding hypothesis and is supported by the scientific literature. In the previous Phase 3 study, we incorporated a threshold of 40% of the study population to have MSA and we pre-specified a disease type analysis in the protocol for this very reason. MSA is depicted on the left slide is characterized by lesions in the brain that lead to atrophy. However, the peripheral nerves that leave the brain and innovate the vasculature are generally intact. This situation facilitates the potentiation of endogenous norepinephrine in MSA patients. In contrast, patients with Parkinson's disease and pure autonomic failure tend to have degenerated peripheral nerves which hinders norepinephrine signaling to the vasculature. Moving to Slide 19, previous clinical studies have demonstrated that ampreloxetine increased norepinephrine levels, prevented a drop in blood pressure and prevented symptom worsening in patients with MSA. The left panel of the figure shows that after four weeks of ampreloxetine treatment, norepinephrine levels increased by 57% from baseline. In the middle panel of the figure during the randomized withdrawal period of study 170, patients who continued ampreloxetine maintain their blood pressure, whereas those who administered placebo experienced more than a 12 millimeter mercury drop in their blood pressure. As depicted in the far right panel of the figure, patients who remained on ampreloxetine during the six week randomized withdrawal period maintained symptomatic benefit as measured by the OHSA composite score. In contrast, patients administered placebo experienced a clinically meaningful one and a half point worsening of the OHSA composite score. Let's take a look at Slide 20, which outlines the unique benefits of ampreloxetine treatment that we've observed. In the Phase 3 study, 170 ampreloxetine was effective at treating a range of cardinal symptoms in MSA patients and the effect was durable over the full course of the 22 week study. Additionally, ampreloxetine improved activities of daily living that require standing or walking for a short period of time. Ampreloxetine is a single 10 milligram tablet administered once-daily. This is especially beneficial for MSA patients with dysphagia, which is a frequent and disabling symptom of the disease. This feature sets potential ampreloxetine treatment apart from current therapies that require multiple tablets to be taken several times a day. Patients with nOH are at risk for supine hypertension, a dangerous increase in blood pressure while in the supine position. The two FDA-approved therapies for nOH have black-box warnings and the label highlighting this risk. However, in a safety database of more than 800 patients and healthy subjects, no signal for supine hypertension has been observed with ampreloxetine treatment. Slide 21 outlines the design of our registrational study 197, also known as CYPRESS, for the treatment of symptomatic nOH and MSA patients. The study is comprised of a 12 week open-label period followed by an eight week double-blind placebo-controlled randomized withdrawal phase. The primary endpoint is a change in OHSA composite score. Based on the strength of the prior Phase 3 study results and alignment with the FDA on the primary endpoint as well as the study design, we believe the CYPRESS study has a high probability of technical and regulatory success. Now that the study is ongoing, our development team will begin working proactively on the new drug application. Importantly, we previously met with the FDA to align on the nonclinical pharmacology, toxicology, clinical pharmacology, and CMC strategies to support the NDA. Let's move on to Slide 22. We estimate that the addressable patient population for ampreloxetine is between 35,000 and 45,000 and we are seeking orphan drug designation in the United States. Despite two approved therapies for orthostatic hypertension, there remains a significant unmet need. And ampreloxetine has the potential to offer a unique treatment profile including effectiveness on multiple symptoms, durability of effect, once-daily dosing, and a favorable safety profile. As we enter a new era in treating MSA symptoms, the potential of ampreloxetine offers hope to MSA patients with symptomatic nOH. I'll now turn the call over to Aziz to review the financials.