Opexa Initiates Late Stage Clinical Study of Tcelna in Patients with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS)

THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPXA), a company developing Tcelna, a novel T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS), today announced the initiation of a Phase IIb clinical trial of Tcelna in patients with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS). Several patients have already been enrolled in the study and enrollment is expected to increase rapidly as additional sites begin screening and enrolling patients in the coming weeks. Tcelna is the first ever personalized T-cell therapy for MS patients and has received Fast Track Designation from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of SPMS. The therapy is specifically tailored to each patients individual disease profile and has demonstrated superior safety and encouraging indications of efficacy in previous clinical studies in MS that included the treatment of SPMS patients. There is currently only one FDA-approved treatment for SPMS but safety warnings have severely restricted its use.

While a positive trial outcome will certainly be good news for SPMS patients, it is also not difficult to envision that it could position Tcelna as a promising treatment for the larger RRMS patient population as well.

The newly initiated trial, named Abili-T, is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study in SPMS patients who demonstrate evidence of disease progression without associated relapses. The trial is expected to enroll 180 patients at approximately 30 leading clinical sites in the U.S. and Canada with each patient receiving two annual courses of Tcelna treatment consisting of five subcutaneous injections per year. The study will assess a number of clinical endpoints to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tcelna in patients with SPMS. The primary efficacy outcome of the trial is the percentage of brain volume change (atrophy) at 24 months. Study investigators will also measure several important secondary outcomes commonly associated with MS including disease progression as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), annualized relapse rate (ARR) and changes in disability as measured by EDSS and the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC).

In multiple previously conducted clinical trials for the treatment of patients with MS, Tcelna has demonstrated one of the safest side effect profiles of any marketed or development-stage MS therapy, as well as encouraging efficacy signals indicating Opexas therapy may have the potential to be both safe and effective for the treatment of both SPMS and RRMS patients. In Phase I/II studies involving SPMS patients treated with Tcelna (n=36), 80 percent of the patients treated with Tcelna showed no evidence of disease progression at 24 months (a 50% improvement, with respect to patients showing evidence of disease progression, over historical controls). Following two years of treatment, a subset of these patients (n=10) reported no worsening of their physical or psychological condition. Additionally, in 21 years of cumulative follow up in the same SPMS patients treated with Tcelna, the annualized relapse rate for this same subset of patients was reduced significantly compared to baseline and only one patient experienced a relapse during this time.

To witness the initiation of this clinical study following the extensive preparations that were required is a tremendous testament to the dedication and talent of the entire Opexa team. We believe this is a critical milestone for not just our Company, but for all of those SPMS patients who desperately need and deserve a better, safer and more effective treatment option, said Neil K. Warma, President and Chief Executive Officer of Opexa. We return to the clinic with an enhanced manufacturing process, an optimized clinical development strategy, Fast Track designation from the FDA and the belief that Tcelna is the most promising MS treatment in development today.

The initiation of this trial follows a number of key enhancements to the Tcelna clinical development program. First, Opexa has optimized its Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control (CMC) process for the therapy in order to improve efficiency, reduce overall costs and bring it further in line with commercial stage requirements. Following completion of these manufacturing and logistical enhancements, the Company submitted an updated CMC application which has been fully reviewed by the FDA. In addition, the Company has modified its clinical development strategy for Tcelna to focus current efforts on the SPMS patient population in order to address the severe lack of treatment options currently available or in development for these patients. Finally, to reflect its work in optimizing the overall manufacturing process and clinical development strategy for the program, Opexas lead product candidate, formerly known as Tovaxin, has been rebranded as Tcelna.

It is very gratifying to see Opexas novel T-cell therapy return to the clinic and I am excited to be part of the ongoing investigation of a potential MS treatment that possesses such an impressive early safety profile. This is an exceedingly important study for the entire MS community as it will go a long way toward demonstrating how effective the therapy may be for the most in need and underserved progressive MS patient population, stated Mark Freedman, M.D., director of the Multiple Sclerosis Research Unit at the Ottawa Hospital, member of Opexa's Scientific Advisory Board, and an investigator for the Abili-T trial. While a positive trial outcome will certainly be good news for SPMS patients, it is also not difficult to envision that it could position Tcelna as a promising treatment for the larger RRMS patient population as well.

The initiation of this clinical trial is a very important milestone in the area of MS research, particularly in light of the significant need for new and effective treatments for these patients, commented Hans-Peter Hartung, M.D., chairman of the department of neurology at Heinrich-Heine University, Dusseldorf and member of Opexa's Scientific Advisory Board. As a personalized immunotherapy, Tcelnas unique mechanism strongly differentiates it from other development stage MS treatments. This combined with a safety profile that is unmatched by other MS therapies currently available or in development positions Tcelna as a potentially very interesting therapy for a large, underserved patient population. Currently, there is no satisfactory treatment available for SPMS patients.

While its current clinical trial targets SPMS patients, Opexa also intends to continue the development of Tcelna as a treatment for RRMS patients. Opexa has successfully completed End of Phase II meetings with the FDA and believes it is positioned to initiate Phase III pivotal trials in RRMS patients. Importantly, the results of the ongoing Abili-T trial should further enhance the Companys future efforts in the RRMS indication. The primary focus at present, however, is the ongoing Phase IIb SPMS Abili-T trial and on securing the necessary capital required for the completion of that trial.

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Opexa Initiates Late Stage Clinical Study of Tcelna in Patients with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS)