MONTREAL, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Akela Pharma Inc. , a drug development company focused on developing therapies for the inhalation and pain markets, today announced positive final results from its pilot GHRH Phase II study. Within only 4 weeks of treatment, Akela GHRH induced a highly significant stimulation of endogenous growth hormone (GH) secretion and a marked increase of circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) as compared to placebo in patients with chronic kidney disease. These endocrine effects were associated with a significant increase in Fat Free Mass (FFM), and concomitant reduction in Fat Mass (FM) when measured by DEXA scan and bioelectrical impedance (BIA). As we reported in July 2007, the study did not reveal significant changes between treatment groups in total body protein turnover. Total body protein turnover, as measured by 13C leucine kinetics, was normal in both treatment groups already at baseline, most probably reflecting adaptative changes of metabolic balance in the chronic disease state.
ABOUT THE STUDY:
The study was conducted at 3 European sites. It was designed to evaluate the clinical potential of GHRH analogue (AKL-0707) administration in improving body composition, nutritional and metabolic parameters in malnourished patients with stage IV or pre-dialytic stage V chronic kidney disease (CKD). Malnutrition was defined by either serum albumin <40 g/l, body mass index (BMI) <23, or a greater than 5% loss of body weight in the last 6 months.
Twenty-eight patients were randomized to either GHRH analogue subcutaneously (sc.) (13 patients) or placebo sc. (15 patients). Twenty-six subjects completed the study as planned. The mean age was 61.8 and 63.4 in the GHRH analogue and placebo groups, respectively. The treatment was administered twice daily (AM & PM) for 28 days, at a dose of approximately 15 (micro)g/kg body weight (BW).
The measurement of protein turnover as assessed by 13C-leucine kinetics was selected as the primary parameter to monitor the trend in protein metabolism as published clinical data suggested an improvement in lean body mass was not to be expected within one month of treatment. In addition, the study focused on the effect of GHRH analogue on endogenous 24-hour growth hormone (GH) secretion, circulating total insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and its binding proteins IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3, fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) as assessed by Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and bioimpedance (BIA), biochemical parameters of nutritional and metabolic states, as well as safety and tolerability.
FINDINGS
In the Intention to Treat (ITT) population, a 4-week treatment with GHRH analogue produced the following statistically significant (p<0.05) changes in comparison to placebo:
There were no statistically or clinically significant differences between the treatment groups in terms of safety assessments. There were no human anti-GHRH antibodies detected in any of the patients.
There were altogether 128 on-treatment adverse events (AE) reported by 26 subjects: 70 with GHRH analogue and 58 with placebo. Only one AE, injection site bruising, was classified as definitely caused by GHRH analogue treatment. Four serious adverse events (SAE) were reported, 3 in the placebo and one in the GHRH analogue groups. None of the SAEs were considered to be related to the study medication.
“The positive final results of our GHRH Phase II clinical trial confirm the substantial therapeutic potential of GHRH analogue, and clearly justify pursuing further clinical studies in not only chronic renal failure but also in other wasting diseases such as severe COPD and HIV-infection associated wasting.” said Dr. Halvor Jaeger, Chief Executive Officer of Akela Pharma Inc.
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Conference call information:
Akela will host a conference call at 11.00 am, on Monday November 12, 2007. Interested parties may also access the conference call by webcast at www.akelapharma.com.
The telephone numbers to access the conference call are 416-644-3426 or 1-800-594-3615. A replay of the call will be available until Monday November 19, 2007. The telephone numbers to access the replay are 416-640-1917 and 1-877-289-8525 with code number 21253359#.
About Malnutrition in chronic renal failure (CRF)
CRF is a gradual and progressive loss of the ability of the kidneys to excrete wastes, concentrate urine and conserve electrolytes. CRF usually develops over years as the kidney structures are slowly damaged. Advanced CRF is characterized by anorexia, malnutrition, wasting, latent inflammation, accelerated atherosclerosis and a state of resistance to multiple endogenous hormones. Resistance to endogenous growth hormone is believed to contribute to tissue catabolism, but can be overcome by administration of exogenous growth hormone at pharmacological doses. Administration of AKL-0707 may stimulate endogenous growth hormone release sufficiently to reverse loss of muscle mass particularly in pre-end stage CRF patients, in whom resistance mechanisms are not as marked yet while many patients are already malnourished.
About Akela’s GHRH (AKL-0707)
Akela’s proprietary 29 amino-acid peptide analogue of GHRH is designed to stimulate growth hormone secretion in patients. Positive results from its previous Phase I/II trial showed that after administration of AKL-0707, a rapid and very significant increase in the levels of growth hormones occurred at all dosage levels without significant adverse events.
About Akela Pharma Inc.
Akela Pharma is an integrated drug development company focused on developing therapies for the growing multi-billion dollar inhalation and pain markets. Its lead product, for the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain, is a fast-acting Fentanyl formulation delivered using the Company’s TAIFUN(R) dry powder inhaler platform. Its pipeline also includes therapeutics for asthma, COPD, growth hormone deficiencies and controlled substance abuse deterrent formulations.
Akela’s common shares trade on The Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) under the symbol “AKL” with 11.7 million shares outstanding.
THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAINS CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT REFLECT THE CURRENT VIEWS AND/OR EXPECTATIONS OF AKELA PHARMA INC. WITH RESPECT TO ITS PERFORMANCE, BUSINESS AND FUTURE EVENTS. SUCH STATEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO A NUMBER OF RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND ASSUMPTIONS. ACTUAL RESULTS AND EVENTS MAY VARY SIGNIFICANTLY.
CONTACT: visit Akela’s website at www.akelapharma.com, or contact:
Frederic Dumais, Vice-President, Investor Relations, (514) 315-3330 ext.
106, Fax: (514) 315-3325
