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Amicus Therapeutics Presents Positive Results
from Phase 1 Clinical Studies of Plicera™ for Gaucher Disease; Phase 2
Clinical Trials Initiated
Cranbury, NJ – March 21, 2007
Amicus Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing small
molecule, orally-administered pharmacological chaperones for the
treatment of a range of human genetic diseases, announced today that it
will present positive results from its recently completed Phase 1
clinical studies of Plicera™ (isofagomine tartrate, AT2101) for Gaucher
disease at the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) Annual
Meeting on March 21-25 in Nashville, TN. The Phase 1 results show that
Plicera was well-tolerated and that oral administration resulted in a
significant elevation of target enzyme levels in healthy volunteers.
Based on these results, Amicus announced today the initiation of two
Phase 2 clinical trials of Plicera for Gaucher disease.
Plicera is designed to selectively bind to and stabilize GCase, the
enzyme deficient in Gaucher disease. This deficiency leads to lysosomal
accumulation of glucocerebroside inside certain cells, which is believed
to cause the various symptoms of Gaucher disease. Plicera facilitates
proper trafficking of the enzyme to the lysosomes, the compartments in
the cell where it is needed to break down glucocerebroside.
Phase 1 Plicera data being presented at ACMG
Two double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose escalation Phase 1 studies in
healthy volunteers were completed. These studies were designed to
evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of Plicera. In
the first study, 36 subjects received a single dose of one of five dose
levels of Plicera. The second study was a multiple-dose study in which
18 subjects received one of three dose levels of Plicera once daily for
7 consecutive days. In both studies, Plicera was safe and well tolerated
at all doses. There were no serious adverse events and no subjects
withdrew or discontinued due to an adverse event. In the multiple-dose
study, a dose-dependent increase in GCase levels was observed in white
blood cells from healthy volunteers receiving Plicera.
Phase 2 Clinical Trials of Plicera in Gaucher
Disease
Based on the Phase 1 results, Amicus has initiated two Phase 2 clinical
trials of Plicera for Gaucher disease. One is a 4-week study designed to
evaluate the safety and pharmacodynamic effects of Plicera in Type I
Gaucher patients who will discontinue enzyme replacement therapy for the
duration of the study. The second is a 6-month study designed to
evaluate the safety of Plicera and its effect on parameters that are
commonly abnormal in Gaucher disease. This study will be conducted in
Type I Gaucher patients who have never received enzyme replacement
therapy. More information regarding these studies can be found at
www.clinicaltrials.gov and
www.amicustherapeutics.com.
About Gaucher Disease
Gaucher disease, the most commonly diagnosed lysosomal storage disorder,
is caused by inherited genetic mutations in the GBA gene, which result
in deficient activity of the enzyme acid ß-glucosidase, also known as
glucocerebrosidase (GCase). Deficient GCase activity leads to lysosomal
accumulation of glucocerebroside inside certain cells, which is believed
to cause the various symptoms of Gaucher disease, including an enlarged
liver and spleen, abnormally low levels of red blood cells and platelets
and skeletal complications. In some cases there is significant
impairment of the central nervous system. Gaucher disease affects an
estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people worldwide. The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration's Office of Orphan Products Development has granted
orphan drug designation for the active ingredient in Plicera in the
United States.
About Amicus Therapeutics
Amicus Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel,
oral therapeutics known as pharmacological chaperones for the treatment
of a range of human genetic diseases. Pharmacological chaperone
technology involves the use of small molecules that selectively bind to
and stabilize proteins in cells, leading to improved protein folding and
trafficking, and increased activity. Amicus is initially targeting
lysosomal storage disorders, which are severe, chronic genetic diseases
with unmet medical needs. Amicus is currently conducting Phase 2
clinical trials for its two lead compounds, Amigal™ for Fabry disease,
and Plicera™ for Gaucher disease. The company is currently conducting
Phase 1 trials with AT2220 for the treatment of Pompe disease.
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