Initiation of Two Phase II Studies with Ipsen's Proprietary BIM 23A760

15th March 2010

Ipsen announced today the initiation of dosing in two phase II clinical studies to evaluate efficacy and safety of BIM 23A760 in two groups of patients, one suffering from characinoid syndrome due to neuroendocrine tumors, the other from acromegaly.

"After the encouraging signs of efficacy observed in the first clinical studies in healthy as well as acromegaly volunteers, we look forward to further investigating BIM 23A760 efficacy and safety in patients with neuroendocrine tumors or acromegaly. This very promising compound is core to Ipsen's strategy to enhance its fast-growing and competitive endocrinology franchise, featuring among other drugs Somatuline(R), a somatostatin analogue developed and marketed on a global scale" said Stephane Thiroloix, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Development, Ipsen.

About BIM 23A760 - BIM 23A760 has been designed and developed by Ipsen's research team using its validated peptide engineering platform. This first-in-class innovative chimeric compound bears within a single molecule two pharmacological moieties, i.e. a somatostatin analog and a dopamine agonist which act synergistically following activation of those receptors in disorders such as acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors. The design of BIM 23A760 is based on a novel concept in molecular biology regarding the amplification of intracellular signalling when engaging simultaneously two receptors with their respective ligands. The molecule targets two patho-physiological pathways among the most commonly associated with pituitary tumors: Growth hormone and prolactin. Aside from the symptomatic treatment of acromegaly and carcinoid syndrome due to neuroendocrine tumors, BIM 23A760 might potentially also reduce the tumor size, thereby eliminating some of the shortcomings of the treatments currently available. Ipsen is currently studying this molecule whose spectrum of activity is wider than that of currently marketed somatostatin analogues.

About the phase II trial in acromegaly - The clinical trial is a phase II open, randomized, parallel group, non comparative multicenter study to assess the efficacy and safety of repeated subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of different doses of BIM 23A760 on growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels in patients with acromegaly after 6 months of treatment.

This clinical trial follows phase I and IIa trials. In the phase I, BIM 23A760 administration in healthy volunteers potently suppressed prolactin levels and statistically significant reductions in IGF-1 levels were observed. In the phase IIa study, the exposure to BIM 23A760 in acromegalic patients, exhibited a 66--74% mean maximum reduction in growth hormone (GH) levels. A dose dependent tendency for a more pronounced and longer GH inhibition was also observed. Additionally, a reduction in IGF-1 levels was seen in both dosage (1 mg and 4 mg). BIM 23A760 was well tolerated at both dosages.

Source :- marketwatch.com