BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: BPAX) announced enrollment of the 2,500th woman in the LibiGel (testosterone gel) Phase III cardiovascular and breast cancer safety study. This important enrollment milestone triggers the first unblinded statistical analysis of cardiovascular events by the independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), which coincides with their fourth unblinded review of all adverse events. LibiGel is being developed for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), specifically, hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in menopausal women, for which there is currently no FDA approved product. BioSante anticipates the submission of a new drug application (NDA) for LibiGel in 2011.
The DMC's unblinded statistical analysis will determine whether the current study enrollment of 2,500 is sufficient to prove statistically the relative safety of LibiGel compared to placebo after an average of 12 months of exposure is reached, or if enrollment will continue. To date, there have been only 14 adjudicated cardiovascular (CV) events, a rate of approximately 0.65 percent, and only seven diagnoses of breast cancer, a rate of approximately 0.32 percent, after approximately 2,300 women-years of exposure in the study. BioSante will remain blinded as to the distribution of the reported safety events between the active and placebo study arms.
If enrollment continues beyond 2,500 women, an additional unblinded statistical analysis will be conducted by the DMC each time a new cardiovascular event is adjudicated. At each of these analyses the trial potentially could be fully enrolled. If enrollment is not completed sooner, enrollment will continue until the study reaches its predetermined maximum of 4,000 women.
"This milestone gives BioSante our first opportunity potentially to declare completion of enrollment in the safety study," stated Michael Snabes, M.D., Ph.D., BioSante's senior vice president of medical affairs. "We have had an extremely low number of cardiovascular and breast cancer events to date, as well as three previous favorable DMC recommendations. We expect the study to demonstrate the safety of LibiGel in the treated population, regardless of whether the DMC stops enrollment at 2,500 women or we need to continue enrollment."
About the LibiGel Phase III Cardiovascular and Breast Cancer Safety Study
The Phase III LibiGel safety study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center, cardiovascular (CV) events and breast cancer study that will enroll between 2,500 and 4,000 women. The study will continue for a total of five years, however, BioSante can use the safety study data as part of an NDA submission after an average of 12 month exposure to LibiGel or placebo. BioSante anticipates the submission of a new drug application (NDA) for LibiGel in 2011.
The LibiGel safety study is tracking a predefined list of CV events, in agreement with the FDA, including CV death, myocardial infarction and stroke in women 50 years of age or older and suffering from at least two CV risk factors including hypertension and diabetes. The objective of the safety study is to show the relative safety of testosterone compared to placebo in the number of CV events. The incidence of breast cancer also is being tracked over the course of the study.
About LibiGel®
LibiGel is a testosterone gel in Phase III clinical development for the treatment of women who suffer from female sexual dysfunction (FSD). The on-going Phase III efficacy trials are double-blind, placebo-controlled trials that will enroll up to approximately 500 surgically menopausal women each for a six-month clinical trial. The efficacy trials are being conducted under an FDA-approved special protocol assessment (SPA) agreement. LibiGel is absorbed quickly through the skin after a once-daily pea-sized application on the upper arm, delivering testosterone to the bloodstream evenly over time and in a non-invasive and painless manner.
In a Phase II trial, LibiGel significantly increased the number of satisfying sexual events in surgically menopausal women suffering from FSD by 238 percent versus baseline (p<0.0001); this increase also was significant versus placebo (p<0.05). In this study, the effective dose of LibiGel produced testosterone blood levels within the normal range for pre-menopausal women and had a safety profile similar to that observed in the placebo group. In addition, no serious adverse events and no discontinuations due to adverse events occurred in any subject receiving LibiGel. The Phase II clinical trial was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, conducted in the United States, in surgically menopausal women distressed by their low sexual desire and activity.
Source:
BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário