A selectively deuterated form of pirfenidone for the potential treatment of a range of conditions involving inflammation and fibrosis
Our lead wholly-owned candidate, LYT-100 (deupirfenidone), is being advanced for the potential treatment of conditions involving inflammation and fibrosis, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and radiation induced fibrosis.1 We also plan to study LYT-100 in progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (PF-ILDs) and we are exploring its application in other inflammatory and fibrotic conditions, including myocardial and other organ system fibrosis, based on the strength of the existing clinical data around the use of pirfenidone in these indications. LYT-100 is a selectively deuterated form of pirfenidone. It is designed to retain the potent and clinically validated anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory activity of pirfenidone, but it has a highly differentiated pharmacokinetic (PK) profile that has the potential to transform the standard of care for IPF. To date, LYT-100 has been studied in more than 400 subjects as part of our ongoing development work and indication prioritization.
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Key Points of Innovation & Differentiation
- LYT-100 has shown a 50% reduction in gastro-intestinal (GI)-related adverse events (AEs) in a head-to-head study versus pirfenidone. We believe the differentiated tolerability profile of LYT-100 will address one of the key reasons that patients on the current standard of care treatments must dose reduce, discontinue or switch from otherwise efficacious treatments.2,3 We have also been able to dose LYT-100 at a higher exposure level, but with a lower Cmax, than the FDA-approved dosage of pirfenidone, potentially enabling improved efficacy. Given this, we believe LYT-100 has the potential to become standard of care and to become a backbone therapy in the treatment for IPF.
- Pirfenidone (Esbriet®) is approved for the treatment of IPF in the US and other countries. Pirfenidone has been shown to slow the decline of lung function and research suggests it extends life by approximately 3 years in patients with IPF.4 It is one of two standard of care treatments for IPF, with nintedanib (OFEV®) being the other.
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Program Discovery Process by the PureTech Team
- We acquired LYT-100 in July 2019 based on insights gained internally and via unpublished findings through our network of collaborators. LYT-100 was originally developed by Auspex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Auspex), where our President and Chief Business, Finance and Operating Officer, Bharatt Chowrira, Ph.D., J.D., served as Chief Operating Officer. Auspex (now a wholly owned subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceuticals), pioneered the deuteration technology and successfully developed deutetrabenazine (Austedo®), the first deuterated drug that received FDA approval.
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Patient Need & Market Potential
Fibrosis and Inflammation-Related Lung Diseases
- There are approximately 120,000 people in the US and 110,000 people in the EU5 living with IPF.6 IPF is a progressive condition characterized by irreversible scarring of the lungs that makes it difficult to breathe. The prognosis of IPF is poor, with the median survival after diagnosis generally estimated at two to five years.4
- Only about 25% of IPF patients are currently being treated with either standard of care drug,3 yet combined sales of Esbriet and Ofev in 2022 were more than $4 billion, representing a significant market opportunity in IPF and other fibrotic lung diseases.7
- In 2022, we engaged an independent third-party market research firm to survey pulmonologists who actively treat IPF patients to assess the commercial opportunity for LYT-100 in IPF. The surveyed pulmonologists noted an unmet need for treatments with improved tolerability profiles, and 80-90% highlighted GI AEs as the primary reason their patients discontinue or dose reduce on current treatments. Pulmonologists said they would prescribe a new product with an improved tolerability profile and comparable efficacy to nearly 44% of their new IPF patients, and nearly 80% indicated they would prescribe it more than pirfenidone. Based on this survey, if approved by the FDA, LYT-100 would be expected to have a significant impact on the IPF market if the improved tolerability profile seen in the Phase 1 crossover study is reproduced in later stage trials and demonstrates the same or enhanced efficacy compared to standard of care.
- Pirfenidone has also shown activity in patients with non-IPF PF-ILDs, myocardial fibrosis and other organ system fibrosis.
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Milestones Achieved & Developmental Status
IPF
- In June 2022, we announced the initiation of ELEVATE IPF, a Phase 2b clinical trial of LYT-100 for the potential treatment of IPF. The global, randomized, placebo-controlled registration-enabling trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, safety and dosing regimen of LYT-100. The primary objective of the trial is to demonstrate a clinically meaningful difference versus placebo in a measure of lung function, Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), over 6 months. The trial will also assess the relative efficacy of two doses of LYT-100, one with comparable exposure to the approved dose of Pirfenidone and one with a higher level of exposure that has the potential for improved efficacy. Both doses will be compared to pirfenidone.
- In January 2022, we announced results from a randomized, double-blind crossover trial in healthy older adults demonstrating that approximately 50% fewer subjects treated with LYT-100 (deupirfenidone) experienced gastrointestinal (GI)-related adverse events (AE) compared to subjects treated with pirfenidone (17.4% vs. 34.0%). In an additional clinical trial, LYT-100 also demonstrated that it can be safely dosed with a higher total drug exposure than the currently approved dose of pirfenidone, which could translate into improved efficacy over pirfenidone.
- In May 2022, we presented additional data from the healthy older adults study at the American Thoracic Society 2022 International Conference. Notably, LYT-100 at 550 mg TID (fed state) met the criteria for bioequivalence for exposure compared to the FDA-approved dosage of pirfenidone – 801 mg TID – but with a lower Cmax. Higher dosages of LYT-100 may provide enhanced antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory activity.
Radiation Induced Fibrosis
- In 2022, we initiated a preclinical program of LYT-100 for the prevention and treatment of the delayed effects of acute radiation exposure, including radiation induced fibrosis. This program is being developed under the Animal Rule,1 which allows for the approval of drugs based on well-controlled animal models when human efficacy studies are not ethical or feasible. PureTech may be eligible to receive a priority review voucher from the FDA for a medical countermeasure application upon approval.
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Expected Milestones
- Topline results from the Phase 2b dose-ranging trial of LYT-100 in patients with IPF are expected in 2024. We also plan to pursue a streamlined development program for LYT-100 in IPF, capitalizing on efficiencies of the 505(b)(2) pathway. Pending positive clinical and regulatory feedback, the program will advance into a Phase 3 study. We believe the results of the Phase 2 study, together with a Phase 3 study, could serve as the basis for registration in the US and other geographies.
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Intellectual Property
- As of December 31, 2022, the LYT-100 patent portfolio includes 32 active patents acquired from Auspex which provide broad coverage of compositions of matter, formulations and methods of use for deuterated pirfenidone, including the LYT-100 deupirfenidone compound. This IP estate comprises six issued US patents and 26 patents issued in 23 foreign jurisdictions, which are expected to expire in 2028 and may be extended by up to five years. In addition, we have in-licensed one US patent and one US patent application from Auspex directed to formulations of deuterated pirfenidone which expires in 2035, and also filed additional patent applications on deupirfenidone, including 19 pending US patent applications, 17 foreign applications and one international PCT application directed to the use of deuterated pirfenidone, including LYT-100, for the treatment of a range of conditions. Any issued patents claiming priority to these applications are expected to expire in 2039 through 2043, exclusive of possible patent term adjustments or extensions or other exclusivities.
1 Our program in radiation induced fibrosis is preclinical-stage and is subject to the Animal Rule, which allows for the approval of drugs based on validated animal models when human efficacy studies are not feasible. The use of the Animal Rule is intended for drugs and biological products developed to reduce or prevent serious or lifethreatening conditions caused by exposure to lethal or permanently disabling toxic chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear substances.
2 Cottin, V., Koschel, D., Günther, A., Albera, C., Azuma, A., Sköld, C. M., Tomassetti, S., Hormel, P., Stauffer, J., Kirchgaessler, K., & Maher, T. M. (2018). Long-term safety
of pirfenidone: results of the prospective, observational PASSPORT study. ERJ Open Research, 4(4), 00084–02018. https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00084-2018
3 Dempsey, T., Payne, S. C., Sangaralingham, L. R., Yao, X., Shah, N., & Limper, A. H. (2021). Adoption of the Antifibrotic Medications Pirfenidone and Nintedanib for Patients
with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 18(7), 1121–1128. https://doi.org/10.1513/annalsats.202007-901oc
4 Fisher, M., Nathan, S. D., Hill, C., Marshall, J., Dejonckheere, F., Thuresson, P., & Maher, T. M. (2017). Predicting Life Expectancy for Pirfenidone in Idiopathic Pulmonary
Fibrosis. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 23(3-b Suppl), S17 -S24. https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2017.23.3-b.s17.
5 United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain
6 GlobalData Epidemiology and Market Size Search
7 Roche 2022 Annual Report and Boehringer Ingelheim 2022 Financial Results