Eiger: Weak safety data in Hep D study

 Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: EIGR), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative therapies for hepatitis delta virus (HDV) and other serious diseases, today announced topline primary Week 48 data from its landmark Phase 3 D-LIVR study (N=407) evaluating lonafarnib, a first-in-class prenylation inhibitor, in two regimens in patients with chronic HDV: lonafarnib boosted with ritonavir alone (all-oral) and in combination with peginterferon alfa (combination). The composite primary endpoint was a ≥2 log decline in HDV RNA and normalization of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) at the end of 48 weeks of treatment compared to placebo.

Topline Week 48 results showed that both treatment arms achieved statistical significance over placebo in the composite primary endpoint as well as the component virologic and biochemical responses. Study participants receiving the all-oral therapy and combination therapy showed a composite response of 10.1% (p=0.0044) and 19.2% (p <0.0001), respectively, compared to those receiving placebo (1.9%). Study participants receiving the all-oral therapy and combination therapy showed statistically significant improved rates of ALT normalization of 24.7% (p=0.003) and 34.4% (p<0.0001), respectively, compared to those receiving placebo (7.7%). A peginterferon alfa comparator arm was included in the study to show contribution of effect. The composite response rate in the all-oral arm was comparable to the peginterferon alfa arm (10.1% vs 9.6%). The composite response rate in the combination arm was twice that of the peginterferon alfa arm (19.2% vs 9.6%).

The key secondary histological endpoint was defined as ≥2-point improvement in histological activity index (HAI) and no worsening of Ishak fibrosis scoring as determined by blinded assessment of paired liver biopsies (n=229) collected at baseline and Week 48. This was demonstrated in 35 of 66 patients (53%, p=0.0139) with statistical significance in the combination arm versus 8 of 30 patients (27%) receiving placebo. Response was demonstrated in 35 of 107 patients (33%, p=0.61) in the all-oral arm versus placebo. Response in the peginterferon alfa comparator arm was 10 of 26 patients (38%).

Remaining secondary endpoints including virologic, biochemical, and composite responses at Week 72 (24-weeks post-treatment) are being collected and are expected to be reported mid-2023.

"We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the patients, investigators, and clinical study sites for their participation in this well-controlled, landmark study," said David Cory, President and CEO, Eiger. "As we continue to analyze these topline data to fully understand the efficacy and safety profile of lonafarnib-based treatments in chronic HDV, we look forward to a pre-NDA meeting with FDA in the coming quarter and seeing the full dataset including the 24-week post-treatment data."

"The results of this landmark study highlight three key findings," said Ohad Etzion, MD, Director, Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at Soroka University Medical Center and D-LIVR study co-lead investigator. "First, a small subset of patients with chronic HDV infection may achieve virologic and biochemical improvements with an all-oral regimen after 48 weeks of treatment. Second, combining lonafarnib and ritonavir with peginterferon alfa demonstrated the potential to nearly double the response rate. And third, and perhaps most importantly, based on these data, combination treatment may lead to significant histologic improvement, a generally accepted surrogate for improved future clinical outcomes for patients. We look forward to the 24-week post-treatment results of this study for assessment of the potential for finite therapy for chronic HDV infection."

The majority of treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were mild or moderate in severity. The most frequent TEAEs associated with lonafarnib treatment were gastrointestinal. Nine percent and 8% of patients discontinued treatment from the lonafarnib oral and combination therapy arms, respectively, compared to 2% of patients in each of the peginterferon alfa and placebo groups. In the lonafarnib treatment groups, 8% and 14% of patients, respectively, reported serious treatment-emergent adverse events, compared with 10% in the peginterferon alfa group and 4% in the placebo group. There were two deaths in the study: one patient treated with peginterferon alfa died due to decompensated cirrhosis that was attributed to drug therapy. The other death in the lonafarnib/ritonavir arm was deemed unrelated to study drug.

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