— Potential to be First FDA-Approved Drug for ADT induced Hot Flashes –
— Topline Clinical Data Anticipated Fall 2019 —
MIAMI, Oct. 02, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Veru Inc. (NASDAQ: VERU), The Prostate Cancer Company, an oncology and urology biopharmaceutical company developing novel medicines for prostate cancer treatment and supportive care, today announced that it has achieved full enrollment for its Phase 2 clinical study of zuclomiphene citrate, a nonsteroidal oral estrogen receptor agonist for the treatment of androgen deprivation hormone therapy (ADT) induced hot flashes in men who have advanced prostate cancer.
“Our proprietary zuclomiphene citrate product has the potential to be the first FDA-approved treatment for this most common and debilitating side effect of ADT as hot flashes occur in up to 80% of men,”* said Mitchell Steiner, M.D., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Veru. “Hot flashes induced by ADT can be so severe as to cause delay or early discontinuation of ADT.”
The Phase 2 clinical study is a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled dose finding study evaluating two doses of oral daily zuclomiphene (10mg or 50mg) treatment versus placebo in approximately 95 men with advanced prostate cancer who have ADT induced moderate to severe hot flashes. The clinical study has a treatment duration of 12 weeks and is being conducted in 24 clinical centers in the United States. The primary endpoint is the frequency of moderate to severe hot flashes. Secondary endpoints include severity of hot flashes and improvement in bone markers.
“We are very pleased to have achieved this important enrollment milestone. We look forward to seeing the topline efficacy results and safety data from this Phase 2 trial in the Fall of 2019,” said Dr. Steiner. “We remain on track for initiation of the Phase 3 clinical study in early 2020. Based on Independent market research sponsored by the Company, US peak sales for zuclomiphene citrate are estimated to be approximately $600 million per year.”
About Hot Flashes in Men with Prostate Cancer Undergoing Hormonal Therapy
ADT is widely used to treat men with advanced prostate cancer. Approximately 600,000 men in the US are currently on ADT, which includes but is not limited to, Lupron®, Eligard® and Firmagon®. The symptom of hot flashes is the most common side effect of ADT. These hot flashes can range from bothersome to debilitating. Associated symptoms may include anxiety and palpitations. Hot flashes usually last from a few seconds to several minutes but can persist for up to 20 minutes. Unlike postmenopausal hot flashes, ADT induced hot flashes in many patients do not get better or resolve over time.
About Veru Inc.
Veru Inc. is an oncology and urology biopharmaceutical company developing novel medicines for prostate cancer treatment and prostate cancer supportive care as well as urology specialty pharmaceuticals. The Veru prostate cancer pipeline includes VERU-111, zuclomiphene citrate and VERU-100. VERU-111 is an oral, next-generation, first-in-class selective small molecule that targets and disrupts alpha and beta tubulin subunits of microtubules in cells to treat metastatic prostate cancer patients whose disease is resistant to both castration and novel androgen blocking agents (abiraterone or enzalutamide). VERU-111 is being evaluated in men with metastatic castration and androgen-blocking agent resistant prostate cancer in an open label Phase 1b/2 clinical trial. Zuclomiphene citrate is an oral estrogen receptor agonist being evaluated in a Phase 2 trial to treat hot flashes, a common side effect caused by hormone treatment for men with advanced prostate cancer. VERU-100 is a novel, proprietary peptide formulation for androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with multiple beneficial clinical attributes addressing the shortfalls of current FDA approved ADT formulations for advanced prostate cancer. VERU-100 is a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist designed to be administered as a small volume subcutaneous 3-month depot injection without a loading dose. VERU-100 will immediately suppress testosterone with no testosterone surge upon initial or repeated administration — a problem which occurs with currently approved LHRH agonists. Currently, there are no GnRH antagonists commercially approved beyond 1 month. VERU-100 is anticipated to enter a Phase 2 dose finding study in early 2020.
Veru is also advancing new drug formulations in its specialty pharmaceutical pipeline addressing unmet medical needs in urology such as the Tadalafil and Finasteride Combination (TADFIN®) for the administration of tadalafil 5mg and finasteride 5mg combination formulation dosed daily for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Tadalafil (CIALIS®) is currently approved for treatment of BPH and erectile dysfunction and finasteride is currently approved for treatment BPH (finasteride 5mg PROSCAR®) and male pattern hair loss (finasteride 1mg PROPECIA®). The co-administration of tadalafil and finasteride has been shown to be more effective for the treatment of BPH than by finasteride alone. The Company had a successful preNDA meeting with FDA and the expected submission of the NDA for TADFIN is summer of 2020. Veru is also developing Tamsulosin DRS granules and Tamsulosin XR capsules which are formulations of tamsulosin, the active ingredient in FLOMAX®, which Veru has designed to avoid the “food effect” inherent in currently marketed formulations of the drug, allowing for potentially safer administration and improved patient compliance.
The Company’s commercial products include the FC2 Female Condom / FC2 Internal Condom® (“FC2”), an FDA-approved product for the dual protection of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, and the PREBOOST® 4% benzocaine medicated individual wipe for the prevention of premature ejaculation (also marketed as Roman Swipes). The Company’s Female Health Company Division markets and sells FC2 commercially and in the public health sector both in the U.S. and globally. FC2 is available by prescription and OTC in the U.S. at www.fc2.us.com. In the global public health sector, the Company markets FC2 to entities, including ministries of health, government health agencies, U.N. agencies, nonprofit organizations and commercial partners, that work to support and improve the lives, health and well-being of women around the world. For our premature ejaculation product, marketed as “Roman Swipes”, the Company has entered into a U.S. distributor agreement with Roman Health Ventures Inc., a premier and fast-growing men’s health and telemedicine company that discreetly sells men’s health products via the internet website www.getroman.com. To learn more about Veru products please visit www.verupharma.com.
* 1 Gomella LG et al BJU Int S1:25-29 2007; Karling P et al. J Urol 152:1170-1173 1994; Gonzalez BD et al J Urol 194:690-695 2015|
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The statements in this release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding the regulatory pathway to secure FDA approval of the Company’s drug candidates, the anticipated timeframe for clinical studies and FDA submissions, clinical study results including potential benefits and the market potential for the Company’s drug candidates. Any forward-looking statements in this release are based upon the Company’s current plans and strategies and reflect the Company’s current assessment of the risks and uncertainties related to its business and are made as of the date of this release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release because of new information or future events, developments or circumstances. 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These documents are available on the “SEC Filings” section of our website at www.verupharma.com/investors.
Contact:
Sam Fisch 800-972-0538