Results of dry eye trial released

RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals Inc. has announced that the ARISE-3 Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating RGN-259 eyedrops for the treatment of dry eye syndrome did not meet its primary outcome measures. 

According to the company, efficacy was seen in the improvement of ocular grittiness, one of the pre-specified secondary symptom endpoints in the trial. The statistically significant improvement was seen at one and two weeks after treatment, and post-exposure in a controlled adverse environment after two weeks of treatment with RGN-259 compared to placebo (p = 0.0104, 0.0307, and 0.0046, respectively).

Company officials also noted that the drops continued to demonstrate safety in treatment of dry eye syndrome consistent with previous clinical trials. In the ARISE-3 trial, there were no serious adverse events with only mild to moderate adverse events in both the active and placebo arms. The most common ophthalmic adverse event was mild ocular pain upon instillation (RGN-259 6.6% compared to placebo 4.6%).

When examining data from all of the patients in the three phase 3 trials, the population compromised by a corneal sum fluorescein staining score showed significant improvement in sign efficacy parameters such as fluorescein staining scores in the central, corneal sum, conjunctival sum, and total sum after two weeks of treatment.

According to the company additional analyses are being conducted to define efficacies in various sign and symptom parameters using the pooled data of the three phase 3 trials. Comprehensive results will be released when all the data analyses are completed.

Data analysis is expected to be focused on the fast on-set and multifunctional effects of RGN-259 that were shown in all three clinical trials. Based on these results, GtreeBNT and RegeneRx will explore the prospects of a pre-BLA meeting with the FDA using the pooled data or discuss a detailed plan for additional clinical studies, if needed.

J.J. Finkelstein, RegeneRx president and CEO, noted that while the trial did not meet its primary outcome measures, there was a statistically significant symptom effect in favor of RGN-259 in a short period of time in addition to its safety.

“Statistically significant clinical improvements in various signs and symptoms of dry eye syndrome have now been observed in all three phase 3 clinical trials, ARISE-1 -2 and -3, and further analyses are ongoing,” he said in a statement. “We look forward to completing the analyses, reporting results, and meeting with the FDA as soon as practicable.”