ATHLONE, Ireland, Sept. 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innocoll AG (NASDAQ:INNL), a global, commercial-stage, specialty pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and supplies a range of pharmaceutical products and medical devices using its proprietary collagen-based technologies, today announced that the first patient was dosed in the MATRIX-2 (Multisite Assessment of PosToperative Pain Reduction wIth XaraColl) Phase 3 study for the treatment of postoperative pain following open hernioplasty with mesh using XaraColl, Innocoll's surgically implantable and bioresorbable bupivacaine-collagen matrix.
The MATRIX-2 Phase 3 study is the second of two identical randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded studies to investigate the safety and efficacy of a surgically implantable and resorbable bupivacaine-collagen matrix. The MATRIX-1 study had its first patient enrolled last month. Each study is expected to enroll approximately 300 patients aged 18 and older in the United States. Patients with a unilateral inguinal hernia undergoing open hernioplasty with mesh placement will be treated in one of two arms per study: three 100 mg XaraColl matrices for a total dose of 300 mg of bupivacaine hydrochloride or three placebo matrices. The matrices are placed at the site of the hernia repair in order to provide local levels of bupivacaine directly at the location of surgical trauma.
The primary efficacy endpoint is the sum of pain intensity difference (SPID) over 24 hours comparing the XaraColl matrix to placebo. Additional endpoints include the SPID at 48 and 72 hours as well as total opioid use at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Safety will be evaluated through the collection of adverse events through 30 days postoperatively.
Enrollment for both studies is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2016 and topline results from the studies are expected in the second quarter of 2016.
Postoperative pain management is a serious concern for surgeons and patients. In the U.S., approximately 750,000 hernia operations are performed annually. Effective postoperative pain control is an essential component of the care of the surgical patient. Inadequate pain control, apart from being inhumane, may result in increased morbidity or mortality. While opioids are very effective analgesics, opioids also carry with them many undesirable potential side effects: sedation, respiratory depression, nausea and vomiting, hypotension and bradycardia, pruritus, and inhibition of bowel function.
XaraColl acts locally following implantation at the surgical site to provide sustained pain relief by delivering appropriate concentrations of bupivacaine directly at the site of surgical trauma for up to 72 hours. Bupivacaine is a long acting local anesthetic with a well-characterized safety and efficacy profile. The XaraColl collagen matrix helps deliver that local pain relief for up to 72 hours.
"We remain committed to delivering our late-stage portfolio and realizing the potential of these exciting therapeutics for the physicians and patients they serve," said Tony Zook, Chief Executive Officer. "With the dosing of the first patient in our MATRIX-2 study, we continue to execute on the deliverables we set for ourselves. Both the Cogenzia and XaraColl Phase 3 programs are fully underway and before the close of the year, we also hope to have discussions with the FDA to advance CollaGuard."
More information on the study will be posted at www.clinicaltrials.gov.
About Innocoll AG
Innocoll is a global, commercial-stage, specialty pharmaceutical company. The company develops and manufactures a range of pharmaceutical products and medical devices using its proprietary collagen-based technologies. The company's late stage product pipeline is focused on addressing a number of large unmet medical needs, including: XaraColl® for the treatment of post-operative pain; Cogenzia® for the adjuvant treatment of diabetic foot infections; and CollaGUARD®, a barrier for the prevention of post-surgical adhesions. The Company's approved products include: CollaGUARD(Ex-US), Collatamp® G, Septocoll®, RegenePro®, Collieva®, CollaCare®, Collexa®, and Zorpreva™, which are sold through strategic partnerships with various partners including Takeda, Biomet, and EUSA Pharma. All of the company's products and product candidates are made using Type 1 collagen and are manufactured in-house at its facility in Saal, Germany. CollaRx®, Collatamp®, CollaGUARD®, Collieva®, CollaCare®, Collexa®, Cogenzia® LidoColl®, LiquiColl®, Septocoll®, and XaraColl® are registered trademarks, and CollaPress™, DermaSil™, Durieva™, and Zorpreva™ are trademarks of the company.
Forward-looking Statements
"Any statements in this press release about our future expectations, plans and prospects, including statements about the development of XaraColl for treatment of post-operative pain, such as the timing, conduct,enrollment and outcome of and the timing of availability of data from the MATRIX-1 and MATRIX-2 Phase 3 study for XaraColl and other statements containing the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "goal," "may," "might," "plan," "predict," "project," "target," "potential," "will," "would," "could," "should," "continue," and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including statements about the clinical trials of XaraColl. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our clinical development programs, future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, those related to the timing and costs involved in developing and commercializing our products and product candidates, the timing for results, the initiation, conduct, enrollment and timing of clinical trials, delays in potential approvals by FDA of the commencement of trials, availability of data from clinical trials, positive results from such trials and timing and expectations for regulatory approvals, our scientific approach and general development progress, the composition of our supervisory board, the availability or commercial potential of our product candidates, the sufficiency of cash resources and need for additional financing or other actions and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2014, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views as of the date of this release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release."