NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:SGYP), a developer of new drugs to treat gastrointestinal disorders and diseases, today announced the preclinical findings being presented by Synergy scientists at two key gastroenterology congresses this week.
The scientific poster presentations describe the site of action and other mechanistic features of plecanatide, Synergy's investigational drug for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). Plecanatide is an agonist of the guanylate cyclase-C receptor and an analog of the natriuretic peptide, uroguanylin, the physiologic ligand of GC-C. As a uroguanylin analog, plecanatide is a member of a new class of non-systemic oral drugs, known as guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) agonists, that act locally to promote intestinal fluid secretion.
"These preclinical studies helped to define plecanatide as a superior candidate for clinical testing in patients with chronic constipation," said Dr. Kunwar Shailubhai, Chief Scientific Officer of Synergy Pharmaceuticals, who is presenting the data at the America College of Gastroenterology annual meeting in Las Vegas, NV this week.
"In phase I and early phase II clinical testing, plecanatide exhibited an excellent safety profile, and patients in the phase IIa trial experienced relief from constipation without any remarkable diarrhea," said Stephen Comiskey, Synergy's Vice President for Product Development, who is presenting the preclinical data at the 20th United European Gastroenterology Week in Amsterdam, The Netherlands this week. "This summer Synergy achieved target enrollment in an ongoing phase IIb/III clinical trial of plecanatide in patients with chronic constipation, and we look forward to the results later this year."
Key preclinical findings being presented that informed the clinical testing of plecanatide as an optimal drug candidate include:
- Orally administered plecanatide acts primarily in the proximal intestine to stimulate water secretion essential for normalizing bowel movement.
- In vitro binding studies demonstrate that plecanatide binds to the same receptors in the proximal intestine as human uroguanylin.
- Plecanatide is highly stable and potent, with even greater affinity for the human GC-C receptors than the natural uroguanylin hormone.
"There is a compelling need to find safe and effective treatments for patients with CIC," said Douglas Drossman, Adjunct Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry and Co-Director Emeritus, UNC Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders, UNC School of Medicine. "I am encouraged by the preclinical and early phase clinical data that demonstrate proof of concept for plecanatide as a treatment approach for chronic constipation, and look forward to seeing data from the ongoing trials."
Earlier this fall, in a poster session at the Joint International Neurogastroenterology and Motility Meeting, September 6-8, in Bologna, Italy, Synergy scientists also shared data describing the identification and selection of plecanatide (formerly SP-304) as a superior analog of uroguanylin based on physiochemical properties.
Posters Cited
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF GASTROENTEROLOGY ANNUAL MEETING
October 19-24, 2012, Las Vegas, NV
Orally Administered Plecanatide, A Guanylate Cyclase-C Agonist, Acts in the Lumen of the Proximal Intestine to Facilitate Normal Bowel Movement in Mice and Monkeys. (P451) Authored by Stephen Comiskey, John Foss, Gary Jacob, and Kunwar Shailubhai.
UNITED EUROPEAN GASTROENTEROLOGY WEEK
October 20-24, 2012, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Orally Administered Plecanatide, A Guanylate Cyclase-C Agonist, Acts in the Proximal Intestine to Stimulate Fluid Secretion to Normalize Bowel Movement. (P1003)
Authored by Stephen Comiskey, John Foss and Kunwar Shailubhai.
JOINT INTERNATIONAL EUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY MEETING
September 6-8, 2012, Bologna, Italy
Plecanatide, a Superior Analog of Uroguanylin, as an Oral Drug Candidate for Treatment of Gastrointestinal Functional Disorders and Diseases. (P330)
Authored by Andrea Brancale, Gary Jacob and Kunwar Shailubhai.
About Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Synergy is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new drugs to treat gastrointestinal disorders and diseases. Synergy's lead proprietary drug candidate plecanatide is a synthetic analog of the human gastrointestinal (GI) hormone uroguanylin, and functions by activating the guanylate cyclase C receptor on epithelial cells of the GI tract. Synergy completed a Phase I study of plecanatide in healthy volunteers and a Phase IIa clinical trial in chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) patients. In October, 2011, Synergy initiated dosing of patients in a major Phase II/III clinical trial of plecanatide to treat CIC. Plecanatide is also being developed to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), with the first trial in IBS-C patients planned for the second half of 2012. Synergy's second GC-C agonist SP-333 is in clinical development to treat inflammatory bowel diseases, and is presently in a Phase I trial in healthy volunteers. More information is available at http://www.synergypharma.com .
About Plecanatide
Plecanatide is a member of a new class of essentially non-systemic drugs, referred to as guanylate cyclase C (GC-C) agonists, that are currently in development to treat CIC and IBS-C. Plecanatide is a synthetic analog of uroguanylin, a natriuretic hormone that regulates ion and fluid transport in the GI tract. Orally-administered plecanatide binds to and activates GC-C receptors expressed on epithelial cells lining the GI mucosa, resulting in activation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), and leading to augmented flow of chloride and water into the lumen of the gut. Activation of the GC-C receptor pathway is believed to facilitate bowel movement as well as producing other beneficial physiological responses including improvement in abdominal pain and inflammation. In animal models, oral administration of plecanatide promotes intestinal secretion and also ameliorates GI inflammation.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "planned," "believe," "forecast," "estimated," "expected," and "intend," among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Synergy's current expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, substantial competition; our ability to continue as a going concern; our need for additional financing; uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; uncertainties of government or third party payer reimbursement; limited sales and marketing efforts and dependence upon third parties; and risks related to failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and noncompliance with FDA regulations. As with any pharmaceutical under development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of new products. There are no guarantees that future clinical trials discussed in this press release will be completed or successful or that any product will receive regulatory approval for any indication or prove to be commercially successful. Investors should read the risk factors set forth in Synergy's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. While the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the date hereof, and Synergy does not undertake any obligation to update publicly such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.