Full Press Release Details
Protalix BioTherapeutics and Chiesi Group
Complete Enrollment in the Third Phase III Clinical Trial of
pegunigalsidase alfa (PRX-102) for the Treatment of Fabry Disease
Phase III BALANCE study
BLA submission anticipated
in Q1 2020 through FDA accelerated approval pathway
CARMIEL, Israel, September 24,
2019 -- Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: PLX) (TASE: PLX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on
the development, production and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins produced by its proprietary ProCellEx
plant cell-based protein expression system, and its development and commercialization partner, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., an international
research-focused healthcare Group (Chiesi Group), today announced the completion of enrollment in their Phase III BALANCE
clinical study of pegunigalsidase alfa, or PRX-102, for the treatment of Fabry disease. The head-to-head Phase III
BALANCE clinical study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PRX-102 compared to agalsidase beta (Fabrazyme )
on renal function in Fabry patients with progressing kidney disease previously treated with agalsidase beta. BALANCE is the third
of three Phase III studies, including the Phase III BRIDGE and the Phase III BRIGHT studies which are both fully enrolled
"We are excited to complete enrollment in our third Phase III
study of PRX-102 for the treatment of Fabry disease. This achievement marks a major milestone in our development of PRX-102,"
said Dror Bashan, President and CEO of Protalix BioTherapeutics. "We are most grateful to the BALANCE study participants
and to our investigators for their support and dedication, and we remain committed to bringing the Fabry community a potentially
better treatment option. As we have already disclosed, we are targeting a BLA submission under an accelerated approval pathway
for PRX-102 in the first quarter of 2020 based on data from our completed Phase I/II clinical studies of PRX-102
and from our ongoing Phase III BRIDGE clinical study. We believe our three, now fully enrolled, studies represent a robust
clinical program for Fabry disease, and we look forward to reporting on the results upon completion of the studies."
PRX-102 is the Company's plant cell-expressed recombinant,
PEGylated, cross-linked alpha-galactosidase A enzyme drug candidate. Protalix's products are recombinant therapeutic proteins
expressed through its proprietary plant cell-based expression system, ProCellEx .
"Despite years of current enzyme replacement treatment,
there continues to be an unmet medical need in Fabry patients who continue to show progressive loss of renal function," said
David G. Warnock, M.D., Professor of Medicine (Emeritus) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "The progressive loss
of kidney function seen in Fabry patients may be the result of insufficient enzyme coverage combined with the presence of neutralizing
antibodies. Given the favorable half-life of pegunigalsidase alfa and its low level of inhibition by pre-existing neutralizing
antibodies, there is potential for pegunigalsidase alfa to attenuate and/or stabilize renal function in patients who continue to
lose renal function while on currently-available enzyme replacement therapy."
About Protalix Biotherapeutics'
Clinical Programs in Fabry Disease
The BALANCE Study is a 24-month, randomized,
double blind, active control study of PRX-102 (pegunigalsidase alfa) in Fabry disease patients with impaired renal function. Patients
previously treated with agalsidase beta for approximately one year and on a stable dose for at least six months were screened and
then randomized to be switched and treated with 1 mg/kg of PRX-102 or continue treatment with 1mg/kg of agalsidase beta. Patients
receive intravenous infusions of 1mg/kg administered every two weeks. Patients are randomized in a 2:1 ratio to PRX-102 or agalsidase
beta. In the study, randomization is being stratified by urinary protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR) of < or 1 g/g by spot
urine sample. No more than 50% of the patients enrolled in the study are female. Patients participating in the study are being
evaluated to, among other disease parameters, determine if their renal function continues to deteriorate at the same rate while
being treated with agalsidase beta as measured by eGFR slope. Cardiac assessment, Lyso-Gb3, pain, quality of life, immunogenicity,
clinical events and pharmacokinetic and other parameters are also being evaluated. In addition, participating patients are being
evaluated to assess the safety and tolerability of PRX-102.
The BRIDGE study is a 12-month open-label,
single arm switch-over study to assess the safety and efficacy of pegunigalsidase alfa, 1 mg/kg infused every two weeks, in Fabry
patients previously treated with agalsidase alpha (Replagal ). Enrollment
in this study was completed in December 2018.
The BRIGHT study is a 12-month open-label
switch-over study to assess the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of pegunigalsidase alfa 2 mg/kg administered every 4 weeks
in Fabry patients previously treated with an enzyme replacement therapy: agalsidase alfa
or agalsidase beta. Enrollment in this study was completed in June 2019.
Fabry disease is an X-linked inherited disease that results
from deficient activity of the lysosomal enzyme alpha galactosidase A resulting in progressive accumulation of abnormal deposits
of a fatty substance called globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in blood vessel walls throughout a person's body. Fabry
disease occurs in one person per 40,000. Fabry patients inherit a deficiency of the enzyme alpha-galactosidase-A, which is normally
responsible for the breakdown of Gb3. The abnormal storage of Gb3 increases with time and, accordingly, Gb3
accumulates, primarily in the blood and in the blood vessel walls. The ultimate consequences of Gb3 deposition range
from episodes of pain and impaired peripheral sensation to end-organ failure - particularly of the kidneys, but also of the
heart and the cerebrovascular system.
About pegunigalsidase alfa (PRX-102)
The Company's proprietary pegunigalsidase
alfa is an investigational, plant cell culture expressed enzyme, and a chemically modified version of, the recombinant alpha-Galactosidase-A
protein. Protein sub-units are covalently bound via chemical cross-linking using short PEG chains, resulting in a more stable molecule
with different pharmacokinetic parameters compared to the current available versions of the enzyme. In clinical studies, pegunigalsidase
alfa has been observed to have a favorable circulatory half-life of approximately 80 hours. In addition, in a Fabry mouse model,
pegunigalsidase alfa was observed to have favorable levels of enzyme activity in target organs affected by Fabry disease. The Company
designed pegunigalsidase alfa to potentially address the continued unmet clinical need in Fabry patients of continuous disease
progression, infusion reaction and immunogenicity.
About the Chiesi Group
Based in Parma, Italy, Chiesi Farmaceutici
is an international research-oriented group with over 80 years' experience in the pharmaceutical sector and is present in
28 countries. The Group researches, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in respiratory disease, special care and rare
disease therapeutic areas. The Group's Research & Development center is integrated with six other important research
and development groups in France, the USA, the UK and Sweden, to promote its pre-clinical, clinical and registration programs.
The Group employs around 5,700 people. Chiesi Group is a certified B Corp. For more information, please visit www.chiesi.com.
About Protalix BioTherapeutics,
Protalix is a biopharmaceutical company
focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed through its proprietary plant cell-based
expression system, ProCellEx . Protalix was the first company to gain FDA approval of a protein produced through
plant cell-based in suspension expression system. The Company's unique expression system represents a new method for developing
recombinant proteins in a cost-effective, industrial-scale manner. Our pipeline consists of proprietary, potentially clinically
superior versions of recombinant therapeutic proteins that target established pharmaceutical markets.
Protalix's first product manufactured
by ProCellEx, taliglucerase alfa, was approved for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2012 and,
subsequently, by the regulatory authorities of other countries. Protalix has licensed to Pfizer Inc. the worldwide development
and commercialization rights for taliglucerase alfa, excluding Brazil, where Protalix retains full rights.
Protalix's development pipeline
includes the following product candidates: pegunigalsidase alfa, a modified version of the recombinant human alpha-GAL-A protein
for the treatment of Fabry disease, in Phase III clinical trials (BALANCE, BRIDGE and BRIGHT studies); and OPRX-106, an orally
delivered anti-inflammatory treatment, and alidornase alfa for the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis, both in Phase II clinical
trials. Protalix has partnered with Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., both in the United States and outside the United States, for the
development and commercialization of pegunigalsidase alfa.
Forward-Looking Statements
To the extent that statements in this
press release are not strictly historical, all such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The terms "expect," "anticipate," "believe,"
"estimate," "project," "plan," "should" and "intend," and other words