NEW YORK, June 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IVERIC bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISEE) today announced positive 18 month results from the Company's first Phase 3 clinical trial (OPH2003) for Zimura^® (avacincaptad pegol), a novel complement C5 inhibitor, for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The 18 month data supports the previously announced 12 month data from this trial, at which time point Zimura met the pre-specified primary efficacy endpoint with statistical significance. The reduction in the mean rate of GA growth over 18 months was 28.11% for the Zimura 2 mg group as compared to the corresponding sham control group and 29.97% for the Zimura 4 mg group as compared to the corresponding sham control group. The pre-specified efficacy analysis for the primary endpoint was performed at month 12 using all of the power in the trial to detect a statistically significant difference. Therefore, the p-values for the 18 month statistical analyses are descriptive in nature. The descriptive p-values for the treatment effects at month 18 were p=0.0014 for the Zimura 2 mg group and p=0.0021 for the Zimura 4 mg group.

In this trial, the treatment effect was observed as early as 6 months, with an increase in the absolute difference of the mean change in GA growth for treatment with either Zimura 2 mg or Zimura 4 mg, as compared to sham, at each subsequent time point, suggesting the progressive benefit of continuous treatment with Zimura. Zimura maintained its favorable safety profile at 18 months with no reported Zimura related adverse events, no cases of endophthalmitis and a lower rate of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) than reported for C3 inhibition. The overall 18 month data may suggest a dose response relationship. 

"We are extremely excited by the new 18 month data from this Phase 3 clinical trial, both with respect to efficacy and safety," stated Glenn P. Sblendorio, Chief Executive Officer and President of IVERIC bio. "In the OPH2003 clinical trial, the 18 month results indicated continuous Zimura treatment benefit with a favorable safety profile in patients with GA secondary to AMD. This is an impressive achievement since we believe OPH2003 is currently the only Phase 3 clinical trial showing suppression of GA growth with continuous treatment for 18 months."

"We are one step closer to potentially bringing a clinically meaningful therapy to patients with GA who currently do not have any FDA or EMA approved treatments available to them," stated Kourous A. Rezaei, MD, Chief Medical Officer of IVERIC bio. "We believe the robust 18 month efficacy data further validates the potential role of complement C5 inhibition in GA secondary to AMD and has the potential to differentiate Zimura from other product candidates in development. We are poised to initiate our second pivotal trial, ISEE2008, comparing Zimura 2 mg with sham later this month. We want to thank our patients, our clinical trial investigators and their staffs for their support and participation in this trial."

The Company previously announced that in the OPH2003 clinical trial, Zimura met its pre-specified primary efficacy endpoint at 12 months and reached statistical significance in the international, multicenter, randomized, double masked, sham controlled clinical trial in GA secondary to AMD. The reduction in the mean rate of GA growth over 12 months was 27.38% (p-value = 0.0072) for the Zimura 2 mg group as compared to the corresponding sham control group and 27.81% (p-value = 0.0051) for the Zimura 4 mg group as compared to the corresponding sham control group. The data for both dose groups were statistically significant. 

"I am excited about the efficacy and favorable safety profile observed in the 12 month Zimura Phase 3 data, and now the long term 18 month efficacy and safety data further confirm my belief in the role of complement C5 inhibition in the treatment of GA," stated Peter K. Kaiser, MD, Chaney Family Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology Research, Cole Eye Institute and Professor of Ophthalmology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. "The delta between the Zimura 2 mg and Zimura 4 mg treatment groups and the corresponding sham control groups occurred early in the study and continued over 18 months which means my patients may benefit after only a few injections and maintain this with additional treatments. Moreover, the safety profile remained favorable after 18 months of treatment."

"We are excited by these 18 month results," stated Pravin U. Dugel, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Business Officer of IVERIC bio. "In the challenging COVID-19 pandemic era, we believe that we are in an advantageous position as the OPH2003 data is the only positive Phase 3 clinical data in GA secondary to AMD that we are aware of that has been reported to date. We believe that these robust data should increase investigator enthusiasm and confidence for patient recruitment and retention in our ISEE2008 clinical trial."

OPH2003 18 Month Data

A total of 286 patients were enrolled in this trial.

Mean rate of change in GA growth over 18 months, was measured by fundus autofluorescence (FAF) based on readings at four time points (baseline, month 6, month 12 and month 18) and was calculated using the square root transformation of the GA area. The FAF images were assessed by an independent masked reading center. The prespecified statistical analysis plan used a model of repeated measures (MRM) to compare data for the Zimura 2 mg and Zimura 4 mg groups to the corresponding sham groups. Detailed data are shown below:

The graphs below illustrate the observed difference in mean rate of GA growth between each of the Zimura 2 mg and Zimura 4 mg treatment groups and their corresponding sham control groups based on the MRM analysis at both 12 months (which was previously reported) and 18 months. 

Zimura was generally well tolerated after 18 months of administration. There was no Zimura-related inflammation, no Zimura-related discontinuations from the trial, no cases of endophthalmitis and no Zimura-related adverse events. Through month 18, the reported incidence of CNV in the untreated fellow eye was 11 patients (3.8%), and in the study eye was 3 patients (2.7%) in the sham control group, 8 patients (11.9%) in the Zimura 2 mg group, and 13 patients (15.7%) in the Zimura 4 mg group. The most frequently reported ocular adverse events were related to the injection procedure. 

The Company plans to make additional supportive information regarding the 18 month results available in its public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Geographic Atrophy

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the major cause of moderate and severe loss of central vision in aging adults, affecting both eyes in the majority of patients. The macula is a small area in the central portion of the retina responsible for central vision. As AMD progresses, the loss of retinal cells and the underlying blood vessels in the macula results in marked thinning and/or atrophy of retinal tissue. Geographic atrophy, the advanced stage of AMD, leads to further irreversible loss of vision in these patients. There are currently no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved treatment options available for patients with geographic atrophy.

Zimura

Complement factor C5 is a central component of the complement cascade and is believed to be involved in the development and progression of AMD. Zimura is designed to inhibit complement factor C5 cleavage into C5a and C5b. By inhibiting the formation of complement C5 terminal fragments, Zimura may decrease the activation of inflammasomes and the formation of membrane attack complex (MAC). This mechanism of action could potentially prevent or slow down the degeneration of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and slow down the progression of GA.

Conference Call/Web Cast Information

IVERIC bio's management team will host a conference call/webcast today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the positive 18 month Zimura data. To participate in the conference call, dial 800-367-2403 (USA) or 334-777-6978 (International), passcode 7075082. A live, listen-only audio webcast of the conference call can be accessed on the Investors section of the IVERIC bio website at www.ivericbio.com. A replay will be available approximately two hours following the live call for two weeks. The replay number is 888-203-1112 (USA Toll Free), passcode 7075082.

IVERIC bio

IVERIC bio is a science-driven biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel treatment options for retinal diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The Company is currently developing both therapeutic product candidates for age-related retinal diseases and gene therapy product candidates for orphan inherited retinal diseases. Vision is Our Mission. For more information on the Company, please visit www.ivericbio.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Any statements in this press release about the Company's future expectations, plans and prospects constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include any statements about the Company's strategy, future operations and future expectations and plans and prospects for the Company, and any other statements containing the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend", "goal," "may", "might," "plan," "predict," "project," "seek," "target," "potential," "will," "would," "could," "should," "continue," and similar expressions. In this press release, the Company's forward looking statements include statements about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's research and development programs, operations and financial position, its expectations to initiate enrollment in its second Phase 3 trial (ISEE2008) of Zimura in geographic atrophy secondary to AMD and to use its previously announced clinical trial of Zimura for the treatment of geographic atrophy (OPH2003) as a Phase 3 trial, its development and regulatory strategy for Zimura, the potential clinical meaningfulness of the results of clinical trials, the implementation of its business plan, the projected use of cash and cash balances, the timing, progress and results of clinical trials and other research and development activities, the potential utility of its product candidates, and the potential for its business development strategy. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's 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 progression and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and responsive measures thereto and related effects on the Company's research and development programs, operations and financial position, the initiation and the progress of research and development programs and clinical trials, availability of data from these programs, reliance on university collaborators and other third parties, establishment of manufacturing capabilities, expectations for regulatory matters, need for additional financing and negotiation and consummation of business development transactions and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section contained in the quarterly and annual reports that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements represent the Company's views only as of the date of this press release. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. While the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so except as required by law.

ISEE-G

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SOURCE IVERIC bio, Inc.

Investor Contact: IVERIC bio, Kathy Galante, 212-845-8231, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, kathy.galante@ivericbio.com or Media Contact: SmithSolve, Alex Van Rees, 973-442-1555 ext. 111, alex.vanrees@smithsolve.com