Sparrow Pharmaceuticals Presents Data from Ongoing Phase 2 Trial of Clofutriben (SPI-62) and Prednisolone as a Treatment for Polymyalgia Rheumatica at EULAR 2024
Portland, Oregon, June 15, 2024 — Sparrow Pharmaceuticals today presented data from an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial of HSD-1 inhibitor clofutriben (SPI-62) and prednisolone in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) at the 2024 Annual European Alliance for Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR 2024; June 12 – 15 in Vienna, Austria) that suggest HSD-1 inhibition can allow for effective treatment with glucocorticoid medicines with fewer side effects.
A highlighted session, “75th Anniversary of Glucocorticoids – what have we learnt?” discussed recent clinical developments and key learnings from the use of glucocorticoids over the past 75 years. David Katz, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Sparrow, presented findings on the impact that co-administration of an HSD-1 inhibitor (clofutriben) with a glucocorticoid medicine (prednisolone) has on efficacy and glucocorticoid toxicity in patients with PMR. The findings highlight:
Prednisolone 10mg combined with clofutriben 6mg demonstrated less efficacy compared to prednisolone 10mg administered with placebo, but with improvement on prednisolone toxicities (bone formation and resorption biomarkers, lipidemia, and insulin resistance.)
Prednisolone 20mg combined with clofutriben 6mg demonstrated similar efficacy as determined by symptoms, physical function, and systemic inflammation, while maintaining improvement on markers of prednisolone toxicity, compared to prednisolone 10mg administered with placebo.
“These new results suggest that glucocorticoids formed by HSD-1 have a large role in tissues where glucocorticoid excess causes morbidity, and a lesser role in the immune system where glucocorticoid medicines have efficacy,” said Dr. Katz. “We hope future clinical trials will demonstrate that prednisolone combined with clofutriben can be the effective and safe glucocorticoid medicine for which patients have waited over 75 years.”