Improvements in Disability and the Interictal Period with INP104: Results from the Phase 3 STOP 301 Study

Presented at PAINWeek Conference, September 7-11, 2021, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Authors: Dawn C. Buse, PhD, Cynthia E. Armand, MD, Robert Vann, PhD, Sutapa Ray, Stephen B. Shrewsbury, MB ChB, Sheena K. Aurora, MD

Purpose: Migraine is a highly prevalent and debilitating condition. In 2016, it was estimated that 1.04 billion individuals have experienced a migraine attack and 45.1 million years were lost to disability. The consequences of migraine can include significant functional, physical, emotional, economic, and social impairments and places substantial burden on individuals during (i.e. the ictal period) and in between attacks (i.e. the interictal period). Unlike the ictal burden, which is well-recognized and understood, the interictal burden is complex and can extend past the days of the migraine attack into other aspects of daily life. Several epidemiological studies reported that it is common to feel anticipatory anxiety or depression about future migraine attacks, which can result in difficulty making plans and avoidant behavior, thereby negatively affect one’s quality of life. As disease burden, anxiety, and headache-related disability increases with headache frequency, and given the unpredictability of migraine attacks, some patients overuse acute medications during headache-free periods out of anticipation or fear of a migraine developing. A recent study reported that patients with acute medication overuse were more likely to have moderate to severe interictal burden. Therefore, there is a need for new and effective acute treatment options to rapidly resolve migraine symptoms and provide a sustained benefit to potentially reduce interictal symptoms. INP104 is an investigational drug-device combination product for the acute treatment of migraine that targets delivery of dihydroergotamine mesylate (DHE) to the upper nasal space using Precision Olfactory Delivery (POD®) technology. Previously presented exploratory efficacy data reported that INP104 was associated with improvements in pain freedom, most bothersome symptom freedom, and pain relief at 2 hours; sustained pain freedom at 24 and 48 hours; low use of rescue medication; low recurrence rates; and consistency of response for either the first treated migraine attack or across multiple attacks over 24 and 52 weeks. Here we report data on headache-related disability using the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire, evaluating time between migraine attacks and frequency of migraine attacks, which were exploratory outcome measures relevant to interictal burden, from the Phase 3, STOP 301 study of INP104 for the acute treatment of migraine.

Methods: STOP 301 was a pivotal, Phase 3, open-label study that assessed the safety, tolerability, and exploratory efficacy of INP104 at 38 centers across the United States. Following a 28-day screening period during which patients were on their best usual care (i.e. baseline), eligible patients continued into a 24-week treatment period with INP104, with a subset allowed into a 28-week treatment extension (52-week period). All patients were included in a 2-week, post-treatment, follow-up period. All eligible patients were provided with up to 3 doses/week of INP104 to nasally self-administer (1.45 mg in a dose of 2 sprays) with self-recognized migraine attacks at the end of screening. Eligible patients were adult males or females aged 18-65 years with a documented diagnosis of migraine with or without aura and not qualifying as chronic migraine. Daily eDiaries were completed to capture headache and migraine details. Patients were required to be in general good health, with no history of cardiovascular events, must have experienced ≥2 migraine attacks per month for the previous 6 months and also during screening, and to have completed eDiary entries on ≥23 of the 28 days during screening for eligibility. Exploratory efficacy measures included the MIDAS questionnaire, which is a validated, highly reliable instrument that measures headache-related disability. The MIDAS questionnaire grading system categorizes disability as follows: Grade I = minimal or infrequent disability (scores of 0-5); Grade II = mild or infrequent disability (scores of 6-10); Grade III = moderate disability (scores of 11-20); Grade IVa = severe disability (scores of 21-40); and Grade IVb = severe disability (41-270). The MIDAS questionnaire was completed by patients during screening, baseline, at Weeks 12 and 24, and if applicable, at Weeks 36 and 52. The time between migraine attacks was also determined during screening and Weeks 1-24 of INP104 treatment using Kaplan-Meier methods to estimate the median interval length.

Results: A total of 360 patients were screened and enrolled into the 24-week treatment period and 354 patients self-administered at least 1 dose of INP104 over 24 weeks (24-week full safety set [FSS]). Of the 262 patients who completed 24 weeks of treatment, 73 patients were allowed to continue into the 28-week extension period (52-week FSS) and 66 patients completed the 52-week treatment period. For the 24-week FSS, the mean MIDAS total score for patients was 25.1 at baseline. The most frequent scores were Grade III (28.8%; 102/354) and Grade IVa (27.7%; 98/354), indicating moderate to severe disability at study initiation. For the 24-week FSS population, the mean MIDAS total score at Week 12 was 18.4, with a mean change from baseline of -5.5, and at Week 24, the mean 24-week FSS MIDAS total score was 17.4, with a mean change from baseline of -7.4. Most patients had improved MIDAS scores of Grade III or better at Weeks 12 and 24. For the 52-week FSS, the mean MIDAS total score for patients was 24.6 at baseline. The most frequent scores were Grade III (31.5%; 23/73) and Grade IVa (31.5%; 23/73), indicating moderate to severe disability at study initiation. At Weeks 12, 24, 36, and 52, the mean 52-week FSS MIDAS total score was 18.8, 20.3, 15.3, and 14.9, with a mean change from baseline of -5.8, -5.1, -7.8, and -8.9, respectively. Most patients had MIDAS scores of Grade III or better at Weeks 12, 24, 36, and 52. During Weeks 1-24, the median time between migraine attacks was 6 days compared to 4 days at baseline. The mean number of migraine attacks by 4-week intervals was 1303, 980, 785, 726, 676, and 638 at Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24, respectively.

Conclusion: Use of INP104 was associated with improvements in migraine-related disability as assessed by the MIDAS questionnaire. At each post-baseline visit, the mean MIDAS total score in both 24-week and 52-week FSS populations decreased, with mean total scores suggestive of moderate residual disability. The time between migraine attacks was longer with INP104 use over 24 weeks compared to baseline when patients were on their best usual care. Furthermore, the frequency of migraine attacks decreased over 24 weeks. Results suggest that long-term use of INP104 may have positive effects on interictal burden by reducing disability attributed to migraine, prolonging the headache-free period, and decreasing the frequency of migraine attacks.

Citation: Buse DC, Armand CE, Vann R, Ray S, Shrewsbury SB, Aurora SK, Improvements in Disability and the Interictal Period with INP104: Results from the Phase 3 STOP 301 Study, PAINWeek Conference, September 7-11, 2021

Patient Acceptability of INP104 Aligns With the Unmet Needs Identified in the I-BEAM Survey

Presented at PAINWeek Conference, September 7-11, 2021, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Authors: Jessica Ailani, MD, Kate Kennedy, ARNP-BC, TinaMarie Lieu, PhD, John Hoekman, PhD, Maria Jeleva, PhD, Sutapa Ray, Stephen B. Shrewsbury, MB ChB, Sheena K. Aurora, MD

Purpose: Migraine is an undertreated disease despite the availability of acute therapies and patients continue to report dissatisfaction with treatment. Oral treatment is most often prescribed, but migraine-associated autonomic dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, with or without accompanying symptoms, is increasingly being recognized as a potential limitation to oral administration of drugs; thus, non-oral options are increasingly being identified as important alternatives. INP104 is a novel, investigational drug-device combination product that targets delivery of dihydroergotamine mesylate (DHE) to the upper nasal space using Precision Olfactory Delivery (POD®) technology. Upper nasal space drug delivery may provide greater, more consistent absorption and reliable symptom relief. The safety and tolerability of delivery to this previously unexplored area are important, but just as important is understanding patient acceptability of the POD device. The safety, tolerability, and exploratory efficacy of INP104 for the acute treatment of migraine were assessed in the Phase 3 STOP 301 study over 24 or 52 weeks. As part of the STOP 301 trial, the acceptability of INP104 was evaluated through a patient acceptability questionnaire (PAQ). The results of the questionnaire were interpreted in the context of unmet needs evaluated through a patient survey and interview in the I-BEAM study. Here we report unmet needs in the treatment of migraine from the perspective of individuals with migraine as assessed by the I-BEAM study and product acceptability of INP104 over 24 weeks from the pivotal Phase 3 STOP 301 clinical trial.

Methods: The I-BEAM study consisted of surveys and interviews with participants to better understand patient experiences, including satisfaction levels with current treatments and unmet needs. The survey-responsive population was 98% female, aged 20-50 years, experiencing 1-12 migraine attacks per month who “always” or “sometimes” took prescription medication for their migraine attacks within the previous 6 months. Recruitment was conducted through social media and referrals (N=50). A 15-minute quantitative survey (n=50) was administered to obtain diagnosis and treatment information, and a 1-hour qualitative interview was conducted (n=49) either as an in-person individual-depth interview (n=24) or a web-enabled telephone-depth interview (n=25) to obtain more detailed insight into perspectives surrounding diagnosis and treatment. The STOP 301 study was an open-label, multicenter, Phase 3 safety study of repetitive INP104 self-administration for the acute treatment of migraine. Patients completed a 9-question PAQ at the end of 24 or 52 weeks. Results from 6 of these questions are reported here. The remaining 3 questions were related to dysgeusia, discomfort in the nose, and determining if patients would ask their doctors for a prescription once available, which were not relevant to their unmet need. Patients were asked to answer “Strongly Disagree; Disagree; Neutral; Agree; Strongly Agree” (or Not Applicable) to the following questions about INP104 once they had completed the study: (1) The study drug is easy to use; (2) With the investigational product I can return to normal activities faster (school/work/leisure activities) compared to my previous prescription migraine medication(s); (3) Compared to my previous prescription migraine medications, the investigational product more consistently relieves each one of my migraine headaches; (4) The investigational product works faster compared to my previous prescription migraine medication(s); (5) The investigational product keeps my migraine from coming back for a longer time than previous prescription migraine medications I’ve used; and (6) The investigational product was very convenient to carry with me and use outside of my home. Both the I-BEAM survey (2019) and the STOP 301 study (2018-2020) were performed prior to the launch of gepants and ditans.

Results: The I-BEAM survey participants reported that the most frequent features lacking with their current migraine treatments were speed of relief (22%), reliability of effect (22%), and duration of relief (18%). The most frequently mentioned features of an ideal acute medication for migraine included fast acting (15-30 minutes), long lasting (12-24 hours), providing complete or near complete relief, ability to be taken any time during the migraine, having few or no side effects (although many patients were willing to accept minor side effects as a trade-off for increased speed and efficacy), and one medication to relieve all symptoms. The STOP 301 study included 354 patients who received at least 1 dose of INP104 over the first 24 weeks, of whom 74% of patients completed 24 weeks of treatment. Results from the PAQ demonstrated that most patients agreed or strongly agreed that INP104 was easy to use (84%), and compared to their previous treatment 54% of patients agreed or strongly agreed that INP104 allowed them to return to normal activities faster, 56% that INP104 worked faster, 55% that INP104 worked more consistently, and 54% that INP104 lasted longer.

Conclusion: INP104 may provide an effective, well-tolerated acute treatment for migraine. Most patients reported INP104 was easy to use; provided faster acting, consistent benefit with longer lasting relief; and allowed them to return to normal activities faster than their previous treatment. These PAQ results align with the unmet needs identified by the I-BEAM survey: (1) Fast acting (15-30 minutes); (2) long lasting (12-24 hours); (3) providing complete or near complete relief; (4) can be taken any time; (5) with few/no side effects. The INP104 clinical development program led to the submission of an NDA in November 2020, which is currently under FDA review.

Citation: Ailani J, Kennedy K, Lieu TM, Hoekman J, Jeleva M, Ray S, Shrewsbury SB, Aurora SK, Patient Acceptability of INP104 Aligns With the Unmet Needs Identified in the I-BEAM Survey, PAINWeek Conference, September 7-11, 2021

Impel NeuroPharma Announces Launch of Proposed Public Offering

SEATTLE, Sept. 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Impel NeuroPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMPL), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing transformative therapies for people suffering from diseases with high unmet medical needs, with an initial focus on the central nervous system, today announced that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of 3,000,000 shares of its common stock. All of the shares of common stock are being offered by Impel. In addition, Impel intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 450,000 shares of common stock at the offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

Cowen and Guggenheim Securities are acting as joint bookrunning managers for the proposed offering. Wedbush PacGrow is acting as lead manager.

The proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. A copy of the preliminary prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from: Cowen and Company, LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, Attn: Prospectus Department, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by telephone at (833) 297-2926 or by email at PostSaleManualRequests@broadridge.com; or Guggenheim Securities, LLC Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, 330 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017 or by telephone at (212) 518-9544, or by email at GSEquityProspectusDelivery@guggenheimpartners.com.

A registration statement relating to the proposed sale of these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Impel NeuroPharma:

Impel NeuroPharma, Inc. is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing transformative therapies for people suffering from diseases with high unmet medical needs, with an initial focus on the central nervous system. Impel offers and is developing treatments that pair its proprietary Precision Olfactory Delivery (POD®) technology with well-established therapeutics. In addition to TRUDHESA™ (dihydroergotamine mesylate) nasal spray, which is approved in the United States for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults, Impel is also developing INP105 for the acute treatment of agitation and aggression in patients with autism, and INP107 for OFF episodes in Parkinson’s disease.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the terms of the proposed public offering, including Impel’s expectations with respect to granting the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional shares, and the completion, timing and size of the proposed public offering. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “believe,” “may,” “will,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “expect” or the negative or plural of these words or similar expressions. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those anticipated. Many of these risks are described in greater detail in Impel’s filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Impel assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

Contact

Investor Relations:
Christina Tartaglia
Stern Investor Relations
Phone: (1) 212-362-1200
Email: christina.tartaglia@sternir.com

Media Relations:
Melyssa Weible
Elixir Health Public Relations
Phone: (1) 201-723-5805
Email: mweible@elixirhealthpr.com