A Phase 2 Exploratory Study of a Novel Interleukin-1 Receptor Inhibitor (EBI-005) in the Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Allergic Conjunctivitis.
OBJECTIVE
Many allergic conjunctivitis (AC) patients are inadequately treated with conventional therapies or require steroids. EBI-005 was developed to address the late phase allergic response. This study's objectives were to evaluate two adapted clinical models for this indication and to assess safety and biological activity of EBI-005 in AC.


METHODS
In this randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled study, 159 subjects with moderate-to-severe AC were randomized to topical EBI-005 (5 mg/mL) or vehicle control given 3 times per day and repeatedly challenged with allergen using an adaptation of 2 clinical models of AC. Subjects were assigned to repetitive aerosolized challenge in an allergy chamber (Environmental Exposure Chamber, EEC), or repetitive challenges with a direct conjunctival allergen challenge (Conjunctival Allergen Provocation Test, CAPT).


RESULTS
In the EEC, the prespecified primary endpoint of ocular itching was not met. In the CAPT, EBI-005-treated subjects showed clinically meaningful, statistically significant improvements in ocular itching compared with vehicle control at the final 2 efficacy time points, visit 6 (P=0.033) and visit 7 (P=0.046). EBI-005-treated subjects showed statistically significant improvement compared with vehicle control for ocular tearing (P=0.027 and P=0.044) and nasal symptoms (P=0.004 and P=0.011) at visit 6 and visit 7. EBI-005 was well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support use of an adapted, multiple-challenge, direct conjunctival allergen model to assess efficacy of EBI-005 in late phase AC. In the CAPT, EBI-005 showed statistically significant improvements in clinically meaningful symptoms (ocular itching, tearing, and nasal symptoms) at multiple time points for moderate-to-severe AC subjects.
Eleven Biotherapeutics (M.H.G., K.L.T., J.A., E.F., M.M., J.K., K.G., G.Z.-P., G.S., A.C.), Cambridge, MA; New England Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology (M.H.G.), Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA; and Inflamax Research, Inc. (F.S., A.M.S.), Mississauga, Canada.
Michael H
MH
Goldstein
Karen L
KL
Tubridy
Jennifer
J
Agahigian
Eric
E
Furfine
Marianne
M
Magill
Joseph
J
Kovalchin
Kathryn
K
Golden
Gregory
G
Zarbis-Papastoitsis
Fiona
F
Soong
Anne Marie
AM
Salapatek
Gary
G
Sternberg
Abbie
A
Celniker
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011506:Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; C000604245:EBI-005; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011506:Proteins; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1