Biogen Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 3 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Study

Biogen Inc. recently announced the first patient has been dosed in the global clinical study, TOPAZ-1. The Phase 3 study will evaluate the clinical efficacy and assess the safety of BIIB059, a first in-class, humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting blood dendritic cell antigen 2 (BDCA2), as compared to placebo, in participants with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). TOPAZ-1 is expected to be conducted at approximately 135 sites worldwide and aims to enroll 540 adults with active SLE.

“A chronic autoimmune condition such as lupus, which overwhelmingly affects women, has a tremendous impact on my patients’ daily lives, including their physical, mental and social wellbeing,” said Richard Furie, MD, Chief of the Division of Rheumatology at Northwell Health and Professor at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. “There remains a significant need for efficacious and generally safe treatment options for lupus patients. Based on the positive results observed in the Phase 2 LILAC study, we are excited to continue to evaluate the potential of BIIB059 in TOPAZ-1.”

TOPAZ-1 is a 52-week, multicenter, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BIIB059 compared with placebo. Participants will be randomized to receive subcutaneous treatment with BIIB059 at one of two doses or placebo every four weeks with an additional dose at Week 2, in addition to their existing lupus therapy.

“We look forward to working with the lupus community as we advance the clinical development of BIIB059 with the hope of bringing a meaningful new treatment option to people living with systemic and cutaneous lupus,” said Nathalie Franchimont, MD, PhD, Head of the Multiple Sclerosis and Immunology Development Unit at Biogen. “Additionally, we are reinforcing Biogen’s commitment to the inclusion of underrepresented groups in our clinical trials. We have set enrollment targets that reflect the prevalence of SLE in African-American and Hispanic/Latinx communities with the aim to achieve appropriate representation in the TOPAZ-1 study.”

The primary objective of TOPAZ-1 is to demonstrate reduction in disease activity as measured with the primary endpoint, proportion of participants who achieve an SLE Responder Index-4 (SRI-4) response at Week 52. SRI is a composite index using validated indices to measure global and organ-/system-specific disease activity. Key secondary endpoints will evaluate the effect of BIIB059 on additional efficacy parameters including proportion of patients achieving SRI-4 response at Week 24, oral corticosteroid use, organ-specific disease activity (joint and/or skin) and flare rates. Safety will be evaluated throughout the study duration.

The initiation of the TOPAZ-1 study is based on the results from the Phase 2 LILAC study. In LILAC, BIIB059 met its primary endpoint, demonstrating statistically significant reduction of disease activity in patients with SLE. The majority of adverse events in the LILAC study were mild or moderate.

More information on the TOPAZ-1 study (NCT04895241) is available at clinicaltrials.gov.

BIIB059, discovered and developed exclusively by Biogen, is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting blood dendritic cell antigen 2 (BDCA2) and is being investigated for the potential treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). BDCA2 is a receptor that is exclusively expressed on a subset of human immune cells called Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells (pDCs), and it has been shown to reduce inflammatory cytokine production from pDCs, including type-I IFN (IFN-I). Inflammatory mediators are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of lupus.

SLE is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects multiple organ systems, with periods of illness or flares alternating with periods of remission. SLE can present itself in several ways including rash, arthritis, anemia, thrombocytopenia, serositis, nephritis, seizures or psychosis. SLE is associated with a greater risk of death from causes such as infection and cardiovascular disease. There are an estimated four million people worldwide impacted by SLE.

Although anyone can develop lupus, an estimated ninety percent of people living with lupus are women; most begin to see symptoms between the ages of 15-40. The disease disproportionately impacts certain ethno-racial groups, including African American, Asian, American Indian/Alaskan Native and Hispanic/Latinx communities. There is currently no cure for lupus.

Biogen is advancing two investigational lupus assets in Phase 3 studies: BIIB059, an anti-BDCA2, and dapirolizumab pegol, an anti-CD40L being developed in collaboration with UCB, which began a Phase 3 trial in 2020.

At Biogen, our mission is clear: we are pioneers in neuroscience. Biogen discovers, develops and delivers worldwide innovative therapies for people living with serious neurological and neurodegenerative diseases as well as related therapeutic adjacencies. One of the world’s first global biotechnology companies, Biogen was founded in 1978 by Charles Weissmann, Heinz Schaller, Kenneth Murray and Nobel Prize winners Walter Gilbert and Phillip Sharp. Today Biogen has the leading portfolio of medicines to treat multiple sclerosis, has introduced the first approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, commercializes biosimilars of advanced biologics and is focused on advancing research programs in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, neuromuscular disorders, movement disorders, ophthalmology, neuropsychiatry, immunology, acute neurology and neuropathic pain. For more information, visit www.biogen.com.