Urica Therapeutics Announces Topline Data From Phase 1 Clinical Trial Evaluating Dotinurad in Healthy Volunteers in the US

Urica Therapeutics, Inc. recently announced topline data from the Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating dotinurad in healthy volunteers in the US. The randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 1 clinical trial evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of multiple doses of dotinurad in US healthy subjects. Dotinurad was shown to be safe and well tolerated with no severe adverse events observed at any dose level. No drug-related adverse events were observed at doses of 1 mg, 2 mg, and 4 mg, which are all approved and marketed doses in Japan. The PK profile in US subjects was comparable to that of Japanese subjects with all tested doses for time to peak serum drug concentration, peak serum drug concentration and drug serum half-life.

Pharmacodynamic data from the Phase 1 trial were also comparable to the Japanese data where over 1,000 subjects were exposed to dotinurad, including rapid and significant serum uric acid (sUA) reduction. Up to 90% of sUA reduction was observed within four days since the start of treatment. Increase of urine uric acid excretion was also observed following dotinurad treatment, which confirms its mechanism of action.

Jay D. Kranzler, MD, PhD, Urica’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said “We are encouraged that the data from our Phase 1 clinical trial in US healthy volunteers show comparable pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and safety profiles between US and Japanese healthy subjects. Dotinurad has been marketed in Japan since 2020 and we are poised to leverage the extensive Japanese clinical and safety data to accelerate US development and bring dotinurad to US gout patients with continued unmet need to further lower serum uric acid levels and potentially reduce gout flares and tophi formation. We are initiating a Phase 1b clinical trial in gout patients in the US this summer and expect to begin pivotal clinical trials in 2024.”

Urica Therapeutics is developing dotinurad, a novel urate transporter (URAT1) inhibitor for gout with potential to address other conditions associated with hyperuricemia such as chronic kidney disease. Dotinurad can lower blood uric acid levels by selectively inhibiting URAT1 and uric acid reabsorption in the kidneys. Dotinurad (URECE tablets in Japan) was approved in Japan in 2020 as a once-daily oral therapy for hyperuricemia with or without gout. Dotinurad was efficacious and well-tolerated in more than 500 Japanese patients treated for up to 58 weeks in three Phase 3 clinical trials. Its efficacy demonstrated non-inferiority to Febuxostat, which has a black box warning in the US for increased risk of cardiovascular death, while dotinurad was well-tolerated and safe with low risk for drug interactions. Over 1,000 patients have been treated with dotinurad in clinical trials. Eisai is currently running a Phase 3 trial with dotinurad in China.

Gout is a serious, progressive, painful and debilitating inflammatory arthritis caused by deposits of uric acid crystal in and around the connective tissue of joints, tendons and bones due to hyperuricemia. There are nearly 20 million diagnosed gout patients in the US, Europe, and Canada as of 2021, and it is estimated that two to 3 million US patients have inadequately controlled serum uric acid levels with existing urate-lowering therapies.

Urica Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products to treat gout and other conditions associated with hyperuricemia. Urica acquired the rights to develop and commercialize dotinurad, a potentially best-in-class URAT1 inhibitor, in the US, UK, European Union, Canada, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Turkey from Fuji Yakuhin. Dotinurad has been approved to treat gout and hyperuricemia in Japan and is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial in the US. Urica was founded by Fortress Biotech, Inc. For more information, visit www.uricatherapeutics.com.

Fortress Biotech, Inc. is an innovative biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing, and commercializing high-potential marketed and development-stage drugs and drug candidates. The company has eight marketed prescription pharmaceutical products and over 30 programs in development at Fortress, at its majority-owned and majority-controlled partners and subsidiaries and at partners and subsidiaries it founded and in which it holds significant minority ownership positions. Such product candidates span six large-market areas, including oncology, rare diseases and gene therapy, which allow it to create value for shareholders. Fortress advances its diversified pipeline through a streamlined operating structure that fosters efficient drug development. The Fortress model is driven by a world-class business development team that is focused on leveraging its significant biopharmaceutical industry expertise to further expand the company’s portfolio of product opportunities. Fortress has established partnerships with some of the world’s leading academic research institutions and biopharmaceutical companies to maximize each opportunity to its full potential, including AstraZeneca plc, City of Hope, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Sentynl Therapeutics, Inc. For more information, visit www.fortressbiotech.com.