BioCryst reports HAE data, plans $100M follow-on

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:BCRX) rose $0.98 (11%) to $9.99 Tuesday after reporting preliminary Phase IIa data showing BCX4161 reduced frequency of angioedema attacks in a crossover trial in patients with hereditary angioedema who suffered >=1 attack per week. Prophylactic treatment with thrice-daily 400 mg oral BCX4161 for 28 days met the primary endpoint of reducing mean frequency of angioedema attacks vs. placebo (0.82 vs. 1.27 attacks per week, p<0.001) in the Phase IIa OPuS-1 trial in 24 HAE patients. Existing HAE treatments are injected.

BCX4161 also met the secondary endpoint of increasing the mean number of attack-free days vs. placebo (22 vs. 19 days, p=0.008). BCX4161 is a selective inhibitor of plasma kallikrein that subsequently suppresses bradykinin production. This year, BioCryst plans to start the 12-week OPuS-2 trial of BCX4161 to treat HAE. ...