Medivir reports Phase IIa data of MIV-711 for OA

Medivir AB (SSE:MVIR B) reported top-line data showing that MIV-711 slowed the degenerative effects of moderate osteoarthritis (OA) on both bone and cartilage of the knee in the Phase IIa MIV-711-201 trial. The company said MIV-711 has the potential to be the first disease-modifying drug for OA, and now plans to seek a partner to further develop the reversible small molecule inhibitor of cathepsin K (CTSK).

In the 244-patient trial, once-daily 100 and 200 mg doses of oral MIV-711 both significantly reduced femoral joint bone area progression as measured by MRI from baseline to 6 months, a secondary endpoint, by about 65% vs. placebo (p<0.005 for both). Low-dose MIV-711 also led to a 70% reduction in median loss of femoral cartilage thickness vs. placebo, while high-dose MIV-711 showed a "small increase" in median cartilage thickness...