MiMedx Concludes Enrollment for Phase 2B Study of Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee
Research Advances Understanding of Amniotic Tissue as Potential Unique Treatment for Painful Chronic Condition that Affects 242 Million People Globally
MARIETTA, Ga., Sept. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MiMedx Group, Inc. (OTC PINK: MDXG) (“MiMedx” or “the Company”), an industry leader in advanced wound care and a therapeutic biologics company, announced the conclusion of enrollment into its Phase 2B study of its micronized injectable amniotic tissue product in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee (KOA).
“Osteoarthritis is by far the most common joint disease – millions of adults experience pain and decreased quality of life every day because of joint destruction caused by osteoarthritis,” said Alfred Gellhorn, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation and Director of Sports Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical Center. “Although knee replacement is an option for those with advanced knee arthritis, this should be reserved for end-stage disease; it is extremely expensive and carries significant potential risks. We are in desperate need of better conservative options to treat those with mild-to-moderate knee arthritis. Current treatments, including oral anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, and hyaluronic acid injections, are very limited in the amount of relief they provide. Furthermore, anti-inflammatories have negative cardiovascular effects and injected steroids cause further joint degeneration. In my practice, patients are frustrated with these limited options and very interested in novel approaches that provide safe and long-lasting pain reduction. I believe this Phase 2B clinical trial is critically important to inform the potential for MiMedx’s amniotic membrane-based technology to fill this treatment void.”
The OA Clinical Trial is the first randomized clinical study of a micronized dehydrated Human Amnion/Chorion Membrane (mdHACM) Injection in the Treatment of KOA. A previously published retrospective study by Dr. Gellhorn provided initial evidence of pain reduction and functional improvement in a cohort of 40 patients with chronic tendinopathy and arthropathy. The subsequent publication of an observational study by Kris Alden, M.D., Ph.D., Orthopaedic Surgeon, Hinsdale Orthopaedics, of 100 knee injections in 82 KOA patients provided further evidence that mdHACM injections reduced pain and improved function. In both studies, pain and functional improvements continued to improve over the entire observation period, and no significant adverse events were noted.
MiMedx Executive Vice President, Research and Development, Robert Stein, M.D., Ph.D., commented, “We have enrolled the planned number of patients needed to assess the statistical significance of response to treatment in this Phase 2B trial, ahead of our enrollment schedule, despite the access restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful to our dedicated investigators and their staff for making this possible. If our data analyses support product safety and effectiveness, we will approach the FDA and leverage our Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation to discuss our pivotal study plans and advance the program toward a Biologics License Application (BLA) filing.”
“Osteoarthritis is responsible for a staggering public health and economic impact: more than 242 million people worldwide currently suffer from symptomatic OA of the knee and hip; 45% of all people have a lifetime risk of developing OA of the knee; and OA is responsible for $71 billion in lost earnings annually in the U.S.,” said Timothy R. Wright, Chief Executive Officer, MiMedx. “Addressing this significant, unmet patient need is urgent – and MiMedx is committed to applying our unique amniotic tissue platform to better understand and address both the symptomatic pain and underlying loss of function caused by OA of the knee. We look forward to sharing these data.”
About MiMedx OA Trial
This trial is a Phase 2B, prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial of the micronized dehydrated Human Amnion Chorion Membrane (mdHACM) injection as compared to saline placebo injection in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Trial enrollment was planned to include 466 patients between the ages of 21 to 80 years, with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis defined as grade 1 to 3 on the Kellgren Lawrence grading scale and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain score greater than 45. Due to a lower than expected number of study participant dropouts, and with an adequate number of patients meeting the required time in study to assess the primary endpoint, the final number randomized will be in the range of 430-440.
The primary efficacy endpoints include change from baseline in VAS at 90 days, change from baseline in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index at 90 days, and incidence of related Adverse Events (AEs), Serious Adverse Events (SAEs), and Unanticipated Adverse Events at 365 days. Secondary endpoints include, change from baseline in VAS at 180 days and change from baseline in WOMAC at 180 days. The WOMAC Index has become a standard study metric in KOA studies, and its use has been extensively validated.
Important Cautionary Statement
This press release may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “will,” “preliminary,” and similar expressions, and are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and the Company cautions investors against placing undue reliance on such statements. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that the clinical study will be successful, will be completed on time, or result in an approved Biologics License Application or future products or indications. The Company describes additional risks and uncertainties in the Risk Factors section of its most recent annual report and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
About MiMedx
MiMedx® is an industry leader in advanced wound care and a therapeutic biologics company developing and distributing human placental tissue allografts with patent-protected processes for multiple sectors of healthcare. The Company processes the human placental tissue utilizing its proprietary PURION® process methodology, among other processes, to produce allografts by employing aseptic processing techniques in addition to terminal sterilization. MiMedx has supplied more than 1.9 million allografts to date. For additional information, please visit www.mimedx.com.
Contact:
Hilary Dixon
Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
770.651.9066
investorrelations@mimedx.com
