Phase 2b Trial Shows Unique Lipid Efficacy Profile of Novel Compound to Reduce Elevated Triglyceride Levels Essentialis’ Investigational DCCR Shows Promise in Phase 2b Trial as Monotherapy and in Combination with Existing Lipid Therapy San Diego, CA, February 29, 2012 – Essentialis, Inc., today announced Phase 2b trial results for
its investigational compound DCCR demonstrating a reduction in triglyceride (TG) levels by 30 to
40 percent in patients whose TG levels exceeded 500 mg/dL (Very High Triglycerides [VHTG]).
The study included an arm combining DCCR with fenofibrate treatment (Abbott Laboratories’
Trilipix® (fenofibric acid)); in the combination arm, DCCR was shown to be additive to
fenofibrate for all lipid fractions except LDL-C. In contrast, a 2009 study of VHTG patients using
prescription omega-3 fatty acid in combination with fenofibrate revealed no clinically important
More than five mil ion people in the United States have very high TG levels. This population is at
elevated risk for a number of diseases, including acute pancreatitis, diabetes and cardiovascular
events (e.g., sudden death, myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, revascularization,
“The results of this study contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the potential of DCCR
as a triglyceride-lowering treatment,” said Richard C. Pasternak, M.D., Essentialis board member
and head of the Company’s scientific advisory board. “These data clearly motivate us to advance
DCCR into larger trials that may demonstrate benefit to patients with multiple disease risk
In this Phase 2b double-blind, placebo-control ed study, subjects were included in one of two
sub-groups. About half of the subjects were included in the atorvastatin combination sub-group,
where they were randomized to receive either DCCR 290 mg or placebo in combination with
atorvastatin (Pfizer Inc.’s Lipitor®) 20 mg for 18 weeks. The remaining subjects in the study were
included in the monotherapy/fenofibrate combination subgroup, where they were randomized
to receive either DCCR 290 mg or placebo for 12 weeks, fol owed by co-administration of
fenofibrate (Trilipix) 135 mg for another six weeks.
In combination with statin, DCCR 290 mg resulted in placebo-adjusted median reductions in TG
of 28%, in VLDL-C of 51%, in non-HDL-C of 16%, and an increase in HDL-C of 11% after 18 weeks
of treatment. In statin treated subjects, there was no change in mean LDL-C; however, all statin-
treated subjects with LDL-C > 100 mg/dL at baseline who received DCCR showed improvements
In combination with fenofibrate, treatment with DCCR resulted in median reductions in TG of
78%, in non-HDL-C of 34%, and an increase in HDL-C of 38%. DCCR was additive to fenofibrate
for all lipid fractions except LDL-C. The increase in LDL-C was lower in fenofibrate + DCCR (42%)
Through 18 weeks, treatment with DCCR resulted in nearly a 40% improvement in HOMA-IR, a
measure of insulin resistance, and a reduction in median weight of more than 3 kilograms,
compared to a worsening of HOMA-IR (+13%) and no change in median weight in the placebo-
treated subjects. The incidence, severity and nature of adverse events in the DCCR arm were
“There is a significant unmet need within the patient community for a compound like DCCR,”
said Aaron D. Berg, President and Chief Executive Officer, Essentialis, Inc. “Patients with very
high triglyceride levels often do not reach accepted targets with current agents. Our plans to
pursue next steps with DCCR are clear – we want to help patients reduce medical risks
associated with very high triglyceride levels.”
1Roth, et al, “Prescription Omega-3 Fatty Acid as an Adjunct to Fenofibrate Therapy in
Hypertriglyceridemic Subjects”, J Cardiovascular Pharmacol (2009) 54:196-203
About DCCR
DCCR is a proprietary crystalline salt of diazoxide in a controlled-release, once-a-day tablet
formulation. It is in development for patients with very high triglyceride (TG) levels. Essentialis
has completed an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA and has obtained an SPA covering a
pivotal study. Essentialis expects to initiate Phase 3 clinical trials in 2012. DCCR is covered by
multiple issued US and granted EU patents, which provide composition of matter protection
until 2028. Essentialis has evaluated DCCR in several double-blind, placebo-control ed studies
which demonstrated that the drug was well tolerated and that statistical significance for various
endpoints was achieved in patients with elevated triglycerides. More than 100,000 patient-years
of treatment with diazoxide help support the acceptable safety of DCCR.
About Essentialis, Inc.
Essentialis is a San Diego-headquartered pharmaceutical company focused on the development
of breakthrough medicines targeted to the ATP-sensitive potassium channel, a metabolically
regulated membrane protein whose modulation has potential to treat and prevent a wide range
of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. For more information visit
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