Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated announced positive top-line results from its phase III study of Corlux for the treatment of Cushing’s syndrome. The study evaluated the response of two patient groups to Corlux treatment: one included patients who were glucose intolerant and one included patients who were hypertensive. Statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint was achieved for both groups: with 60% responding in the glucose intolerant group and 43% in the hypertensive group.

An initial review of safety data indicates that Corlux was well tolerated by Cushing’s syndrome patients in this phase III study. “The results of the study demonstrate that Corlux has the potential to become an important treatment option for patients suffering from Cushing’s syndrome,” said Joseph Belanoff, MD, chief executive officer of Corcept. “We remain on track to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA for Corlux in Cushing’s syndrome by the end of the first quarter of 2011 and continue to work toward our goal of making Corlux available to patients with this severe disease.”

Each group in the study had its own primary endpoint. The primary analysis is a responder analysis. In the “glucose intolerant group” (patients with diabetes or carbohydrate intolerance) a responder was defined as a patient who achieved a 25% or greater improvement in glucose tolerance as measured by a standard 2-hour glucose tolerance test at 24 weeks (or at the early termination visit) compared to baseline. In the “hypertension group” (patients with a diagnosis of hypertension) a responder was defined as a patient who achieved a 5 millimeter or greater improvement in diastolic blood pressure at 24 weeks (or at the early termination visit) compared to baseline.

The protocol for the trial dictates that if a sufficient number of patients in either the glucose intolerant group or the hypertension group are responders, such that the lower limit of the exact one-sided 95% binomial Confidence Interval (CI) for the responder rate is greater than 20%, then the trial will have demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of Cushing’s syndrome. The calculation, which was predetermined in the study design, is based on analyzing the response rates in a modified Intention To Treat group (mITT) defined as those patients treated for at least 30 days (the mITT group).

15 of 25, or 60%, of patients in the glucose intolerant group responded to treatment with Corlux, significantly higher than the 20% hurdle rate (lower bound of the 95% CI = 41.7 which equates to p<0.0001). 9 of 21, or 43%, of patients in hypertension group responded to treatment with Corlux, significantly higher than the 20% hurdle rate (lower bound of the 95% CI = 24.5 which equates to p<0.01).

Corlux was well tolerated in the trial population. Although the detailed analysis of the safety data from the study has not yet been completed, the tolerability of Corlux in the treatment of Cushing's syndrome in the phase III study met our expectations. Adverse events related to treatment included symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, endometrial thickening, and hypokalemia, all of which were consistent with earlier published reports.

The majority of the Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) reported in the study were not related to Corlux treatment, as determined by the clinical investigators. Of those that were related to treatment, all resolved with clinical management. We plan to present detailed safety data at scientific conferences during 2011. Ninety per cent of the patients who completed the phase III study opted to enter the long-term extension study.

The phase III trial was a 50-patient open-label study in endogenous Cushing's syndrome patients conducted at 17 clinical sites in the United States. Patients met the trial enrolment criteria if they were either not eligible for, had failed or had relapsed from surgery and were glucose intolerant or were diagnosed with hypertension at entry. Patients in the phase III study were placed in one of two groups: those with glucose intolerance and those who were diagnosed with hypertension but were not glucose intolerant. In the trial, each patient's Corlux dose was titrated by their study investigator to the level necessary to achieve clinical benefit. The FDA indicated that this trial may provide a reasonable basis for the submission of an NDA for the treatment of endogenous Cushing's syndrome.

In addition to the primary endpoints described above, the key secondary endpoint in the trial was global clinical improvement, designed to capture the broader clinical benefit Corlux may confer in this patient population. This endpoint is based on the evaluation of broader clinical outcomes by a Data Review Board, an independent three-member panel of academic physicians with expertise in Cushing's syndrome. Data on this key secondary endpoint is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2011.

Additional secondary measures of efficacy include changes from baseline to the end of the study in fasting plasma glucose, haemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c), change in glucose lowering medications, systolic blood pressure, change in antihypertensive medications, body composition, weight, bone turnover and bone density, cognitive/psychiatric assessments, metabolic functions, Quality of Life (SF-36 questionnaire), muscle strength and physical function.

Corcept is planning to submit an NDA to the FDA late in the first quarter of 2011 based on the positive results of this Phase 3 study. The final Phase 3 trial design and our statistical analysis plan reflect the feedback Corcept received in discussions with the FDA.

Corlux was granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for the treatment of endogenous Cushing's syndrome in 2007. Drugs that receive Orphan Drug Designation obtain seven years of marketing exclusivity from the date of drug approval as well as tax credits for clinical trial costs, marketing application filing fee waivers and assistance from the FDA in the drug development process.

Endogenous Cushing's syndrome is caused by prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol and is generated by tumours that produce cortisol or ACTH. Cushing’s syndrome is an orphan indication which most commonly affects adults aged 20 to 50. An estimated 10 to 15 of every one million people are newly diagnosed with this syndrome each year, resulting in over 3,000 new patients in the United States. An estimated 20,000 patients in the United States have Cushing’s syndrome.

Symptoms vary, but most people have one or more of the following manifestations: high blood sugar, diabetes, high blood pressure, upper body obesity, rounded face, increased fat around the neck, thinning arms and legs, severe fatigue and weak muscles. Irritability, anxiety, cognitive disturbances and depression are also common. Cushing’s syndrome can affect every organ system in the body and can be lethal if not treated effectively.

Corcept’s first-generation compound, Corlux, also known as mifepristone, directly blocks the cortisol (GR-II) receptor and the progesterone (PR) receptor. Intellectual property protection is in place to protect important methods of use for Corlux. Corcept retains worldwide rights to its intellectual property related to Corlux.

Corcept is a pharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of severe metabolic and psychiatric disorders. The company has two phase III programmes: Corlux for the treatment of Cushing’s syndrome, and Corlux for the treatment of the psychotic features of psychotic depression.