A specialty biopharmaceutical company, Dermira, Inc. announced the initial dosing of the first patient in a phase 2b dose-ranging trial for DRM01 in patients with facial acne vulgaris. The randomized, multi-center, double-blind, parallel-group, vehicle-controlled study is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of DRM01 compared to vehicle. The goal of the study is to establish the optimal dose for a potential phase 3 programme.

"This study marks an important milestone for Dermira, DRM01 and, we believe, patients suffering from acne," stated Tom Wiggans, chairman and chief executive officer of Dermira. "We are pleased with the progress of our DRM01 programme and the potential that it holds as a novel treatment for the millions of acne patients who have long been underserved by available therapies. Our phase 2a trial demonstrated clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements in patients with moderate-to-severe acne across all primary efficacy endpoints, and this dose-ranging trial will provide us with the additional data needed to design a potential phase 3 programme. We expect to announce topline data from this phase 2b study in the first half of 2016."

In the phase 2b trial, approximately 400 adult patients with moderate-to-severe facial acne vulgaris will be randomized into five separate arms evaluating different DRM01 dosing regimens compared to vehicle. Approximately 300 patients will receive DRM01, and approximately 100 will receive vehicle. Consistent with the preceding phase 2a trial and in accordance with the published US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) draft guidance for the development of acne drugs, the primary endpoints are the absolute changes from baseline in inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesion counts and the proportion of patients achieving at least a two-point improvement from baseline in the five-point Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score. Each endpoint will be measured at the end of the 12-week treatment period. The trial will be conducted at approximately 30 sites in the US and Canada. Pending the successful completion of the phase 2b trial and all applicable non-clinical work, Dermira expects to include both adult and adolescent patients in its phase 3 programme.

DRM01 is a novel, topical, small-molecule sebum inhibitor in development for the treatment of acne. Sebum is an oily substance made up of lipids produced by glands in the skin called sebaceous glands, and excessive sebum production is an important aspect of acne that is not addressed by available topical therapies. DRM01 is designed to exert its effect by inhibiting acetyl coenzyme-A carboxylase, an enzyme that plays an important role in the synthesis of fatty acids, a type of lipid that represents an essential component of the majority of sebum lipids.

Dermira is a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on bringing innovative and differentiated products to dermatologists and their patients.