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Resverlogix stock up over 12% after heart disease drug meets main goal of clinical study

Published: 11:56 28 Aug 2012 EDT

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Resverlogix Corp's (TSE:RVX) shares jumped Tuesday after it said its cardiovascular disease drug RVX-208 met the main goal of a phase 2b clinical study. 

The BET protein inhibitor, RVX-208, "significantly increased" HDL-C - a good form of cholesterol - which was the primary endpoint of the trial. 

Shares of the company gained 12.7 per cent to $1.77 as of 11:35am ET. 

RVX-208 is currently in clinical study for the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. It functions by removing atherosclerotic plaque through reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), the natural process through which this plaque is transported out of the arteries and removed from the body by the liver. 

The phase 2 study also met secondary endpoints, showing increases in levels of Apo-Al, and large HDL particles - both believed to be important factors in enhancing reverse cholesterol transport activity. 

The trial, called Sustain, was directed by a clinical steering committee chaired by Dr. Steven Nissen, with Dr. Stephen Nicholls serving as principal investigator. 

The committee has approved release of the findings pending submission of full trial results for publication in a peer-reviewed medical journal, the company said. 

"Successful completion of the SUSTAIN trial provides Resverlogix with important data regarding improvement in the functionality of the HDL produced by RVX-208," said president and CEO, Donald McCaffrey. 

"Safety data from SUSTAIN reconfirm our belief that early liver signals witnessed in this and previous trials were of a transient nature," McCaffrey added. 

"The data support that RVX-208 is suitable for chronic use. The value of this knowledge will benefit our entire epigenetic and bromodomain research program by showing safe versions of epigenetic regulating molecules are indeed achievable.

"We believe that based on the collective knowledge gained from our recent trials, our company is well positioned as we approach the key plaque regression data expected in our ongoing ASSURE trial."

The phase 2b trial was conducted in South Africa and led by investigators at the Cleveland Clinic. The study enrolled 176 patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) and low high-density cholesterol (HDL-C). 

The primary purpose of the trial was to measure changes in HDL, Apo-AI and other lipid parameters compared with placebo, while also assessing safety over an extended treatment period.

The company noted that RVX-208 also has the potential to treat other indications, including neurodegenerative disorders.

Resverlogix is a clinical stage cardiovascular company with an epigenetic platform technology that modulates protein production. 

 

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