Mihales Polymeropoulos
Analyst · Jefferies. Your line is now open
Certainly. So first of all, the summary of the results are that the hypothesis that tradipitant is a antipruritic agent across the spectrum of severity of AD has not been confirmed. However, for people with a mild type of AD it appears that tradipitant has a strong antipruritic effect and does so early in the clinical meaningful way. The way we think about these results, Chris, is that there are two significant to ignore, meaning that while the headline of course is unfortunately and disappointing. So the EPIONE study did not confirm that blocking the actions of substance speed through NK1 receptors will be of significant therapeutic effect to all AD patients. Nonetheless, the effect is large as it appears from the study. The results of study would need to be confirmed to be certain that both the result is reproducible and second, that the magnitude is reproduced as well.If so, we certainly understand from discussions with experts in the field that this could fit a significant unmet medical need in an area that the atopic dermatitis field is not concentrating today. New treatments are concentrating to treat primarily the lesions seen in the moderate and severe patients. But certainly, there is no other effort for a systemic, safe antipruritic treatment for patients with mild disease.So what does that mean for Vanda's program? The EPIONE II study is in early phases, which means it can be efficiently reassessed and adapted to be shifted towards the population that we think the drug likely has the larger effect, and that is the mild population. Another consideration that our experts are urging us to look at is whether the drug would have an effect in the population of 12- to 18-year olds, a population that primarily has the mild type of AD associated with severe pruritus. And for which, there are no approved, safe, systemic treatments. We all know that mild treatment is treated with good skin hygiene, emollients and also local creams, including calcineurin inhibitors and crisaborole. So in that population, a systemic safe antipruritic treatment can play a significant role.So Vanda's plan is to continue to analyze the EPIONE wealth of data, quickly reassess how we can best utilize the ongoing EPIONE II study, which can be streamlined. And by that, I mean that with the results of the markings we see, fewer patients will be needed to evaluate whether or not the results in EPIONE is confirmed. And to be certain that we also answer the regulatory question, what does it mean if you succeeded to confirm this result. I would say it depends. Typically, the regulatory agencies would require two confirmatory studies. But of course, it depends on the magnitude of results in – upon confirmation. So I will leave it there, and I'm sure we'll have more to say about that in the coming quarters.