ChemoCentryx's avacopan flunks mid-stage study in chronic skin disorder

• ChemoCentryx (NASDAQ:CCXI) announces unsuccessful results from a Phase 2 clinical trial, AURORA, evaluating avacopan in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic skin condition characterized by the formation of painful lumps under the skin in areas such as the armpits, groin, buttocks and breasts.
• The study failed to achieve the primary endpoint of statistically significant proportion of responders at week 12 compared to placebo. All cohorts in both the 10 mg and 30 mg arms failed to match placebo except the Hurley Stage III group (most severe disease) in both arms. The only one of these to separate from placebo in a statistically significant manner was the group receiving 30 mg twice-daily.
• The company intends to focus further development on severely afflicted HS patients.
• The safety profile was favorable.
• Small molecule avacopan inhibits the complement C5a receptor, which plays a key role in the inflammatory process. Last month, it filed a U.S. marketing application for a blood vessel inflammation disorder called ANCA-associated vasculitis.