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Enanta Pharma (ENTA) Provides Updates on R&D Programs and Business Outlook Ahead of J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

January 5, 2018 7:48 AM EST

Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENTA), a research and development-focused biotechnology company dedicated to creating small molecule drugs for viral infections and liver diseases, today announced that Jay R. Luly, Ph.D., Enanta’s President and Chief Executive Officer, will provide an update on its research and development programs in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)/primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) and its business outlook for 2018 during Enanta’s presentation at the 36th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on January 9, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. PT.

“Enanta has executed well on its stated goals and as a result has achieved significant clinical progress,” stated Jay R. Luly, Ph.D. President and CEO Enanta. “We begin the year with two wholly-owned clinical programs ongoing for RSV and PBC, with a third for NASH to initiate soon. In addition, ongoing royalties from our HCV collaboration, along with our strong cash position at the end of our fiscal year of approximately $294 million, provide us a source of non-dilutive funding for these programs.”

The following are details of Enanta’s research and development program updates and expectations for 2018.

Research and Development Update:

EDP-305, FXR agonist for NASH/PBC:

  • A Phase 2 dose-ranging clinical study of EDP-305, Enanta’s lead FXR agonist, has been initiated in patients with PBC. The Phase 2 clinical study, “INTREPID”, is a 12-week, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of EDP-305 in subjects with PBC, with or without an inadequate response to ursodeoxycholic acid. The efficacy of EDP-305 will be assessed by evaluating reductions in levels of alkaline phosphatase versus placebo.
  • Enanta plans to initiate a Phase 2 dose-ranging clinical study of EDP-305 in NASH patients in early 2018.
  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted EDP-305 Fast Track designation for the treatment of NASH patients with liver fibrosis and Fast Track designation for the treatment of patients with PBC.
  • Data is being presented at the 2018 NASH-TAG conference in Park City, Utah, January 4-6, 2018, from Enanta’s Phase 1 study of EDP-305 in healthy subjects and in subjects with presumptive non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Top line results were first announced on October 23, 2017, and data from this trial studying the safety, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic properties of EDP-305 support further clinical evaluation of EDP-305 in NASH and PBC patients.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus:

  • A Phase 1 clinical study of EDP-938, a potent non-fusion inhibitor of both RSV-A and RSV-B activity, has been initiated. The objective of the study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) levels of EDP-938 in healthy volunteers. Upon successful completion of this study, a Phase 2 proof-of-concept challenge study in RSV-infected humans is expected to begin later in 2018.

Hepatitis B Virus:

  • Enanta’s current research efforts in HBV are focused on core inhibitors, with the aim of developing a functional cure. Preclinical lead optimization continues to progress, with the goal of identifying a development candidate in 2018.

Licensed Products Update

Glecaprevir and paritaprevir, protease inhibitors for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV):

  • Glecaprevir, Enanta’s second protease inhibitor developed through its collaboration with AbbVie, is one of the two new direct-acting antivirals in AbbVie’s new pan-genotypic glecaprevir/pibrentasvir combination for chronic HCV treatment now being marketed in the U.S., EU, Japan, and other jurisdictions under the tradenames MAVYRET™ (U.S.) or MAVIRET™ (ex-U.S.).
  • Enanta has earned all of the clinical and regulatory milestones for two products, paritaprevir and glecaprevir, within the Enanta/AbbVie HCV collaboration, and continues to receive royalties on both products. Total cash received from AbbVie under the collaboration through December 31, 2017 totaled approximately $526 million dollars.

Webcast Information

Enanta’s presentation will take place on January 9, 2018 beginning at 4:00 p.m. PT. A live webcast of the presentation, as well as the question and answer breakout session that follows the presentation, will be accessible by visiting the “Events and Presentations” section on the “Investors” page of Enanta’s website at www.enanta.com. A replay of the webcasts will be available following the presentation and will be archived for approximately 60 days.



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