New Rapid Acting Insulin Viaject Completes Two Pivotal Trials

Biodel announced that its two pivotal Phase III VIAject(TM) clinical trials are now complete. The full trial results will be released either at Biodel’s poster presentation at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) on Tuesday, September 9, 2008, or at a later appropriate scientific forum.

Biodel also announced that two abstracts containing interim data from its VIAject(TM) Phase III clinical trials was posted on the Website for the 44th Annual Meeting of the EASD. The abstracts disclosed results of a January 2008 preliminary interim analysis of the secondary endpoints of dose, weight, and mild and moderate hypoglycemic events for the VIAject(TM) Phase III clinical trials.

“We continue to meet our timelines and are encouraged by the VIAject(TM) Phase III interim data, which continues to meet our expectations,” stated Dr. Solomon Steiner, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Biodel. “We look forward to performing our final analysis and presenting data from the completed studies after the clinical trial database has been locked.”

The interim analysis, dose and weight changes after six weeks of drug treatment were compared to the baseline for all patients who had completed six weeks or more of treatment. Additionally, total mild and moderate hypoglycemic events as of January 2008 were compared across the two treatment arms. The following additional information was reported in the EASD abstracts:

The interim results demonstrated statistically significant differences in weight changes in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes using VIAject(TM) compared to Humulin(R) R in the first six weeks of the study. Type 1 patients (n=102) receiving VIAject(TM) showed no change in weight compared to baseline, while a weight gain (1.4 +/- 2.9 kg) was seen in the patients (n=108) receiving Humulin(R) R (p<0.001). Type 2 patients (n=173) receiving VIAject(TM) showed a weight reduction (-0.5 +/- 4.7 kg) compared to baseline, while a weight gain (0.8 +/- 6.2 kg) was seen in the patients (n=180) receiving Humulin(R) R (p<0.05), for a net difference of 1.3 kg.

The interim results demonstrated statistically significant daily meal-time (prandial) dose reductions in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes using VIAject(TM) compared to Humulin(R) R in the first six weeks of the study. With comparable glycemic control targets between treatment groups, Type 1 patients (n=106) receiving VIAject(TM) showed a 34 percent reduction in daily prandial dose (10 units; p<0.001) compared to baseline, while control patients receiving Humulin(R) R showed a non-significant 7 percent reduction (2.4 units). Type 2 patients receiving VIAject(TM) showed a 36 percent reduction (16 units; p<0.001), while control patients receiving Humulin(R) R showed an increase of 15 percent (6 units; p<0.01), for a net difference of 51 percent.

The interim results demonstrated statistically significant reductions in mild and moderate hypoglycemic events in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes using VIAject(TM) compared to Humulin(R) R. Type 1 patients recorded 8,111 mild and moderate hypoglycemic events, with a significantly lower number of incidents in the VIAject(TM) group (3,691; p<0.001) than in the Humulin(R) R group (4,420). Type 2 patients recorded 2,438 mild and moderate hypoglycemic events with a significantly lower number of incidents in the VIAject(TM) group (844 events) than in the Humulin(R) R group (1,594 events; p<0.001).

Biodel noted that the final data from these trials may differ from those suggested by the preliminary interim analysis. Furthermore the primary efficacy endpoint for the studies, change in HbA1c, has not been analyzed. Both HbA1c and incidences of severe hypoglycemic events will be analyzed and reported after the clinical trial database for the studies has been locked.

About VIAject(TM) : VIAject(TM) is an ultra rapid-acting injectable human insulin intended for meal-time use by patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. In Phase I and Phase II clinical trials, VIAject(TM) has been shown to have a more rapid onset of activity than those reported for the existing rapid-acting insulin analogs. As a result, VIAject(TM) may be safer, require a lower dose and promote weight loss when compared to currently marketed meal-time insulins.