SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Principia Biopharma Inc. (Nasdaq: PRNB), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing transformative oral therapies to patients with significant unmet medical needs in immunology and oncology, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in its partner Sanofi’s Phase 2b clinical trial of SAR442168 in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), triggering a $30 million milestone payment to Principia. SAR442168, formerly known as PRN2246, is a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor that crosses the human blood-brain barrier and modulates immune cell function in both the periphery and in the brain, which shows promise for the potential treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases.

“We are delighted that the first patient has been dosed in Sanofi’s Phase 2b dose-finding trial in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis,” said Martin Babler, president and chief executive officer of Principia. “One challenge in developing medicines for CNS disorders has been achieving sufficient blood–brain barrier penetration. We are very enthusiastic about the potential of our CNS-penetrating BTK inhibitor, especially because in a Phase 1 clinical trial, we demonstrated exposure of SAR442168 in the CNS as well as BTK occupancy in peripheral blood.”

About the Phase 2b Clinical Trial of SAR442168
Sanofi is conducting a global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 2b clinical trial that will enroll approximately 120 patients with MS to evaluate SAR442168. The trial will include adult patients diagnosed with relapsing MS (RMS) with at least 1 relapse during the previous year, or 2 or more relapses during the previous 2 years, or 1 or more active Gadolinium (Gd)-enhancing brain lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan in the past 6 months prior to screening. The trial will evaluate the dose response of SAR442168, once daily, for the treatment of RMS based on MRI assessments.

About SAR442168
SAR442168, formerly known as PRN2246, is being developed to potentially treat MS and other CNS diseases, in part by penetrating the blood-brain barrier and modulating B cells and other immune cells in the CNS. During neuro-inflammation, the number of B cells in the brain increases, which is thought to play a central role in the pathology of MS and other CNS diseases. This provides the potential of targeting the adaptive and innate immunity in both the periphery and also within the CNS. In late 2017, Principia formed a collaboration with Sanofi under which Principia granted Sanofi an exclusive, worldwide license to develop and commercialize SAR442168.  Principia completed Phase 1 activities. Key findings from the Phase 1 trial included confirming that SAR442168 was well tolerated in the trial, that BTK occupancy increased in a dose dependent manner, and that cerebral spinal fluid exposure was achieved in all subjects who underwent lumbar puncture. Phase 2b and any further development will be conducted by Sanofi, a global biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering and developing new treatment options for people living with serious diseases, including MS.

About Principia Biopharma
Principia is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing transformative oral therapies to patients with significant unmet medical needs in immunology and oncology. Principia’s proprietary Tailored Covalency^® platform enables the Company to design and develop reversible and irreversible covalent, small molecule inhibitors with potencies and selectivities that have the potential to rival those of injectable biologics yet maintain the convenience of a pill. PRN1008, a reversible covalent BTK inhibitor, is being evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with pemphigus, an orphan autoimmune disease, and in a Phase 2b clinical trial in patients with immune thrombocytopenia, a rare hematological disease. SAR442168 (formerly PRN2246), a covalent BTK inhibitor which crosses the blood-brain barrier, is in a Phase 2b clinical trial in patients with multiple sclerosis, and has been partnered with Sanofi for development in multiple sclerosis and, potentially, for other diseases of the central nervous system . PRN1371, a covalent inhibitor of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) is being evaluated in a Phase 1 trial in patients with bladder cancer. For more information, please visit www.principiabio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained herein are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, Principia’s expectations regarding the Principia pipeline of product candidates, Principia’s receipt of a milestone payment from Sanofi pursuant to its license agreement regarding SAR442168; the potential for SAR442168 to treat CNS diseases, including MS; the ability of SAR442168 to target the adaptive and innate immunity in both the periphery and within the CNS; the exposure of SAR442168 in the CNS and the peripheral BTK occupancy of SAR442168; and the safety and tolerability of SAR442168. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that may cause Principia’s actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risks and uncertainties of the clinical development process and of clinical trial recruitment; risks and uncertainties about the efficacy, safety and tolerability of our product candidates; risks that early research or clinical results may be materially different from future clinical results; risks and uncertainties regarding Principia’s reliance on third-party organizations, such as contract research organizations, contract manufacturing organizations, and partners such as Sanofi; risks of third party claims alleging infringement of patents and proprietary rights or seeking to invalidate Principia’s patents or proprietary rights; and the risk that Principia’s proprietary rights may be insufficient to protect its technologies and product candidates. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the Principia’s business in general, see the risk factors set forth in Principia’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2018.  Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Principia specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contact
Christopher Chai, CFO
ir@principiabio.com

Media Contact
Paul Laland, VP of Corporate Communications
paul.laland@principiabio.com
415.519.6610