Researchers for Barrier Therapeutics say they "just missed" achieving statistically significant results laid out for its preliminary endpoints for liarozole in lamellar ichthyosis, a rare genetic disorder. Close didn't count for investors, though. They bailed, sending shares down by more than half in pre-market trading. The drug "effectively treated" 41 percent of patients receiving a 75 mg dose of the drug and 50 percent of the patients receiving 150 mg doses. Slightly more than one in 10 of the patients receiving a placebo were effectively treated.
"Although we just missed statistical significance for the primary endpoint, we are pleased with these results given the limited number of patients in the study. These results are consistent with data from previous studies of liarozole in this rare debilitating disease," commented Geert Cauwenbergh, Ph.D., CEO of Barrier Therapeutics. "These data provide additional support for the potential efficacy and safety of the class of retinoic acid metabolizing blocking agents (RAMBAs), which inhibit the body from breaking down its own retinoic acid, the active form of vitamin A, a key nutrient for healthy skin. While Barrier has no plans to further develop this product candidate itself, we intend to provide the data to U.S. and European regulatory authorities and to companies focused on orphan drugs."
- see this release for more
- read the report on the data from StreetInsider
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