Portola Pharmaceuticals Announces New Topline Data From Phase 3 ANNEXA-A(TM) Trial Part 2: Breakthrough Designated Andexanet Alfa Successfully Meets Primary Endpoint for Prolonged Reversal of Factor Xa Inhibitor Eliquis (apixaban)

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Apr 08, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE via COMTEX) --

Portola Pharmaceuticals today announced positive topline results from the second part of the Phase 3 ANNEXA™-A (Andexanet Alfa a Novel Antidote to the Anticoagulant Effects of FXa Inhibitors – Apixaban) study, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of andexanet alfa, an investigational antidote, with the Factor Xa inhibitor Eliquis (apixaban) in healthy volunteers. Andexanet alfa, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-designated breakthrough therapy, was administered as an intravenous (IV) bolus followed by a continuous two-hour infusion to sustain the reversal of anticoagulation activity. This registration-enabling study achieved all primary and secondary endpoints with high statistical significance. Andexanet alfa produced rapid reversal of the anticoagulant effect of apixaban, as measured by anti-Factor Xa activity, which was sustained for the duration of the infusion. In the study, andexanet alfa was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events, thrombotic events, or antibodies to Factor X or Xa reported. The full data from this second part of the ANNEXA-A study will be presented at an upcoming scientific meeting.

"Andexanet alfa has now demonstrated its ability to rapidly and significantly reverse the anticoagulant effect of apixaban administered as a bolus only or bolus plus continuous infusion in ANNEXA-A Parts 1 and 2. These important findings show that andexanet alfa has the potential to treat a broad group of patients who require an antidote, including those requiring longer-duration reversal and those in which only short-duration reversal is necessary to address the patient's needs. Importantly, in all cases, andexanet alfa's short half-life allows patients to be re-anticoagulated as needed," said John T. Curnutte, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president, research and development for Portola. "Andexanet alfa distinguishes itself as the only Factor Xa inhibitor antidote in development shown to bind to oral FXa inhibitors and have a significant impact on three critical biomarkers: anti-Factor Xa activity, thrombin generation and free fraction of the anticoagulant. Both the FDA and European Medicines Agency have agreed that the reduction of anti-Factor Xa activity is an acceptable primary endpoint for Accelerated Approval (Expedited or Conditional Approval in the EU) with supporting secondary endpoints, including normalization of thrombin generation and sequestration of the anticoagulant. Given the highly statistically significant efficacy results we have seen in Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies across oral and injectable Factor Xa inhibitors, we believe andexanet alfa has the potential to be a first-in-class antidote for patients taking a Factor Xa anticoagulant who suffer a major bleeding episode or require emergency surgery."

Portola plans to submit data from the ANNEXA-A (apixaban) and ANNEXA-R (rivaroxaban) studies, and initial data from a Phase 4 study, as part of its Biologics License Application to the FDA under an Accelerated Approval pathway by the end of 2015.

ANNEXA-A Study Design

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 ANNEXA-A study evaluated the safety and efficacy of andexanet alfa in reversing apixaban-induced anticoagulation in older healthy volunteers ages 50-75 years. Efficacy was evaluated using biomarker endpoints, with anti-Factor Xa levels as the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included plasma levels of free unbound apixaban and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), a measure of thrombin generation.

In the first part of the study, which was previously presented, 33 healthy volunteers were given apixaban 5 mg twice daily for four days and then randomized in a 3:1 ratio to andexanet alfa administered as a 400 mg IV bolus (n=24) or to placebo (n=9). Today, Portola announced topline results from the second part of the study, in which 31 healthy volunteers were given apixaban 5 mg twice daily for four days and then randomized in a 3:1 ratio to andexanet alfa administered as a 400 mg IV bolus followed by a continuous infusion of 4 mg/min for 120 minutes (n=23) or to placebo (n=8).

Results of First Part of ANNEXA-A Study

Results from the first part of the ANNEXA-A study were presented during an oral session at the American Heart Association (AHA) 2014 Scientific Sessions in Chicago in November 2014. The first part of the study achieved all primary and pre-specified secondary endpoints with statistical significance (p< 0.0001). Andexanet alfa administered as an IV bolus produced rapid and nearly complete reversal of the anticoagulant effect of apixaban. Two to five minutes after completion of a bolus dose of andexanet alfa, the anticoagulant activity of apixaban was reversed by approximately 94 percent (p< 0.0001) compared with placebo as measured by anti-Factor Xa activity. Every subject treated with andexanet alfa had between 90 and 96 percent reversal of the anticoagulant activity of apixaban. No serious adverse events, thrombotic events, or antibodies to Factor X or Xa were reported following andexanet alfa administration. Mild infusion reaction was reported in three subjects.

Addressing the Absence of a Factor Xa Inhibitor Antidote

Currently, millions of patients are treated with Factor Xa inhibitors for short-term use or chronic conditions, and the anticoagulant market is expected to continue to grow. Recent patient datai confirm earlier clinical trial results showing that, annually, between 1 to 4 percent of patients treated with Factor Xa inhibitors may experience major bleeding and an additional 1 percent may require emergency surgery. Development of a specific antidote designed to reverse the anticoagulant activity of Factor Xa inhibitors may provide an important treatment option for patients who experience a major bleeding event or require emergency surgery.

About Andexanet Alfa

Andexanet alfa is a modified human Factor Xa molecule that acts as a decoy to target and sequester with high specificity both oral and injectable Factor Xa inhibitors in the blood. Once bound, the Factor Xa inhibitors are unable to bind to and inhibit native Factor Xa, thus allowing for the restoration of normal hemostatic processes. Andexanet alfa has the potential to address numerous clinical scenarios where an antidote is needed by allowing for flexible and controlled reversal. This can be short-acting through the administration of an IV bolus or longer-acting with the addition of an extended infusion.

Andexanet alfa is the only compound being studied as a reversal agent for Factor Xa inhibitors that directly and specifically corrects anti-Factor Xa activity -- the anticoagulant mechanism of these agents.

Andexanet alfa has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA for reversing the anticoagulant effect of direct or indirect Factor Xa inhibitors in patients experiencing a serious uncontrolled bleeding event or who require urgent or emergent surgery.

About Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Portola Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company developing product candidates that could significantly advance the fields of thrombosis and other hematologic diseases. The Company is advancing its three wholly-owned programs using novel biomarker and genetic approaches that may increase the likelihood of clinical, regulatory and commercial success of its potentially life-saving therapies. Portola's partnered program is focused on developing selective Syk inhibitors for inflammatory conditions.