Mechelen, Belgium; 22 September 2015: Galapagos NV (Euronext & NASDAQ: GLPG) presents pre-clinical and Phase 1 results for autotaxin inhibitor GLPG1690 at the European Respiratory Society Annual Meeting in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Galapagos expects to file an exploratory Phase 2 study in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis before year end. GLPG1690 has potential application in other pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as supported by the presentation on pre-clinical findings at ERS this year:
"Pharmacological profile and efficacy of GLPG1690, a novel ATX inhibitor for COPD treatment," poster PA2129 in Poster Discussion Session: "New targets and modalities for the treatment of asthma and COPD" (September 28, 2015; Room D201-202, 10:45 AM - 12:45 PM)
Galapagos is the first to show efficacy of an autotaxin inhibitor in pre-clinical models for COPD and IPF, pointing to novel therapeutic areas for autotaxin inhibition. The poster shows how GLPG1690 acts as a potent inhibitor of mouse and human autotaxin (IC50: 100 -500 nM range). Furthermore, GLPG1690 reduces inflammation in a mouse steroid-resistant tobacco smoke model to a similar extent as a standard therapy for COPD.
Galapagos also presents the topline results with GLPG1690 in Phase 1 in healthy human volunteers: "Favorable human safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the autotaxin inhibitor GLPG1690, a potential new treatment in COPD," oral presentation OA484 in session "Advances in the future treatment of COPD" (September 27, 2015; Room 2.1, 10:45 AM - 12:45 PM)
GLPG1690 was safe and well tolerated up to a single oral dose of 1500 mg and up to 1000 mg twice daily for 14 days, with no significant adverse effects on ECGs, vital signs or laboratory parameters. The compound also showed good oral bioavailability with a half-life of 5 hours and a dose-proportional increase in exposure. GLPG1690 showed concentration-dependent reduction of a relevant biomarker (plasma LPA18:2 levels) with a maximum of approximately 90%. At steady state, continuous reduction of this biomarker levels of >60% was observed from 0 to 24 hours. The presentation will also include relevant pre-clinical model data for COPD and IPF with GLPG1690.
Both the presentation and the posters will be made available on the Galapagos website after the conference.
About Galapagos
Galapagos (Euronext & NASDAQ: GLPG) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company specialized in the discovery and development of small molecule medicines with novel modes of action, with a pipeline comprising three Phase 2 programs, two Phase 1 trials, five pre-clinical studies, and 20 discovery small-molecule and antibody programs in cystic fibrosis, inflammation, and other indications. In the field of inflammation, AbbVie and Galapagos signed a collaboration agreement for the development and commercialization of filgotinib. Filgotinib is an orally-available, selective inhibitor of JAK1 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and potentially other inflammatory diseases, currently in Phase 2B studies in RA and in Phase 2 in Crohn's disease. Galapagos reported good activity and a favorable safety profile in both the DARWIN 1 and 2 trials in RA. AbbVie and Galapagos also signed a collaboration agreement in cystic fibrosis to develop and commercialize molecules that address mutations in the CFTR gene. Potentiator GLPG1837 is currently in a Phase 1 trial, and corrector GLPG2222 is at the pre-clinical candidate stage. GLPG1205, a first-in-class inhibitor of GPR84 and fully-owned by Galapagos, is currently being tested in a Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial in ulcerative colitis patients. GLPG1690, a fully proprietary, first-in-class inhibitor of autotaxin, has shown favorable safety in a Phase 1 trial and is expected to enter Phase 2 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The Galapagos Group, including fee-for-service subsidiary Fidelta, has approximately 400 employees, operating from its Mechelen, Belgium headquarters and facilities in The Netherlands, France, and Croatia. More info at www.glpg.com
CONTACT
Galapagos NV
Elizabeth Goodwin, Head of Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +31 6 2291 6240
ir@glpg.com
Galapagos forward-looking statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding the possibility and timing of the initiation of Phase 2 activities in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, GLPG1690's potential application in other pulmonary diseases and GLPG1690's safety and/or efficacy profile. Galapagos cautions the reader that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which might cause the actual results, financial condition and liquidity, performance or achievements of Galapagos, or industry results, to be materially different from any historic or future results, financial conditions and liquidity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, even if Galapagos' results, performance, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which it operates are consistent with such forward-looking statements, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods. Among the factors that may result in differences are the inherent uncertainties associated with competitive developments, clinical trial and product development activities and regulatory approval requirements (including that data from Galapagos' ongoing DARWIN and FITZROY programs with filgotinib may not support registration or further development of filgotinib due to safety, efficacy or other reasons), Galapagos' reliance on collaborations with third parties (including its collaboration partner for filgotinib, AbbVie, who may not in-license filgotinib or, if it does, may not devote sufficient resources to the development and commercialization of filgotinib), and estimating the commercial potential of Galapagos' product candidates. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other risks can be found in Galapagos' Securities and Exchange Commission filing and reports, including in Galapagos' prospectus filed with the SEC on May 14, 2015 and future filings and reports by Galapagos. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of publication of this document. Galapagos expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this document to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, unless specifically required by law or regulation.