Kodiak Sciences announces topline results from tarcocimab tedromer results

Kodiak Sciences announced topline results from three Phase 3 studies of tarcocimab tedromer, a novel antibody biopolymer conjugate. The DAYLIGHT study was a randomized, double-masked, active comparator-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of a high intensity dosing regimen of tarcocimab tedromer in 557 treatment-naive subjects with wet AMD. The DAYLIGHT study met the primary endpoint of non-inferior visual acuity gains for tarcocimab dosed monthly compared to aflibercept dosed every eight weeks following three monthly loading doses. Tarcocimab was safe and well tolerated in the study and with a low rate of intraocular inflammation. The GLEAM and GLIMMER studies are identically designed, randomized, double-masked, active comparator-controlled studies evaluating the efficacy, durability and safety of tarcocimab tedromer in 460 and 457 treatment-naive subjects with DME, respectively. Although high proportions of patients on meaningfully longer treatment intervals were observed with tarcocimab, with half of patients on every 24-week dosing at the primary endpoint, the GLEAM and GLIMMER studies did not meet their primary efficacy endpoints of showing non-inferior visual acuity gains for tarcocimab dosed every eight to 24 weeks after three monthly loading doses compared to aflibercept given every eight weeks after five monthly loading doses. An unexpected increase in cataracts was observed over time in the tarcocimab arms of both GLEAM and GLIMMER, and Kodiak’s initial evaluation suggests that this contributed meaningfully to the failure of each study. In the DAYLIGHT study, no imbalance in cataracts was observed between wet AMD patients receiving tarcocimab or aflibercept throughout the one-year study period despite the intensive monthly tarcocimab dosing regimen. Based on these data, and despite demonstrating great potential, Kodiak has made a business decision to discontinue further development of tarcocimab. It is anticipated that data from the DAYLIGHT study and additional results and insights from the tarcocimab development program, such as the pending BEACON study year one data in retinal vein occlusion and pending topline results of the GLOW study in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, will be presented at upcoming medical conferences.