Theratechnologies Presents Data at ID Week Showing Tesamorelin Reduces Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT) and Liver Fat in People with HIV on Integrase Inhibitors (INSTIs)
13 October 2023 - 10:30PM
Theratechnologies Inc. (“Theratechnologies” or the “Company”) (TSX:
TH) (NASDAQ: THTX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the
development and commercialization of innovative therapies, today
presented data in a poster session at ID Week 2023 in Boston,
Mass., demonstrating that treatment with tesamorelin significantly
reduced visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and hepatic fat fraction
(HFF, a measure of liver fat) in people with HIV treated with
integrase inhibitor (INSTI) based regimens.
In the retrospective sub-analysis, tesamorelin
reduced VAT by 8.3% after 12 months of treatment, compared to a
10.8% increase in VAT among placebo-treated patients treated with
INSTIs (p=0.0034). While anthropometric measurements at baseline
did not differ between the two groups, VAT increased in the placebo
group (p=0.01) even in the absence of significant weight or BMI
changes. Furthermore, the tesamorelin group experienced a 31%
relative reduction in HFF compared to a 0% reduction for the
placebo group at 12 months (p=0.006).
“Our study sub-analysis shows that tesamorelin
effectively reduces visceral and hepatic fat in people with HIV on
integrase inhibitor-based regimens – one of the most common classes
of antiretroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV,” said study
investigator Lindsay Fourman, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine
in the Metabolism Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital and
Harvard Medical School. “Accordingly, tesamorelin may be effective
in countering gains in adiposity that commonly occur with integrase
inhibitors.”
Tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing hormone
analog, has been shown to reduce VAT by more than 15% over six
months in persons with HIV with excess visceral abdominal fat. That
finding prompted the latest analysis, in which investigators
reviewed data from a previous placebo-controlled trial of 61
patients with HIV-associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
(NAFLD). Amongst participants, 39 (64%) were on INSTI-containing
regimens, the most common of which was dolutegravir (41%). Those
individuals were largely similar at baseline to those on regimens
without INSTIs, including their VAT and HFF.
“As we learn more about the mechanisms of rapid
weight gain and, in particular, visceral fat accumulation in people
with HIV who are on integrase inhibitors, potential treatment
strategies will become more important,” commented Christian
Marsolais, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
of Theratechnologies. “Tesamorelin remains the only FDA-approved
therapy to treat excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV, and these
data are yet another key piece in highlighting its efficacy in
modern HIV management.”
Complete abstract and poster details are
available on the Company’s website.
About Theratechnologies
Theratechnologies (TSX: TH) (NASDAQ: THTX) is a
biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and
commercialization of innovative therapies addressing unmet medical
needs. Further information about Theratechnologies is available on
the Company's website at www.theratech.com, on SEDAR
at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
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Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking
statements and forward-looking information (collectively, the
“Forward-Looking Statements”), within the meaning of applicable
securities laws, that are based on our management’s beliefs and
assumptions and on information currently available to our
management. You can identify Forward-Looking Statements by terms
such as "may", "will", "should", "could", “promising”, “would”,
"outlook", "believe", "plan", "envisage", "anticipate", "expect"
and "estimate", or the negatives of these terms, or variations of
them. The Forward-Looking Statements contained in this press
release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the
efficacy of tesamorelin for the reduction of VAT and HFF. Although
the Forward-Looking Statements contained in this press release are
based upon what the Company believes are reasonable assumptions in
light of the information currently available, investors are
cautioned against placing undue reliance on this information since
actual results may vary from the Forward-Looking Statements.
Certain assumptions made in preparing the Forward-Looking
Statements include that: participants in the study may or may not
have been responders to the taking of tesamorelin; results observed
in study subjects may or may not be generally observed in people
with HIV treated with integrase inhibitor based regimens; and there
may be unknown side effects of tesamorelin in people with HIV
treated with integrase inhibitor based regimens. Forward-Looking
Statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many
of which are beyond Theratechnologies’ control that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those that are disclosed
in or implied by such Forward-Looking Statements. These risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those related to or
arising from: the safety and efficacy results observed in the
conduct of the study may vary among people with HIV treated with
integrase inhibitor based regimens. We refer current and potential
investors to the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Information
Form dated February 27, 2023, available on SEDAR at
www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov as an exhibit to our
report on Form 40-F dated February 28, 2023, under
Theratechnologies’ public filings for additional risks involved in
our business. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other
risks and uncertainties carefully and not to put undue reliance on
Forward-Looking Statements. Forward-Looking Statements reflect
current expectations regarding future events and speak only as of
the date of this press release and represent our expectations as of
that date. We undertake no obligation to update or revise the
information contained in this press release, whether as a result of
new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise,
except as may be required by applicable law.
Contacts:
Media inquiries:Julie SchneidermanSenior Director,
Communications & Corporate
Affairscommunications@theratech.com1-514-336-7800
Investor inquiries:Phillipe DubucSenior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officerpdubuc@theratech.com438-315-6608
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