Positive data on RVX-208 pushes Resverlogix shares higher

Canadian biotech firm Resverlogix (TSX:RVX) saw its shares rocket 40% to C$0.95 after it released a full data analysis from 281 treated patients in its Phase IIb ASSURE clinical trial evaluating RVX-208 using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in high-risk cardiovascular patients. Resverlogix stock plunged a record 93% in June after initial results from that trial showed RVX-208 had failed to meet its primary target (The Pharma Letter June 28).

Current findings show that the below median HDL (<39mg/dL) baseline population consisted of 92 patients who were taking either rosuvastatin (AstraZeneca’s Crestor) or atorvastatin (Pfizer’s Lipitor) together with RVX-208. Those patients taking rosuvastatin and RVX-208 had a highly statistically significant Percent Atheroma Volume (PAV) plaque regression of -1.43% with probability value of p<0.002. This PAV regression exceeded the trial's pre-specified PAV endpoint (-0.6%) by more than two-fold.

But those patients taking atorvastatin together with RVX-208 had a PAV plaque progression of +0.19% with a non-significant probability value. The synergistic effect of the Rosuvastatin and RVX-208 combination is the basis for two recent provisional patent applications by Resverlogix.