Vertex releases compelling Phase II results for VX-548 in DPN

Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ (Nasdaq: VRTX) shares were up 9.2% at $390.42 mid-morning, after it announced positive results from its Phase II dose-ranging study of the non-opioid selective NaV1.8 inhibitor VX-548 in people with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

VX-548 is Vertex’ fourth attempt to develop a sodium channel Nav1.8 inhibitor, after VX-128, VX-150 and VX-961 failed to impress.

Treatment with all doses of VX-548 resulted in a statistically-significant and clinically-meaningful reduction in the primary endpoint of change from baseline in the weekly average of daily pain intensity on a Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) at Week 12. The study also included an active reference arm of pregabalin to support the evaluation of the VX-548 treatment effect.