Crinetics Pharmaceuticals shared Phase 2 data investigating atumelnant in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia that showed the drug reduced biomarkers of the disease.
The data, released earlier than expected ahead of the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, are limited. Of the 10 patients enrolled and dosed, the company shared data for only four patients.
Crinetics’ stock $CRNX jumped about 6% on Wednesday following the abstract’s release.
According to the Mayo Clinic, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a genetic disorder that results in imbalanced hormones like cortisol or the male sex hormone androgen. It can lead to a range of symptoms including abnormal genitals in both men and women, fertility issues and altered growth.
In the four patients included in the abstract, all of whom took 80 mg of the once-daily drug, atumelnant produced “rapid and profound” reductions in androstenedione and 17-hydroxyprogesterone. The levels of androstenedione, a chemical that eventually turns into hormones like testosterone and estrogen, were reduced by 74% to 99%. The experimental drug also reduced 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels by 68% to 99%. The hormone is produced by the adrenal and sex glands and is used to diagnose CAH.
Two female patients started menstruating for the first time in two years, according to the abstract.
Stifel analysts wrote in a Wednesday note that Crinetics’ data appear “compelling” and demonstrated a deeper reduction in androstenedione than observed in Neurocrine Biosciences’ crinecerfont. Neurocrine reported two Phase 3 wins in 2023 for its drug in both adult and pediatric patients.
“The other side of the coin, though, is Crinetics is years away from market, and Neurocrine is launching crinecerfont on the back of strong data,” the analysts said.