Star Metro - First Patient Randomized in Jaguar Health’s Phase 2 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Crofelemer in Pediatric Patients with Microvillus Inclusion Disease (MVID)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / May 20, 2025 / Jaguar Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAGX) (Jaguar) family companies Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Napo) and Napo Therapeutics S.p.A. today announced that the first patient has been randomized in Napo's randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the novel crofelemer oral powder for solution formulation in pediatric patients with intestinal failure due to the ultrarare disease MVID.

Patients with MVID suffer from devastating diarrhea and dehydration caused by this debilitating, lifelong condition. These pediatric patients often require lifelong and life-sustaining total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with additional supplemental intravenous (IV) fluids, termed total parenteral support, which is the standard of care for MVID, for up to 7 days a week greater than 50% of the time each day to provide adequate nutrient and electrolyte support. While crucial for MVID patients, TPN carries a significant risk of morbidity and mortality due to infections, metabolic complications, liver and/or kidney disease, and a risk of neurodevelopmental delay. There are currently no approved drug treatments for MVID.

As previously announced, and as presented last month at the 11^th Annual ELITE PED-GI Congress in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, the initial proof-of-concept results from the ongoing and independent proof-of-concept investigator-initiated trial (IIT) at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) showed that crofelemer reduced the required TPN and/or supplementary intravenous fluids - collectively referred to as parenteral support - in the first participating MVID patient by up to 27% at the end of 12-weeks of crofelemer treatment. In addition, this data showed that crofelemer reduced stool volume output and/or frequency of watery stools, and increased urine output - an indicator of improved nutrient oral absorption.

Per the protocol for the IIT at SKMC, the pediatric MVID patient was taken off crofelemer after 12 weeks of treatment for a period of 30 days. After just 8 days, the patient's parents requested reinitiation of crofelemer dosing, as the patient's symptoms were worsening - evidenced by increased stool output and decreased urine output. Hence, the patient was restarted on daily treatment with crofelemer.

"We're very happy that the first patient has been randomized in Napo's randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial of crofelemer in pediatric MVID patients," said Lisa Conte, Jaguar's founder, president, and CEO. "This is another important milestone in development efforts for crofelemer for the treatment and management of intestinal failure related to this devastating ultrarare pediatric disease. For this study, randomization represents the key milestone of assigning a participating patient to either the crofelemer or placebo treatment group in a double-blind, placebo-controlled within-patient crossover study."

"Additional proof-of-concept results for MVID from the ongoing IIT of crofelemer at SKMC in pediatric patients with intestinal failure due to MVID and other disorders are expected throughout 2025," Conte said. "The results of Napo's randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study of crofelemer in pediatric MVID patients are expected to be available in the second half of 2026. Because the IIT of crofelemer for MVID is an unblinded, open-label study, results from this IIT are expected to be available sooner."

Based on the initial proof-of-concept findings presented last month at the 11^th Annual ELITE PED-GI Congress, crofelemer's novel antisecretory mechanism of action appears to have the potential to provide a novel therapeutic option to modify the disease progression associated with intestinal failure due to MVID in pediatric patients, as evidenced by the reductions in total parenteral support and potential to improve the quality of life of MVID patients.

"Based on preliminary communications with European Medicines Agency (EMA) regulatory members that focus on PRIME (Priority Medicines), a program that provides enhanced interactions and early dialogue for development of novel medicines targeting unmet medical needs, we are excited by the initial findings from the IIT being conducted at SKMC," said Conte. "We are not aware of any other intervention that has shown the ability to reduce the required administration of life-sustaining parenteral support including TPN, thus potentially improving nutrient absorption in patients with MVID. Given the ultrarare nature of MVID, even a small number of MVID patients showing benefit with crofelemer may allow Napo to explore pathways for expedited regulatory approval in the European Union. Crofelemer may qualify for participation in PRIME in the European Union for MVID and potentially in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Breakthrough Therapy program for this ultrarare pediatric indication. Additionally, in accordance with the guidelines of specific EU countries, published data from clinical investigations in MVID could support reimbursed early patient access to crofelemer for this debilitating condition."

About Crofelemer

Crofelemer is a novel, oral plant-based prescription medicine purified from the red bark sap, also referred to as "dragon's blood," of the Croton lechleri tree in the Amazon Rainforest. Napo has established a sustainable harvesting program, under fair trade practices, for crofelemer to ensure a high degree of quality, ecological integrity, and support for indigenous communities.

About the Jaguar Health Family of Companies

Jaguar Health, Inc. (Jaguar) is a commercial stage pharmaceuticals company focused on developing novel proprietary prescription medicines sustainably derived from plants from rainforest areas for people and animals with gastrointestinal distress, specifically associated with overactive bowel, which includes symptoms such as chronic debilitating diarrhea, urgency, bowel incontinence, and cramping pain. Jaguar family company Napo Pharmaceuticals (Napo) focuses on developing and commercializing human prescription pharmaceuticals for essential supportive care and management of neglected gastrointestinal symptoms across multiple complicated disease states. Napo's crofelemer is FDA-approved under the brand name Mytesi^® for the symptomatic relief of noninfectious diarrhea in adults with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy. Jaguar family company Napo Therapeutics is an Italian corporation Jaguar established in Milan, Italy in 2021 focused on expanding crofelemer access in Europe and specifically for orphan and/or rare diseases. Jaguar Animal Health is a Jaguar tradename. Magdalena Biosciences, a joint venture formed by Jaguar and Filament Health Corp. that emerged from Jaguar's Entheogen Therapeutics Initiative (ETI), is focused on developing novel prescription medicines derived from plants for mental health indications.

For more information about:

Jaguar Health, visit https://jaguar.health
Napo Pharmaceuticals, visit www.napopharma.com
Napo Therapeutics, visit napotherapeutics.com
Magdalena Biosciences, visit magdalenabiosciences.com

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Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements." These include statements regarding Jaguar's expectation that additional POC results for MVID from the IIT in pediatric patients with intestinal failure due to MVID and other disorders may be available throughout 2025, Jaguar's expectation that results from the company's MVID Phase 2 study will be available with completion of treatment in H2 2026, Jaguar's expectation that crofelemer's novel antisecretory mechanism of action may have the potential to provide a novel therapeutic option to modify the disease progression associated with intestinal failure due to MVID in pediatric patients and the potential to improve the quality of life of MVID patients, Jaguar's expectation that, given the ultrarare nature of MVID, even a small number of MVID patients showing benefit with crofelemer may allow Napo to explore pathways for expedited regulatory approval in the Europe Union, Jaguar's expectation that crofelemer may qualify for participation in PRIME in the European Union for MVID and potentially in the FDA's Breakthrough Therapyprogram, and Jaguar's expectation that, in accordance with the guidelines of specific EU countries, published data from clinical investigations in MVID could support reimbursed early patient access to crofelemer for this debilitating condition. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "aim," "anticipate," "could," "intend," "target," "project," "contemplate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this release are only predictions. Jaguar has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and are subject to several risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified and some of which are beyond Jaguar's control. Except as required by applicable law, Jaguar does not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

Contact:

[email protected]
Jaguar-JAGX

SOURCE: Jaguar Health, Inc.

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S.Belanger--SMC