Study of Bitopertin in Participants With EPP or XLP (APOLLO)

Phase 3

Recruiting

• Conditions: Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP); X-Linked Protoporphyria (XLP)
• Interventions: Drug: Placebo; Drug: DISC-1459

• Registration Number: NCT06910358
• Lead Sponsor: Disc Medicine, Inc

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if bitopertin works and is safe to treat EPP or XLP in participants 12 years or older. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Whether bitopertin increases pain-free sunlight exposure after 6 months of treatment in participants with EPP or XLP.

* How PPIX concentration levels change from before bitopertin treatment to after 6 months of treatment.

Researchers will compare bitopertin to a placebo look-alike substance that contains no drug.

Participants will complete daily questionnaires and attend study visits for assessments.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2025-03-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-03-27
• Study Start: 2025-04-04
• Study First Posted: 2025-04-04
• Status Verified: 2025-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-07-01
• Last Update Posted: 2025-07-04
• Primary Completion: 2026-10
• Study Completion: 2026-11-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 150

Inclusion Criteria

1. Aged 12 years or older at the time of study consent.
2. Diagnosis of EPP or XLP, based on medical history by ferrochelatase (FECH) or aminolevulinic acid synthase 2 (ALAS2) genotyping or by biochemical porphyrin analysis.
3. Minimum daily Sun Exposure Diary compliance ≥85% on Days -14 through Day -1, inclusive, during screening, and at least 1 successfully completed Sun Exposure Challenge (adults only, as this assessment is optional for adolescents) or historical recall of time to prodrome
4. Body weight ≥32 kg (ages 12 to <18 years), body mass index ≥18.5 kg/m2 (ages ≥18 years) at screening.
5. Washout of at least 2 months prior to screening of afamelanotide and dersimelagon, if applicable.
6. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase <3× upper limit of normal (ULN)and total bilirubin <2× ULN (unless documented Gilbert syndrome) at screening. Albumin >lower limit of normal (LLN).
7. Willing to practice highly effective methods of birth control (both males who have partners of childbearing potential and females of childbearing potential during screening, while taking study drug, and for at least 30 days after the last dose of study drug).

Exclusion Criteria

1. Major surgery within 8 weeks before screening or incomplete recovery from any previous surgery.

2. Other than EPP or XLP, an inherited intrinsic or extrinsic red cell disease associated with anemia.

3. Known hypersensitivity to any component of the study drug.

4. History of liver transplantation or anticipated need for liver transplantation.

5. History of alcohol dependence or excessive alcohol consumption, as assessed by the Investigator.

6. Active human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), active hepatitis B or C.

7. Other medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory finding not specifically noted above that, in the judgment of the Investigator or Sponsor, would put the participant at unacceptable risk or otherwise preclude the participant from participating in the study.

8. Condition or concomitant medication that would confound the ability to interpret clinical, clinical laboratory, or participant diary data, including a major psychiatric condition that has had an exacerbation or required hospitalization in the last 6 months.

   Treatment History:

9. Prior exposure to bitopertin.

10. Concurrent or planned treatment with afamelanotide or dersimelagon during the study period.

11. Treatment with opioids for any period >7 days in the 2 months prior to screening or anticipated to require opioid use for >7 days at any point during the study.

12. New treatment for anemia, including initiation of iron supplementation, within 1 month of screening.

13. Current or planned use of any drugs or herbal remedies known to be strong or moderate inhibitors or inducers of cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 enzymes for 28 days prior to the first dose and throughout the study.

14. Current or planned treatment with antipsychotic medication.

    Laboratory Exclusions:

15. Hemoglobin <10 g/dL at screening.

    Miscellaneous:

16. Participation in other interventional clinical studies within 30 days prior to screening.

17. If female, pregnant or breastfeeding.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo	Placebo	-
DISC-1459 oral dose	DISC-1459	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Average monthly total time in sunlight on days without pain from a phototoxic reaction between 10:00 to 18:00 (10:00 AM to 6:00 PM) after 6 months (24 weeks) of treatment	24 weeks
Percent change from baseline in whole-blood metal-free PPIX levels at 6 months	24 weeks
Safety and tolerability, as assessed by adverse events (AEs) and laboratory results, over the 6-month treatment period	24 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from baseline in 2-week average daily sunlight exposure time (minutes) to first prodromal symptom (eg, burning, tingling, itching, or stinging) associated with sunlight exposure between 1 hour post-sunrise and 1 hour pre-sunset at 6 months	24 weeks
Occurrence of phototoxic reactions over the 6-month treatment period	24 weeks
Cumulative total time in sunlight on days without pain from a phototoxic reaction between 10:00 to 18:00 (10:00 AM to 6:00 PM) over the 6-month (24-week) treatment period	24 weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (7)

Marvel Clinical Research; 🇺🇸 Huntington Beach, California, United States

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; 🇺🇸 Miami, Florida, United States

Massachusetts General Hospital; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States

MetroBoston Clinical Partners; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Henry Ford Health System; 🇺🇸 Detroit, Michigan, United States

Mount Sinai Hospital; 🇺🇸 New York, New York, United States

Remington-Davis Clinical Research; 🇺🇸 Columbus, Ohio, United States