VRS-317 in Adult Subjects With Growth Hormone Deficiency

The study is a placebo controlled single ascending dose (SAD) study in adult GHD patients currently receiving daily rhGH therapy. After screening patients are withdrawn from daily rhGH therapy for a minimum of 7 days (maximum of 60 days) prior to randomization for treatment. Patients will be randomised within a treatment group that is currently being enrolled once the patient has passed the pre-dose screening criteria.

Documented confirmation (medical history) of GHD during adulthood by a minimum of one or more GH stimulation tests is required such as:

• insulin tolerance test (ITT; peak hGH ≤ 5.0 ng/mL),
• arginine alone (peak hGH ≤ 0.4 ng/mL);
• arginine + growth-hormone-releasing hormone* (see below);
• or glucagon stimulation test (peak hGH ≤ 3.0 ng/mL) OR
• at least 3 other pituitary hormone deficiencies and a low IGF-I for age/gender appropriate normal range

Each patient will be randomised to receive either the investigational product, VRS-317 (Cohorts A-E), or placebo (Cohort F) in a 4:1 ratio.

Subjects will be monitored for safety throughout their participation in the study. To ensure patient safety, two patients (1 active, 1 placebo) in the first treatment group, one from Cohort A and one from Cohort F1, will be dosed in a blinded manner and monitored for 48 hr prior to dosing the remaining 8 patients. The 8 remaining patients will be blinded and randomized to the first treatment group. Vital signs, clinical lab values, adverse events (AEs) and concomitant medications (CMs) will be captured. AEs will be graded using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v 4.0)1, and the Primary Dermal Irritation Scoring Scale; AEs will be coded using the MedDRA2 dictionary and CMs using the WHO Drug dictionary. Prior to escalating to a higher dose level, safety data will be reviewed by the principal investigator (PI), co-PIs, the Sponsor, and the medical monitor for any potential safety risk to subjects.

Patients will participate for a total of 83-215 days. A 7-60 day withdrawal phase (no daily rhGH therapy) is followed by receiving assigned doses on Day 1 of Treatment Phase, PK/PD and safety assessments for 30 days, and an additional 30 days of follow up.

Safety evaulations will be performed to assess safety including but not limited to:

• Physical examination
• Vital signs (including sitting/supine blood pressure)
• Laboratory tests: hematology, chemistry, urinalysis, and pregnancy testing (in women of child-bearing age)
• Adverse events and concomitant medications
• Glucose metabolism: Fasting and post-prandial plasma glucose and fasting insulin pre-study and at pre-scheduled timepoints during the study (per Assessment Table)
• Lipid profile will be assessed pre-study and at pre-scheduled timepoints during the study (per Assessment Table)
• Assessment for adrenal insufficiency prior to enrollment and at Day 30 (not performed on patients with documented history of adrenal insufficiency)
• Evaluation of injection site reactions
• Anti-VRS-317 antibody assay (pre-dose, Day 30 (end of study) and Day 60) last follow up visit
• Safety monitoring will continue for up to 60 days post-dose

Inclusion criteria

• Age 25 to 65 years
• Negative serum pregnancy test for females of childbearing potential
• Documented confirmation (medical history) of GHD during adulthood by one or more GH stimulation test
• If taking hormone replacement therapy other than rhGH, patient must be on a stable course of treatment for 2 months prior to enrollment
• Pituitary disorder associated with GHD has been clinically stable for at least 6 months
• Currently receiving daily recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) injections for treatment of GHD for a minimum of 28 days
• Willing and able to give informed consent
• Within one year from enrollment, normal result from screening including: mammogram (women), pap smear (women over 25), Men over 50 years old: digital rectal exam

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects who have received systemic treatment for any bacterial, viral or fungal infection within 30 days of the first study drug dosing (prophylactic acyclovir for HSV is permitted)
• Subjects with documented history of diabetes mellitus or inadequate glucose control as defined by fasting plasma glucose level of greater than 126 mg/dL (7 mM) or HbA1c of ≥ 6.5% at screening
• Subjects with untreated adrenal insufficiency.
• Free thyroxine below normal reference range or TSH above normal reference range
• Current use of oral or inhaled steroids except for physiological maintenance doses of oral glucocorticoids in patients with multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies
• Women using oral estrogens, including birth control pills, during study (transdermal estrogen patches are allowed)
• Current significant cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, pulmonary, neurological (not related to GHD), renal or hepatobillary disease
• Presence of retinopathy or papillaedema
• Documented history of persistent (unresolved without medical intervention) or recurring migraines, edema, arthralgia (not related to osteoarthritis), or nausea
• History of drug or alcohol abuse.
• Must not have documented prior history of HIV, HBV or HCV infection(testing not required)
• Prior history of cancer excluding adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancers or adequately treated in situ carcinoma of the cervix
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Unwilling to use two effective birth control methods until Day 60 of Treatment Phase
• Pre-existing antibodies to human growth hormone at time of screening (screening samples must be below pre-specified cut-off for positive anti-hGH antibody titer)
• Treatment with an investigational drug within past 30 days prior to screening
• Unable to comply with requirements of this study.