Biotech News

Vamorolone Demonstrates On-Target Glucocorticoid Activity Without the Immunosuppression Characteristic of Traditional Corticosteroids at Clinical Doses

Catalyst Pharmaceutical (CPRX)Catalyst PharmaceuticalClinical readout

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Catalyst") (Nasdaq: CPRX), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing, developing, and commercializing novel medicines for patients living with rare and difficult-to-treat diseases, today announced topline results from a two-part Phase 1 clinical study of vamorolone in healthy adult volunteers. The study demonstrated balanced corticosteroid activity with expected cortisol suppression and no evidence of significant immunosuppressive activity at clinical doses. These findings suggest that vamorolone delivers glucocorticoid and anti-inflammatory activity, while avoiding significant immunosuppressant effects, supporting its potential use as a treatment across a broad range of chronic inflammatory rare diseases.

Key Highlights and Readouts:

Overall study design

A two-part (referred to as Parts A and B) Phase 1 study was conducted in healthy adult volunteers

The primary purpose of Part A was to assess equipotency between deflazacort and vamorolone to help address the clinical case in which a patient might experience differential cortisol effects when switching from deflazacort to vamorolone

The primary purpose of Part B was to evaluate ascending doses of vamorolone to assess vamorolone’s clinical immunosuppressive potential in consideration of potential life cycle management indications

The study evaluated cortisol suppression, anti-inflammatory activity, and immunosuppressive effects across clinical and supratherapeutic doses

Part A: Vamorolone vs. deflazacort (equipotency assessment)

24 healthy adults were enrolled in a randomized, single-center, crossover study

Single doses of vamorolone (300 mg) and deflazacort (0.9 mg/kg) were evaluated

Both agents demonstrated expected on-target glucocorticoid receptor activity, including cortisol suppression, leukocyte redistribution, and effects on functional immune biomarkers

Similar time to onset was observed for both treatments (approximately 2–4 hours post-dose)

Comparable cortisol suppression was observed at clinical doses

Vamorolone demonstrated less pronounced immunosuppressive biomarker effects compared with deflazacort

“By demonstrating similar cortisol suppression at label-based clinical doses of vamorolone and deflazacort, these data support the currently labeled dosing of vamorolone in the treatment of DMD and do not suggest the need for other dosing considerations when switching patients from deflazacort to vamorolone,” said William Andrews, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Catalyst Pharmaceuticals. “Moreover, vamorolone achieved robust glucocorticoid and anti-inflammatory activity without evidence of significant immunosuppression at clinical doses.”

Part B: Ascending dose evaluation of immunosuppressive potential

36 healthy volunteers received vamorolone at doses of 9, 27, or 40 mg/kg once daily for seven days

Immune biomarkers and cellular markers were evaluated through Day 21

Clinically relevant immunosuppressive effects were observed only at the highest dose level (40 mg/kg/day)

No relevant immunosuppressive effects observed at lower dose levels (9 or 27 mg/kg/day)

Immunosuppressive effects increased with repeated dosing at 40 mg/kg/day and persisted after treatment cessation

“As the 40 mg/kg/day dose is above currently approved vamorolone dosing and higher than doses previously studied in clinical trials, these findings suggest that clinically meaningful immunosuppression with vamorolone is unlikely at clinically relevant doses,” Dr. Andrews added. “The prospect of this favorable profile—glucocorticoid and anti-inflammatory activity without clinically meaningful immunosuppression at clinically relevant doses—has the potential to distinguish vamorolone from conventional corticosteroids. Additionally, this profile may support vamorolone’s potential utility across a broad range of chronically inflammatory rare diseases.”

About Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPRX) is a biopharmaceutical company committed to improving the lives of patients with rare diseases. With a proven track record of bringing life-changing treatments to the market, we focus on in-licensing, commercializing, and developing innovative therapies. Guided by our deep commitment to patient care, we prioritize accessibility, ensuring patients receive the care they need through a comprehensive suite of support services designed to provide seamless access and ongoing assistance. Catalyst maintains a well-established U.S. presence, which remains the cornerstone of our commercial strategy, while continuously evaluating strategic opportunities to expand our global footprint. Catalyst, headquartered in Coral Gables, Fla., has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Most Successful Companies in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and on the 2025 Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ list as one of North America’s Fastest-Growing Companies.

For more information, please visit Catalyst's website at www.catalystpharma.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Catalyst's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. A number of factors, including (i) whether vamorolone can be developed and successfully commercialized in the future for the treatment of other chronic inflammatory rare diseases, and (ii) those factors described in Catalyst's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2025 fiscal year and its subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), could adversely affect Catalyst. Copies of Catalyst's filings with the SEC are available from the SEC, may be found on Catalyst's website, or may be obtained upon request from Catalyst. Catalyst does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.

Related news

KTTAPasithea Therapeutics2026-09-14 11:00 EST

Pasithea Therapeutics Announces Presentation of Initial PAS-004 Clinical Data from Ongoing Phase 1/1b Clinical Trial in Adult NF1 Patients at the 2026 European Neurofibromatosis Conference

ADXNAddex Therapeutics2026-10-08 05:00 EST

Addex Spin-Out Neurosterix Completes Phase 1 Clinical Studies of NTX-253 for Schizophrenia

MNOVMediciNova2026-09-28 10:00 EST

MediciNova Announces Topline Results from MN-001-NATG-202 Clinical Trial of MN-001 (Tipelukast)

ALKSAlkermes plc2026-09-21 11:00 EST

Alkermes Announces Positive Phase 1b Results Demonstrating Clinical Proof-of-Concept for ALKS 7290 in Adults With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

XENEXenon2026-08-26 20:01 EST

Xenon to Highlight Phase 3 X-TOLE2 Clinical Data and Rational Polytherapy Potential for Azetukalner at EEC 2026

NBIXNeurocrine Biosciences2026-08-07 12:30 EST

Neurocrine Biosciences Announces Initiation of Phase 1 Clinical Study Evaluating NBIP-'1968, a GLP-1/GIP/Glucagon Receptor Triple Agonist

ANNXAnnexon, Inc.2026-08-06 12:00 EST

Annexon Reports First U.S. and European Patient Cohort of GBS FORWARD Study Demonstrated Rapid, Positive Clinical Responses in All Tanruprubart Treated Patients Within One Week

HRMYHarmony Biosciences2026-08-04 11:30 EST

Harmony Biosciences Announces Record Q2 2026 Revenue and Shares Initial Clinical Data for Its Orexin-2 Agonist BP-205 Reinforcing Potential Best-in-Class Profile

ANNXAnnexon, Inc.2026-09-24 12:00 EST

Annexon to Present Patient Baseline Characteristics from Vonaprument Phase 3 ARCHER II Pivotal Trial for Geographic Atrophy at The Retina Society 59th Annual Scientific Meeting

MNOVMediciNova2026-09-24 10:00 EST

MediciNova Announces Completion of Last Patient, Last Visit in the Double-Blind Portion of the Phase 2b/3 COMBAT-ALS Trial of MN-166 (Ibudilast)

Catalyst Pharmaceutical

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals is a rare-neurology company focused on therapies for neuromuscular and orphan indications.

Recent company news

Stock data

Close
31.49 USD
Market cap
3.83B USD
Exchange
NASDAQ
Sector
Biopharma
Location
United States