OREANDA-NEWS. Auris Medical Holding AG (NASDAQ: EARS), a clinical-stage company dedicated to developing therapeutics that address important unmet medical needs in otolaryngology, today announced top-line results from the Phase 3 TACTT2 trial with KeyzilenTM (AM-101) in acute inner ear tinnitus. The TACTT2 trial did not meet the two co-primary efficacy endpoints of statistically significant changes in tinnitus loudness and tinnitus burden compared to placebo. Data from the TACTT2 trial support the positive safety profile established in previous studies, and results from the second Phase 3 trial, TACTT3, are expected in the fourth quarter of 2016.

"We are disappointed that our TACTT2 trial did not reach its co-primary efficacy endpoints. The assessment of the trial data is ongoing and we intend to discuss outcomes and our plans for a path forward with regulatory agencies prior to the readout from the TACTT3 trial," commented Thomas Meyer, founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Auris Medical. "We would like to sincerely thank all patients, investigators and study site staff participating in TACTT2 for their dedicated contribution to the trial. Acute inner ear tinnitus represents an important unmet medical need and we remain committed to achieving our mission of providing tinnitus patients with effective and safe therapeutic options."

TACTT2 was designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in acute inner ear tinnitus following traumatic cochlear injury or otitis media. The trial was conducted primarily in North America and randomized 343 patients to receive either KeyzilenTM 0.87 mg/mL or placebo in a 3:2 ratio. The co-primary endpoints were the improvement in subjective tinnitus loudness from baseline to Day 84 and the improvement in tinnitus burden from baseline to Day 84, measured by the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI). Treatment with KeyzilenTM did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in tinnitus improvement as compared to placebo for either endpoint. KeyzilenTM was well tolerated with no drug-related serious adverse events. The trial's primary safety endpoint, incidence of clinically meaningful hearing deterioration, was low with no statistically significant difference from the placebo group, supporting the safety profile of KeyzilenTM.

TACTT3, which is being conducted in Europe, is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in acute and post-acute inner ear tinnitus following traumatic cochlear injury or otitis media. The trial has enrolled more than 300 patients during the acute tinnitus stage (Stratum A) and approximately 330 patients during the post-acute tinnitus stage (Stratum B). The primary endpoint is the change in tinnitus loudness from baseline to Day 84; the change in the TFI is the key secondary efficacy outcome.

Conference Call & Webcast Information

Auris Medical will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the top-line results from the TACTT2 trial, the second quarter 2016 financial results and to provide a general business update today, August 18, 2016, at 8:00 am Eastern Time (2:00 pm Central European Time). To participate in this conference call, dial 1-877-280-3459 (USA) or +1-646-254-3387 (International), and enter passcode 9451099. A live webcast of the conference call will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Auris Medical website at www.aurismedical.com and a replay of the conference call will be available following the live call.

About Acute Inner Ear Tinnitus

Tinnitus, the perception of sound without external acoustic stimulation, is a symptom common to various ear or other diseases. Inner ear tinnitus may be provoked by various injuries to the cochlea, the organ of hearing, such as overexposure to noise or inflammation. Tinnitus may be transitory; however, it may also become permanent. Tinnitus of less than three months of duration is considered acute, while older tinnitus is considered chronic. Inner ear tinnitus often has a serious impact on the ability to sleep, relax, or concentrate, and it may lead to tiredness, irritation, nervousness, despair, frustration, or even depression. As of today, neither a universal standard of care for acute inner ear tinnitus, nor a truly proven and effective treatment method is available.

About KeyzilenTM (AM-101) 

KeyzilenTM is a small molecule N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist formulated in a biocompatible gel for intratympanic injection. Emerging evidence suggests that NMDA receptors in the cochlea play a major role in the occurrence of tinnitus following acute injury to the inner ear, e.g. from exposure to excessive noise, infections, disturbances in inner ear blood supply, or the administration of certain ototoxic drugs. Persistent overexpression of NMDA receptors may lead to pathologic excitation of auditory nerve fibers, which in the brain is perceived as tinnitus. KeyzilenTM has received fast track designation from the FDA for the treatment of acute peripheral (inner ear) tinnitus following traumatic cochlear injury or otitis media in adults. The development of KeyzilenTM is based on research conducted at the INSERM Institute for Neurosciences, and patents have been granted in more than 40 countries worldwide so far.

About Auris Medical

Auris Medical is a Swiss biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing therapeutics that address important unmet medical needs in otolaryngology. The Company is currently focusing on the Phase 3 development of treatments for acute inner ear tinnitus (KeyzilenTM; AM-101) and for acute inner ear hearing loss (AM-111) by way of intratympanic administration with biocompatible gel formulations. In addition, Auris Medical is pursuing early-stage research and development projects. The Company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland. The shares of the parent company Auris Medical Holding AG trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "EARS."