Benzinga | Jan 13, 2021 08:45AM EST

Evoke Pharma Reports Findings From GIMOTI Market Research Study

Evoke Pharma, Inc. ("Evoke" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:EVOK), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on treatments for gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and diseases, today announced positive findings from the first market research for GIMOTI following its launch during the fourth quarter of 2020.

During December 2020, Evoke through its marketing partner, EVERSANA, conducted an ATU (Awareness, Trial, and Usage) Study, a quantitative survey to measure physician awareness, trial, and product usage, for GIMOTI. Approximately 104 total physician responses were captured. Survey respondents were split into three groups drawn from the healthcare practitioner (HCP) community; "target" gastroenterologists currently being called on by the field sales force (n = 61), other "non-target" gastroenterologists (n = 19), and primary care physicians (PCPs) who are not currently targeted for messaging (n = 24). Areas of interest that were queried included initial and future potential prescribing trends, and how HCPs viewed the suitability of GIMOTI in certain gastroparesis patient populations.

Key Findings:

* Indicated an intent to prescribe GIMOTI: 79% of target gastroenterologists. 89% of non-target gastroenterologists. 50% of PCPs.

* Out of those target gastroenterologists indicating an intent to prescribe GIMOTI, 94% indicated GIMOTI would be "appropriate" to use in moderate to severe patients.

* A majority of each of the target and non-target gastroenterologists noted they intend to prescribe GIMOTI for both new and existing gastroparesis patients.

* Nineteen of all participating HCPs indicated that they have already written a prescription for GIMOTI. HCPs indicated that the primary driver for prescribing GIMOTI was patients being switched to GIMOTI due to lack of efficacy of current treatments.

"While only a little over 10 weeks into our commercial launch, and occurring coincident with the pandemic environment and a holiday period, we are pleased with the ATU findings as they provide further direction for our commercial team and demonstrate that the GIMOTI message is hitting home, both with targeted and non-targeted healthcare care providers," commented David Gonyer, R.Ph., Evoke Pharma President and CEO.

"Patients with diabetic gastroparesis often do not attain suitable relief from symptoms with oral treatments. This may be due to erratic absorption of orally administered drugs related to delayed gastric emptying or from vomiting up oral medications. Unfortunately, all traditional outpatient treatments used to manage symptoms of this disease are oral. GIMOTI is administered nasally, bypassing the GI system, with direct bloodstream delivery via the nasal membrane. This avoids the problem of unpredictable stomach emptying," stated Richard McCallum, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Center for Neurogastroenterology and GI Motility, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. "I've been waiting for an alternative treatment like this for a long time. It is a major step forward in the treatment of gastroparesis and it will help many of my patients."

"We are pleased with the ATU results and encouraged with recent feedback our 27 Gastroenterology Care Specialists are receiving from providers," added Chris Quesenberry, Chief Commercial Officer. "The results of the market research follow the positive reception we are hearing from doctors who desire an alternative to existing oral therapies. They indicate that a nasal route of administration that bypasses the GI tract makes sense for this underserved patient population. In 2021, we will continue to build on the commercial launch of GIMOTI to increase awareness and ensure that patients and their providers have access to this important brand."