• DAZALS did not meet its primary endpoint of improved outcome in the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) in patients who received dazucorilant compared to patients who received placebo

• DAZALS met its secondary endpoint of improved overall survival at week 24 of the study in patients who received 300 mg of dazucorilant compared to patients who received placebo

• Exploratory analysis at the one-year mark shows continued significant improvement in overall survival between patients who received 300 mg of dazucorilant and those who received placebo only

• Corcept seeking guidance from United States and European regulators on optimum path forward

Corcept Therapeutics, engaged in the discovery and development of medications to treat severe endocrinologic, oncologic, metabolic and neurologic disorders by modulating the effects of the hormone cortisol, presented results from its DAZALS study of dazucorilant in patients with ALS at the European Network to Cure ALS (ENCALS) 2025 annual meeting. The presentation can be found here.

DAZALS is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study in which 249 patients with ALS were randomized to receive either 150 mg of dazucorilant, 300 mg of dazucorilant or placebo, daily for 24 weeks. Patients who completed the treatment period were eligible to enroll in a long-term extension study in which all patients received 300 mg of dazucorilant. The primary endpoint in DAZALS was the difference in ALSFRS-R between patients who received dazucorilant and those who received placebo. Overall survival was a secondary endpoint.

Although DAZALS did not meet its primary endpoint, patient survival significantly improved. At week 24 of the study, no deaths had occurred in the 83 patients who received 300 mg of dazucorilant, while there were five deaths in the 82-patient placebo group (p-value of 0.02). An exploratory analysis conducted at the one-year mark shows the survival benefit has continued. Patients randomized to 300 mg of dazucorilant lived significantly longer than patients who received placebo and did not switch to 300 mg of dazucorilant in the extension study. The difference between groups was pronounced, with a hazard ratio of 0.16 (p-value: 0.0009). See Figure 1.

A similar survival benefit was observed in patients who received 300 mg of dazucorilant for greater than 24 weeks, either in the treatment period or in the extension study, compared to patients who received either placebo or 150 mg of dazucorilant for 24 weeks and did not receive dazucorilant in the extension study (hazard ratio: 0.36; p-value 0.02). See Figure 2. The extension study is ongoing.

Dazucorilant has demonstrated an acceptable safety profile, with 92 percent of adverse events being mild to moderate in severity. The frequency of severe and serious adverse events in patients who received dazucorilant was similar to those who received placebo. Mild to moderate, dose-related, transient abdominal pain was the most common adverse effect.

“The improvement in overall survival, first noted in the DAZALS study at six months, continues to be seen at one-year. This finding deserves our full attention in service to patients with this tragic disease. Progress in the development of new ALS treatments is of critical importance,” said Leonard H. van den Berg, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Chair in the Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands, and Principal Investigator in the DAZALS study.

“Medications that can extend life for patients with ALS are urgently needed. We are working with regulatory authorities to determine the optimal path for advancing dazucorilant,” said Bill Guyer, PharmD, Corcept’s Chief Development Officer. “We would like to thank the patients, their families and care partners, as well as the investigators, doctors and clinic staff involved in this study.”

About the DAZALS Study

DAZALS is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phases 2 trial in which 249 patients with ALS were randomized 1:1:1 to receive either 150 mg of dazucorilant, 300 mg of dazucorilant or placebo daily for 24 weeks. Patients who completed the treatment period were eligible to enroll in the long-term extension study in which all patients received 300 mg of dazucorilant. Baseline patient characteristics, including the ENCALS risk score, time from diagnosis, ALSFRS-R total score, and bulbar onset, were consistent across study arms.

The DAZALS primary endpoint was the difference in change from baseline during the study’s 24-week treatment period in ALSFRS-R score between patients who received dazucorilant and those who received placebo. Key secondary endpoints include overall survival and quality of life. DAZALS was conducted at sites in Europe, the United States and Canada.

About Dazucorilant

Dazucorilant is a selective cortisol modulator that binds to the glucocorticoid receptor but does not bind to the body’s other hormone receptors. Corcept is studying it as a potential treatment for ALS and other neurologic disorders. Dazucorilant is proprietary to Corcept and is protected by composition of matter, method of use and other patents.

Source: Press release Corcept Therapeutics