SAN DIEGO, May 13, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trius Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:TSRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative antibiotics for serious infections, announced today that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on an application related to its tedizolid phosphate patent portfolio. This newly allowed patent application protects a therapeutic combination of the experimental medicine tedizolid phosphate with a currently available antibiotic daptomycin. Data show that together, the medicines can uniquely prevent the development of daptomycin non-susceptible bacterial strains such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
As detailed in the patent application, tedizolid phosphate, at concentrations substantially below its current therapeutic dose to treat skin infections, unexpectedly prevents the formation of daptomycin resistant mutants of Staphylococcus aureus. Tedizolid appears to be unique in this mutant prevention activity given that seven other medicines tested, including linezolid, the only other drug of the same class as tedizolid, failed to show the same mutant prevention activity.
"MRSA bacteremia is a potentially fatal disease with limited treatment options," said Ralph Corey, M.D. Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Duke University. "As a clinician who treats bacteremia patients, I am concerned by the growing resistance to one of our last effective treatment options, daptomycin, and welcome this news that tedizolid phosphate may prevent daptomycin resistance when used in a combination therapy."
"Given the recent positive Phase 3 results of tedizolid phosphate for the treatment of skin infections, we are eager to examine its potential, whether alone or in combination with other medicines, for the treatment of bacteremia," said Jeffrey Stein, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Trius. "Most importantly, this patent, coupled with the results of our long-term safety studies, provide us with guidance on how best to expand the development of tedizolid phosphate to treat patients with severe bacterial infections requiring sustained treatment."
About Trius Therapeutics
Trius Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative antibiotics for serious infections. The Company's lead investigational medicine, tedizolid phosphate, is a novel antibiotic for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and serious Gram-positive infections, including those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Trius has completed two Phase 3 ABSSSI trials and has partnered with Bayer Pharma for the development and commercialization of tedizolid phosphate outside of the U.S., Canada and the European Union. In addition to the Company's tedizolid phosphate clinical program, Trius has initiated IND-enabling studies for its Gyrase-B development candidate with potent activity against Gram-negative bacterial pathogens including multidrug-resistant strains of E. coli, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas. For more information, visit www.triusrx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Trius' ability to successfully complete its planned development programs, the potential of tedizolid to effectively treat bacteremia alone and in combination with other drugs and Trius' ability to initiate a development program in bacteremia. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: the accuracy of Trius' estimates regarding expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; the success and timing of Trius' preclinical studies and clinical trials; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; changes in Trius' plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates; Trius' ability to obtain additional financing; Trius' ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for its product candidates; and the loss of key scientific or management personnel. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in Trius' most recently filed SEC documents, including its Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other documents filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in such filings. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Trius undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.