SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 05, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achaogen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKAO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel antibacterials addressing multi-drug resistant (MDR) gram-negative infections, today announced the acceleration of the expected timeline for reporting results from the Company's ongoing Phase 3 EPIC registration clinical trial of plazomicin, the Company’s lead product candidate being developed to treat serious bacterial infections due to MDR Enterobacteriaceae, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).
As a result of more rapid enrollment than anticipated, Achaogen now expects to release top-line results from the EPIC trial in the first quarter of 2017, two quarters ahead of initial estimates, and plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the second half of 2017.
"Our clinical trial sites have already exceeded 20 percent of the approximately 530 patients that we plan to enroll in the trial and we now expect to complete enrollment in 2016, ahead of schedule. We therefore expect to report the topline results from the EPIC trial in the first quarter of 2017," said Kenneth Hillan, Achaogen's Chief Executive Officer. "We are pleased with how the clinical sites are performing and we look forward to completing enrollment in the EPIC trial significantly earlier than originally anticipated, and to the eventual planned submission of the plazomicin NDA, so we may bring plazomicin to patients in need."
EPIC (Evaluating plazomicin in cUTI) is a multi-national, randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial in patients with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI) including acute pyelonephritis (AP), which is expected to create a substantial opportunity for plazomicin to address the unmet medical need arising from multi-drug resistant (MDR) infections. EPIC is expected to serve as a single pivotal trial supporting an NDA for plazomicin in the United States. The Company also expects to announce top-line results for the CARE (Combating Antibiotic Resistant Enterobacteriaceae) study, a Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with serious bacterial infections due to CRE, in the first half of 2017.
Achaogen has global commercialization rights to plazomicin and patent protection in the United States extending through 2031.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained herein are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, Achaogen’s expectations regarding (i) the enrollment and success of Achaogen’s ongoing Phase 3 EPIC trial and Phase 3 CARE trial, (ii) the expectation that the Phase 3 EPIC trial will serve as a single pivotal trial supporting an NDA for plazomicin, and (iii) the timing for completion of Achaogen’s Phase 3 trials and submission of an NDA to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause Achaogen's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties inherent in the preclinical and clinical development process; specific risks related to the ongoing Phase 3 EPIC trial and Phase 3 CARE trial, including the lack of a prior clinical trial in patients with CRE infections and challenges in enrolling an adequate number of patients with rare infections; the risk of failure to successfully validate, develop and obtain regulatory clearance or approval for the in vitro diagnostic (IVD) assay for plazomicin; the risks and uncertainties of the regulatory approval process; the risks and uncertainties of commercialization and gaining market acceptance; the risk that bacteria may evolve resistance to plazomicin; risks and uncertainties as to Achaogen's ability to raise additional capital to support the development of plazomicin and its other programs; uncertainties regarding the availability of adequate third-party coverage and reimbursement for newly approved products; Achaogen's reliance on third parties to conduct certain preclinical studies and all of its clinical trials; Achaogen's reliance on third-party contract manufacturing organizations to manufacture and supply its product candidates and certain raw materials used in the production thereof; Achaogen's dependence on its President and Chief Executive Officer; risks and uncertainties related to the acceptance of government funding for certain of Achaogen's programs, including the risk that BARDA could terminate Achaogen's contract for the funding of the plazomicin development program; risk of third party claims alleging infringement of patents and proprietary rights or seeking to invalidate Achaogen's patents or proprietary rights; and the risk that Achaogen's proprietary rights may be insufficient to protect its technologies and product candidates. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to Achaogen's business in general, see Achaogen's current and future reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. Achaogen does not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
About Achaogen
Achaogen is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company passionately committed to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel antibacterials to treat MDR gram-negative infections. Achaogen is developing plazomicin, Achaogen’s lead product candidate, for the treatment of serious bacterial infections due to MDR Enterobacteriaceae, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Achaogen’s plazomicin program is funded in part with Federal funds from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. HHSO100201000046C. Plazomicin is the first clinical candidate from Achaogen’s gram-negative antibiotic discovery engine, and Achaogen has other programs in early and late preclinical stages focused on other MDR gram-negative infections. For more information, please visit www.achaogen.com.
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