SYDNEY, Australia, June 19 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pharmaxis (ASX: PXS; Nasdaq: PXSL) today announced that the company and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have reached agreement on the phase 3 registration trial of Bronchitol for bronchiectasis via the Special Protocol Assessment process.
The SPA process allows for FDA evaluation of a clinical trial protocol intended to form the primary basis of an efficacy claim in support of a New Drug Application, and provides an agreement that the study design, including trial size, clinical endpoints and/or data analyses are acceptable to the FDA.
Pharmaxis previously agreed on the trial design with the European regulatory agency (EMEA). This trial will therefore form the basis of a marketing application in both the U.S. and Europe.
The phase 3 trial has been designed in collaboration with internationally renowned experts in the field of bronchiectasis and will be a randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind investigation of Bronchitol twice daily in approximately 350 adults with bronchiectasis. Participants will be treated for 52 weeks and the primary endpoints are reduction in frequency of exacerbations and improvement in quality of life. Secondary endpoints include time to first exacerbation and duration of exacerbation. Additional secondary endpoints are antibiotic use, sputum volume, exercise tolerance and lung function measurements. The trial includes health economic analysis and will be conducted in centers across Europe and the U.S.
This trial is the second Phase III study to be undertaken for Bronchitol in bronchiectasis and follows the completion of a successful shorter trial reported last year.
Pharmaxis CEO, Alan Robertson, said the company was pleased to have concluded its discussions with the FDA and the EMEA.
“We believe this phase 3 trial design will allow us to thoroughly demonstrate the clinical benefits of Bronchitol in a patient population for which mucus build up and clearance is a daily problem. Our bronchiectasis program follows closely behind our work in cystic fibrosis where a phase 3 clinical trial is expected to soon close recruitment.”
Pharmaxis is developing Bronchitol as a treatment to improve mucus clearance in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis and other acute and chronic pulmonary conditions. The U.S. FDA has granted Bronchitol fast track status and it is designated as an orphan drug in the U.S.
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained in this media release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements in this media release include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, hopes, goals, intentions, initiatives or strategies, including statements regarding the potential for Aridol and/or Bronchitol. All forward-looking statements included in this media release are based upon information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. We cannot guarantee that any product candidate will receive FDA or other regulatory approval or that we will seek any such approval. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in the "Risk Factors and Other Uncertainties" section of our Form 20-F lodged with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT:
Alan Robertson
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +61-2-9454-7200
Email: alan.robertson@pharmaxis.com.au
Released through:
United States:
Brandon Lewis, Trout Group
Tel: +1-646-378-2915
Email: blewis@troutgroup.com
Australia:
Virginia Nicholls
Tel: +61-417-610-824
Email: virginia.nicholls@pharmaxis.com.au
