Antares Pharma, Inc. Announces Positive Top Line Results From Its Pivotal Phase 3 Study of Anturol Gel for the Treatment of Overactive Bladder
The Phase 3 trial conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) with FDA was a double blind, randomized, parallel placebo-controlled multi-center study and evaluated the efficacy and safety of Anturol in 600 patients with overactive bladder. The primary objective of the study was to demonstrate that daily treatment of an 84mg or 56mg dose of oxybutynin applied in the ATDTM Gel technology for 12 weeks was superior to placebo for the relief of OAB symptoms.
Paul. K. Wotton Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Antares said “This success represents another key accomplishment in 2010 and continues to demonstrate our strong development capabilities. Anturol is one of many value drivers in our advancing pipeline of development products. We are delighted with the positive outcome of this Phase 3 trial, as both doses demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the primary endpoint of urinary incontinence events as well as a low incidence of reported side effects. We are on track to file a new drug application (NDA) with the FDA in 2010.”
Roger R. Dmochowski M.D., FACS, Professor, Vanderbilt University, Department of Urologic Surgery stated “Anturol potentially offers many advantages for the treatment of OAB. Anturol is dispensed in a patient friendly metered dose pump which provides convenient dosing options. Both doses tested in the Phase 3 trial demonstrated a low incidence of side effects and the data also show that Anturol effectively reduces urinary incontinence episodes within seven days of beginning treatment compared to placebo.”
Secondary end points included changes from baseline in average daily urinary frequency, void volume, patient perceptions, as well as safety and tolerability including skin irritation. Although not the basis for approval, the 84 mg dose provided highly statistical significant results for the secondary end points of urinary frequency and volume while the 56 mg dose did not reach statistical significance. Additionally, Anturol which uses the proprietary ATD Gel technology was well tolerated in the study. No serious adverse events related to the treatment were reported. Anticholinergic side effects such as dry mouth and constipation were low and no CNS side effects were seen compared to placebo. Treatment-related adverse events that resulted in study discontinuation during the double-blind period were low and similar for both the treatment and placebo groups.
About Overactive Bladder
OAB, also called urge incontinence, is a condition marked by a sudden need to urinate that can happen at any time whether or not the bladder is full. OAB is typically caused when the smooth muscle of the bladder undergoes involuntary contractions and may result in uncontrolled leakage. OAB is defined as urgency, with or without urge incontinence and usually includes frequency and nocturia (waking up one or more times during the night to urinate). According to published reports it is estimated that more than 30 million Americans have OAB, and while it can happen at any age is more prevalent among older individuals. It is more common than both diabetes and asthma. According to IMS the annual OAB prescription market in the United States is valued at approximately $2.0 billion.
About AnturolTM
Anturol is oxybutynin gel based on the ATD Gel technology platform which is a clear, odorless, hydroalcoholic gel that provides for delivery of oxybutynin in a non-patch transdermal form. The ATD technology is also used in Elestrin®, an FDA approved product for hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. It has been well recognized that transdermal delivery of drugs including oxybutynin is a safe and effective way of delivering certain drugs that undergo first pass metabolism. By delivering oxybutynin transdermally, first-pass gastric and hepatic metabolism is avoided, which is believed to result in lower anticholinergic side effects such as dry mouth and constipation compared to orally administered treatments. These side effects account for a significant level of patient non-compliance among existing oral OAB treatments.
About Antares Pharma
Antares Pharma focuses on self-injection delivery technologies and topical gel-based pharmaceutical products. The Company's subcutaneous and intramuscular injection technology platforms include VIBEXTM disposable pressure-assisted auto injectors, ValeoTM/VisionTM reusable needle-free injectors, and disposable multi-use pen injectors. In the injector area, Antares Pharma has a multi-product deal with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd that includes Tev-Tropin(R) human growth hormone and a partnership with Ferring Pharmaceuticals. In the gel-based area, the Company's lead product candidate is Anturol, (R) an oxybutynin ATDTM gel for the treatment of OAB (overactive bladder). Antares also has a partnership with BioSante that includes LibiGel(R) (transdermal testosterone gel) in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), and Elestrin(R) (estradiol gel) indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause, and currently marketed in the U.S. Antares Pharma has corporate headquarters in Ewing, New Jersey, with subsidiaries performing research, development and product commercialization activities in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Muttenz, Switzerland.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include statements related to Anturol and its continued development, including statements related to the timing of completion of the open label study and the filing of an NDA with the FDA, and other statements which are other than statements of historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "projects," "potential," "continue," and other similar terminology or the negative of these terms, but their absence does not mean that a particular statement is not forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, difficulties or delays in the progress or completion of Anturol’s product development or in the preparation of the NDA, whether caused by competition, adverse events, investigative site initiation rates, patient enrollment rates, regulatory issues, or other factors; that an application for marketing approval may not be accepted for review or at all by the FDA or any other regulatory authority; and that the Company may lack the financial resources and access to capital to continue to fund the development of Anturol. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements is contained in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, and in the Company's other periodic reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company on the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, except as required by law.
Contact:
Antares Pharma, Inc. Robert F. Apple Chief Financial Officer 609-359-3020 or Investors: Westwicke Partners, LLC John Woolford, 443-213-0506 john.woolford@westwicke.com or Media: Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc. Tamara Bright, 212-827-0020 tbright@tiberendstrategicadvisors.com