SAN DIEGO, April 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the top-line results from its second fidaxomicin Phase 3 clinical study in patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) were presented today at the 20th Annual European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Vienna, Austria.
Clinical investigator Derrick Crook, M.D. presented the positive top-line results that the Company had previously announced in February 2010. In the trial, fidaxomicin met the primary endpoint of non-inferiority in clinical cure compared to Vancocin(R). Importantly, fidaxomicin also had significantly lower recurrence rates compared to Vancocin (p = 0.002), and significantly higher global cure rates (defined as cure with no recurrence within four weeks of completing therapy) compared to Vancocin (p < 0.001). The robust results from this second fidaxomicin Phase 3 trial confirm the results from the first fidaxomicin Phase 3 trial. Together these trials enrolled more than 1,100 subjects thus making them the two largest comparative studies ever conducted against Vancocin in CDI.
Additional data presented for the first time by Dr. Crook included a subgroup analysis of the BI/NAP1/027 strain and the non-BI/NAP1/027 strain showing clinical cure, recurrence and global cure rates for fidaxomicin compared to Vancocin(R). Most notably, Fidaxomicin showed a clinically meaningful reduction in recurrence rates and higher global cure rates compared to Vancocin in both strain type subgroups. Clinical cure rates for fidaxomicin and Vancocin were similar in these two strain type subgroups.
In a separate poster presentation, Mark A. Miller, M.D., head of the Division of Infectious Diseases, Chair of the Infection Prevention and Control Unit at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, presented analyses from the first fidaxomicin Phase 3 clinical study in patients with CDI regarding three of the 14 severity criteria specified in the CDI treatment guidelines recently published by The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). Three of ESCMID's 14 severity criteria (temperature, leukocyte count and serum creatinine) had been routinely collected from all subjects in this study and were examined in relationship to clinical cure, recurrence, global cure, and time to resolution of diarrhea (TTROD). According to the ESCMID guidelines, patients with one or more of the criteria could be classified as a severe CDI patient. Out of 596 subjects from this study, 155, or 26%, had one or more of the three ESCMID severity criteria monitored in the study. A validated severity index, score, or categorization system does not exist at the present time for predicting CDI outcomes based on risk factors. The analyses indicated that the three ESCMID criteria monitored in the study were useful in predicting CDI treatment outcomes.
About Clostridium difficile Infection
CDI has become a significant medical problem in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and in the community. It is a serious illness caused by infection of the inner lining of the colon by C. difficile bacteria, which produces toxins that cause inflammation of the colon, severe diarrhea and, in the most serious cases, death. Patients typically develop CDI from the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics that disrupt normal gastrointestinal (gut) flora, and thus allowing C. difficile bacteria to flourish.
Primary risk factors for CDI include broad-spectrum antibiotic use (such as cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones), advanced age (over 65) and emerging hyper-virulent strains (BI/NAP1/027, 078, 001) of C. difficile. Increasing incidence, higher treatment failures and recurrence with current therapies have resulted in greater awareness and concern of CDI among medical professionals and public health officials.
About Optimer Pharmaceuticals
Forward-looking Statements
Statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements, including without limitation all statements related to fidaxomicin, the incidence and anticipated effects of CDI, the efficacy of current CDI treatments and the efficacy and potential benefits of fidaxomicin. Words such as "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "expects", "may", "intend", "will", "goal" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Optimer that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Optimer's business including, without limitation, risks relating to: the development of alternative treatments for or means of preventing CDI and other risks detailed in Optimer's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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