ARS Pharmaceuticals Reacquires European Marketing Rights to neffy® (ARS-1) for the Treatment of Type I Allergic Reactions Including Anaphylaxis
23 February 2023 - 8:05AM
ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRY), a biopharmaceutical
company dedicated to empowering at-risk patients and caregivers to
better protect themselves from severe allergic reactions that could
lead to anaphylaxis, today announced that the company reached
agreement to reacquire commercial rights to
neffy,
known as ARS-1 in the European region, from Recordati S.p.A. The
agreement followed a portfolio review conducted by Recordati aimed
at focusing commercial efforts on core strategic therapeutic areas.
In 2020, the original license and supply agreement between ARS and
Recordati provided ARS with non-dilutive funding for the early
clinical development of
neffy, while providing
Recordati marketing rights to
neffy in the
European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, United
Kingdom, Russia/CIS, Turkey, Middle East and French-speaking
African countries. Today, ARS is in a strong position, with
approximately $275 million in cash as of year-end 2022, and an
anticipated 2023 US launch of
neffy, if approved.
ARS’ cash is projected to be at least three years of operating
runway based on the company’s current operating plan.
“We are grateful to Recordati for their support to
date and, by reacquiring European rights with an anticipated EU
regulatory decision later this year, we increase our optionality in
pursuing potential strategic transactions or partnerships,” said
Richard Lowenthal, president and chief executive officer of ARS
Pharmaceuticals. “Our MAA for neffy is currently
under review by the EMA, and if approved in the EU, we see
tremendous potential for commercial success. If approved, this
product can be an important treatment option for patients around
the world who fear using needle bearing injection devices.”
“We believe ARS-1 will be a
differentiated product that will fill an unmet need for patients
with Type I allergic reactions,” said Alberto Martinez, Recordati
Executive VP Specialty & Primary Care. “This agreement with ARS
to re-acquire our rights was made as part of a portfolio review
process. We are proud to have contributed to advancing the
development of ARS-1 for patients in Europe and
wish ARS success as it moves ARS-1 toward
approval.”
In connection with the agreement for ARS to
reacquire commercial rights to neffy, ARS is
obligated to pay Recordati an upfront amount, milestones upon EU
approval and commercial launch, and payments (subject to a
specified cap) based on commercial sales in the EU, United Kingdom,
and certain countries in the Middle East, Africa and Eurasia.
A new drug application (NDA) for
neffy 2 mg is currently under review with the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as a marketing
authorization application (MAA) with the European Medicines Agency
(EMA). In four primary registration studies of the 2 mg
intranasal dose of neffy, all clinical
endpoints recommended by regulators were met, and pharmacokinetics
were within the range of approved epinephrine injection products.
These data included studies in adults, with self-administration and
caregiver administration, as well as in children with Type I
allergies ≥30 kg (66 lbs). In
addition, neffy has been well-tolerated
to date with more than 600 individuals receiving at least one dose,
and many with repeat administration. The majority of adverse events
in clinical trials were mild in nature without any meaningful nasal
irritation or pain. A supplemental application for regulatory
approval for a neffy 1 mg product for children 15
kg to <30 kg is planned to be filed immediately after approval
in the United States and/or Europe.
About Type I Allergic Reactions including
Anaphylaxis Type I severe allergic reactions are serious
and potentially life-threatening events that can occur within
minutes of exposure to an allergen and require immediate treatment
with epinephrine, the only FDA-approved medication for these
reactions. While epinephrine autoinjectors have been shown to be
highly effective, there are well published limitations that result
in many patients and caregivers delaying or not administering
treatment in an emergency situation. These limitations include fear
of the needle, lack of portability, needle-related safety concerns,
lack of reliability, and complexity of the devices. There are
approximately 25 to 40 million people in the United States who
experience Type I severe allergic reactions. Of those, only 3.3
million currently have an active epinephrine autoinjector
prescription, and of those, only half consistently carry their
prescribed autoinjector. Even if patients or caregivers carry an
autoinjector, more than half either delay or do not administer the
device when needed in an emergency.
About ARS Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. ARS is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to
empowering at-risk patients and caregivers to better protect
themselves from severe allergic reactions that could lead to
anaphylaxis. The Company is
developing neffy® (also
referred to as ARS-1), an intranasal epinephrine product in
clinical development for patients and their caregivers with Type I
allergic reactions including food, medications and insect bites
that could lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis. For more
information, visit www.ars-pharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not purely historical in
nature are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements
include, but are not limited to, ARS’s projected cash runway; the
anticipated timing for regulatory review decisions on
neffy and the potential approval of
neffy; the anticipated US launch of
neffy, if approved, and the timing thereof; ARS’s
strategy of pursuing potential strategic transactions or
partnerships for neffy in Europe, if approved; the
estimated addressable patient population for
neffy; ARS’s plan to file a supplemental
regulatory application for a neffy 1 mg product
for children 15 kg to <30 kg immediately after the approval of
neffy 2 mg in the United States and/or Europe; and
other statements that are not historical fact. Because such
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results
may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate,” “plans,”
“expects,” “will,” “potential” and similar expressions are intended
to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are based upon ARS’s current expectations and involve
assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be
incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking
statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which
include, without limitation, the ability to obtain and maintain
regulatory approval for neffy; results from
clinical trials may not be indicative of results that may be
observed in the future; potential safety and other complications
from neffy; the labelling for
neffy, if approved; the scope, progress and
expansion of developing and commercializing neffy;
the size and growth of the market therefor and the rate and degree
of market acceptance thereof vis-à-vis intramuscular injectable
products; ARS’s ability to protect its intellectual property
position; and the impact of government laws and regulations.
Additional risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes
and results to differ materially from those contemplated by the
forward-looking statements are included under the caption “Risk
Factors—Risks Related to ARS Pharma” in the company’s definitive
merger proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on October 6, 2022. This document can also be accessed
on ARS’s web page at ir.ars-pharma.com by clicking on the link
“Financials & Filings.”
The forward-looking statements included in this
press release are made only as of the date hereof. ARS assumes no
obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking
statements, except as required by law.
ARS Investor Contact: Justin
Chakma ARS Pharmaceuticals justinc@ars-pharma.com
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