Summit Therapeutics Granted Key Patent for Novel Antibiotic SMT19969 for the Treatment of C. Difficile Infection
30 April 2015 - 9:00PM
Summit Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq:SMMT) (AIM:SUMM), the drug
discovery and development company advancing therapies for Duchenne
muscular dystrophy and Clostridium difficile infection ("CDI")
announces that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has
issued a patent that protects the use of SMT19969 in the treatment
of CDI.
United States Patent number 8,975,416 is entitled "Antibacterial
Compounds" and will provide a period of exclusivity for the use in
the United States of the small molecule antibiotic SMT19969 in the
treatment of CDI through until at least 1 December 2029. Patent
protection has previously been granted for SMT19969 in the
treatment of CDI in a number of other countries, including
Japan.
"The grant of this key patent for SMT19969 in one of the major
commercial markets represents a critical component in our strategy
for advancing this highly selective antibiotic for the treatment of
CDI. SMT19969 has the potential to treat initial infection and
reduce rates of disease recurrence by being highly sparing of
healthy gut flora," commented Glyn Edwards, Chief Executive
Officer of Summit. "Through the grant of this patent, the
intellectual property estate protecting SMT19969 has been
significantly strengthened as we continue to evaluate this
promising antibiotic in a Phase 2 proof of concept patient clinical
trial. Data are expected from the trial in the second half of this
year."
Notes to Editors
About C. difficile Infection
C. difficile infection is a serious healthcare threat in
hospitals, long-term care homes and increasingly the wider
community. It is a serious illness caused by infection of the colon
by the bacteria C. difficile, which produces toxins that cause
inflammation, severe diarrhoea and in the most serious cases can be
fatal. Patients typically develop CDI following the use of
broad-spectrum antibiotics that disrupt the natural balance of the
gastrointestinal (gut) flora allowing C. difficile to flourish.
Existing CDI antibiotics cause further damage to the gut flora and
are associated with high rates of recurrent disease. This is the
key clinical issue as repeat episodes are typically more severe and
associated with an increase in mortality rates and healthcare
costs. The economic impact of CDI is significant with acute care
costs estimated at $4.8 billion in the US alone.
About SMT19969
SMT19969 is a novel, oral small molecule antibiotic that is
being developed specifically for the treatment of CDI. Results from
non-clinical efficacy studies show that SMT19969 combines potent
bactericidal activity against C. difficile with high levels of
antibacterial selectivity. A Phase 1 trial conducted in healthy
volunteers showed SMT19969 to be well tolerated at all doses
tested. In addition, a significant reduction in total clostridia
but not in other bacterial groups was reported which demonstrated
that SMT19969 was highly sparing of gut flora. The Phase 2 proof of
concept trial (CoDIFy) is currently being conducted in North
America.
About Summit Therapeutics
Summit is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery,
development and commercialization of novel medicines for
indications for which there are no existing or only inadequate
therapies. Summit is conducting clinical programs focused on the
genetic disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the infectious
disease C. difficile infection. Further information is available at
www.summitplc.com and Summit can be followed on Twitter
(@summitplc).
For more information, please
contact: |
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Summit Therapeutics |
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Glyn Edwards / Richard Pye
(UK office) |
Tel: +44 (0)1235 443 951 |
Erik Ostrowski (US office) |
+1 617 294 6607 |
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Cairn Financial Advisers
LLP |
|
(Nominated Adviser) |
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Liam Murray / Tony Rawlinson |
Tel: +44 (0)20 7148 7900 |
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N+1 Singer |
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(Broker) |
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Aubrey Powell / Jen Boorer |
Tel: +44 (0)20 7496 3000 |
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MacDougall Biomedical
Communications |
|
(US media contact) |
Tel: +1 781 235 3060 |
Michelle Avery |
mavery@macbiocom.com |
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Peckwater PR |
|
(Financial public relations, UK) |
Tel: +44 (0)7879 458 364 |
Tarquin Edwards |
tarquin.edwards@peckwaterpr.co.uk |
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains "forward-looking statements",
including, but not limited to, statements about the discovery,
development and commercialisation of programme assets. These
forward-looking statements are statements based on the Company's
current intentions, beliefs and expectations, which include, among
other things, the Company's results of operations, financial
condition, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which
the Company operates. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee
of future performance and actual results could differ materially
from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.
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to be materially different from any future results, performance or
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adverse results in clinical or preclinical development studies;
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protection for inventions; commercial limitations imposed by
patents owned or controlled by third parties; being unable to
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conduct any proposed research and development studies; and the
ability to retain and recruit key personnel. The Company expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any
updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained in
this announcement to reflect any changes in expectations with
regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as
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