BUSINESS INSIGHTS, PHARMACY MARKET
Businesswire | April 10, 2023
Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to creating small molecule drugs for viral infections, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for EDP-323, Enanta’s L-protein inhibitor in development for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
"Receiving Fast Track designation from the FDA underscores EDP-323’s potential as a once-daily, oral therapeutic for the treatment of this deadly virus and reflects the pressing need for a highly potent, direct antiviral to treat RSV, particularly for high-risk populations,” said Scott T. Rottinghaus, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Enanta Pharmaceuticals. “Given that EDP-323 has shown sub-nanomolar potency against several RSV-A and RSV-B strains in vitro and is not expected to have cross-resistance to other classes of inhibitors, we believe it could be used as a monotherapy or in combination with other RSV mechanisms to potentially broaden the addressable RSV patient populations or the treatment window. We believe this designation will be a valuable component of our clinical and regulatory strategy as we progress EDP-323 in development.”
The Fast Track program is designed to accelerate the development and review of products such as EDP-323, which are intended to treat serious diseases and for which there is an unmet medical need. Fast Track designation enables more frequent communication with the FDA and eligibility for FDA programs such as priority review and rolling review, if relevant criteria are met.
EDP-323 is being evaluated in a Phase 1 double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to assess its safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK). Enanta plans to present new preclinical PK data at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in April and expects to report topline data from the Phase 1 study this quarter.
EDP-323 is supported by in vitro data demonstrating a significant reduction in RSV replication with picomolar potency in primary human bronchial epithelial cells against RSV A and B, with consistent potency across a range of RSV clinical isolates in various cell types. In a mouse model of RSV infection, EDP-323 treatment was associated with dose-dependent decreases in viral load in the lung, reduced lung immunopathology and decreases in pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IFNγ, TNFα, and IL1β. Additionally, EDP-323 has favorable oral bioavailability with good plasma exposures across preclinical species and pharmacokinetic properties supporting once-daily, oral dosing in humans. These data indicate that EDP-323 is a potent inhibitor of RSV replication and has the potential to be a best-in-class, once daily, oral antiviral treatment for RSV.
About Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Enanta is using its robust, chemistry-driven approach and drug discovery capabilities to become a leader in the discovery and development of small molecule drugs for the treatment of viral infections. Enanta’s research and development programs include clinical candidates for the following disease targets: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), SARS-CoV-2 and hepatitis B virus. Enanta is also conducting research on a single agent targeting both RSV and human metapneumovirus.
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BUSINESS INSIGHTS, PHARMA TECH
prnewswire | April 28, 2023
Endo International plc announced that its subsidiaries Endo Ventures Limited and Par Pharmaceutical, Inc. have executed an agreement with Slayback Pharma LLC to distribute Slayback's Prevduo™ (neostigmine methylsulfate and glycopyrrolate injection) pre-filled syringe on an exclusive basis in the U.S. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Prevduo™ in February 2023 for the reversal of the effects of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) after surgery, while decreasing the peripheral muscarinic effects (e.g., bradycardia and excessive secretions) associated with cholinesterase inhibition following NMBA reversal administration.
Endo will commercialize Prevduo™ through its Par Sterile Products business and expects to launch the product in June 2023.
When launched, Prevduo™ will be the first and only FDA-approved neostigmine–glycopyrrolate combination product in the U.S. Both neostigmine methylsulfate and glycopyrrolate have been approved in the U.S. as single, active ingredient drug products. Neostigmine is always administered in conjunction with glycopyrrolate, and currently, its administration requires two syringes.
"Prevduo™ further strengthens our commitment to supporting healthcare providers and their patients through ready-to-use products that streamline operations," said Scott Sims, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Injectable Solutions & Generics at Endo. "We're proud to partner with Slayback to bring this critical care product to market and help hospitals deliver quality patient care."
"Following the development and FDA approval of Prevduo™, we're pleased to partner with Endo and tap into Endo's proven capabilities in commercializing injectable solutions, including ready-to-use products," said Ajay Singh, Founder and CEO of Slayback Pharma.
Ready-to-use, or RTU, products streamline operations for hospitals by eliminating the need to prepare or transfer the product before patient administration. This may reduce waste and costs, optimize convenience and workflow and reduce the chance for preparation error—all of which support quality patient care.
About Endo
Endo is a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to helping everyone we serve live their best life through the delivery of quality, life-enhancing therapies. Our decades of proven success come from passionate team members around the globe collaborating to bring treatments forward. Together, we boldly transform insights into treatments benefiting those who need them, when they need them.
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BUSINESS INSIGHTS, PHARMA TECH
Prnewswire | April 27, 2023
AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy, one of the largest specialty and home delivery pharmacies in the country, is taking another step in developing innovative solutions with its recent launch of RightGuide, a custom digital engagement program that allows pharmaceutical manufacturers to seamlessly deliver educational support to patients living with rare diseases or chronic conditions.
"RightGuide helps minimize potential treatment barriers, from training patients to self-administer injections to addressing financial concerns to mitigating medication side effects. It's a great solution for breaking down complex details to help patients better digest the information," says Tracey James, RPh, chief operating officer, at AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy. "With RightGuide, we can deliver the right support – directly into the hands of patients – at the right time."
AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy created RightGuide to help patients and their caregivers as they navigate the unknowns and complexities of a new therapy. Understanding barriers may be encountered at various stages throughout treatment, RightGuide offers three distinct campaigns, including
RightConnect – Onboarding and access
RightStart – Therapy initiation and acclimation
RightTrack – Ongoing engagement throughout the duration of therapy
"Our patient satisfaction surveys indicate patients prefer to engage digitally. RightGuide allows us to deliver relevant information to patients exactly when they need it in their treatment journey," says James. "Patients are more likely to retain this information because it is timely, and presented in an understandable, useful format that's easier for patients to follow."
James says pharmaceutical partners are excited to receive co-branded, customized content and drug- or condition-specific resources to help facilitate adherence and retention. Pharmaceutical partners also receive campaign-specific reporting to showcase engagement metrics, including how many patients are accessing information and tools.
"Personalization drives engagement and engaged patients have stronger outcomes," says James. "RightGuide is another way we're collaborating with our partners to provide intentional, meaningful engagement while optimizing the patient experience and better positioning them for success on therapy."
About AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy
AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy provides hope and care for better tomorrows to patients with rare diseases and chronic conditions by delivering medications from its specialty and home delivery pharmacies. Our advanced analytical capabilities, pharmacy expertise and technology solutions enable providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and health plans to deliver optimal health outcomes. Through personalized care and clinical programs, along with access to the leading number of limited distribution drugs, patients can get back to what matters most. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, the company holds several national pharmacy accreditations and has team members across the United States.
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