Jazz
Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ: JAZZ) and Concert
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNCE) today announced the initiation
of the first Phase 1 clinical trial of JZP-386, a deuterium-containing
analog of sodium oxybate—the active ingredient in Xyrem® (sodium
oxybate) oral solution.
The Phase 1 clinical trial is designed to assess the safety,
pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of JZP-386, and
includes Xyrem as an active control. The study is expected to enroll up
to 28 healthy subjects at a single center in Europe. The results of the
study are intended to assess the PK/PD profile of JZP-386 to identify a
safe and tolerable dose or doses of JZP-386 that could be used in
subsequent clinical trials and to determine whether JZP-386 is suitable
for once nightly dosing.
“Initiating this first-in-human Phase 1 study with JZP-386 is an
important milestone in our development program and will provide valuable
information on the potential benefit of this deuterium-containing analog
of sodium oxybate. This study reflects our ongoing commitment to
addressing the unmet medical needs of patients with narcolepsy and to
further advancing our understanding of sodium oxybate.” said Jeffrey
Tobias, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer of Jazz
Pharmaceuticals.
“We are pleased to see JZP-386 advancing to clinical evaluation under
our collaboration with Jazz Pharmaceuticals. We look forward to
evaluating JZP-386 and seeing the results from this first-in-human
clinical trial,” said Roger Tung, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive
Officer of Concert Pharmaceuticals.
Under its 2013 agreement with Concert, Jazz Pharmaceuticals has
worldwide rights to develop and commercialize JZP-386. Concert has the
potential to realize milestone payments upon meeting development
objectives and tiered royalties on any worldwide sales. Jazz
Pharmaceuticals and Concert are working collaboratively on development
of JZP-386, and Concert is responsible for conducting clinical
activities for JZP-386 through Phase 1.
Sodium oxybate is the active ingredient in Xyrem, a prescription
medicine marketed in the United States by Jazz Pharmaceuticals to treat
cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with narcolepsy,
a serious neurological disorder that affects approximately 1 in 2000
people in the United States.
About Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc
(Nasdaq: JAZZ) is a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on
improving patients' lives by identifying, developing and commercializing
differentiated products that address unmet medical needs. The company
has a diverse portfolio of products and/or product candidates in the
areas of sleep, hematology/oncology, pain and psychiatry. The company's
U.S. marketed products in these areas include: Xyrem® (sodium oxybate)
oral solution, Erwinaze® (asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi),
Prialt® (ziconotide) intrathecal infusion, Versacloz® (clozapine) oral
suspension, FazaClo® (clozapine, USP) HD and FazaClo LD. Jazz
Pharmaceuticals also has a number of products marketed outside the
United States, including Erwinase® and Defitelio® (defibrotide). For
more information, please visit www.jazzpharmaceuticals.com.
About Concert Pharmaceuticals
Concert Pharmaceuticals is a
clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on applying its DCE
Platform® (deuterated chemical entity platform) to create novel small
molecule drugs. This approach starts with approved drugs, advanced
clinical candidates or previously studied compounds that have the
potential to be improved with deuterium substitution to enhance clinical
safety, tolerability and efficacy. The Company is developing a broad
pipeline targeting CNS disorders, renal disease, inflammation and cancer.
About Xyrem
Xyrem® (sodium oxybate) oral solution, CIII, is
indicated for the treatment of cataplexy in narcolepsy and for the
treatment of EDS in narcolepsy. Xyrem may only be dispensed to patients
enrolled in the Xyrem Success Program®. Xyrem was first approved
in the United States in 2002. Safety and effectiveness in pediatric
patients have not been established.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
|
XYREM is a Central Nervous System (CNS) depressant. In clinical
trials at recommended doses, obtundation and clinically significant
respiratory depression occurred in XYREM-treated patients. Almost
all of the patients who received XYREM during clinical trials in
narcolepsy were receiving CNS stimulants.
XYREM is the sodium salt of gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Abuse
of GHB, either alone or in combination with other CNS depressants,
is associated with CNS adverse reactions, including seizure,
respiratory depression, decreases in the level of consciousness,
coma, and death.
Because of the risks of CNS depression, abuse, and misuse,
XYREM is available only through a restricted distribution program
called the XYREM Success Program®, using a centralized pharmacy.
Prescribers and patients must enroll in the program. For further
information go to www.XYREM.com or call 1-866-XYREM88®
(1-866-997-3688).
|
Xyrem is contraindicated in combination with sedative hypnotics or
alcohol and in patients with succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase
deficiency. Use caution when considering the concurrent use of Xyrem
with other CNS depressants. Healthcare providers should caution patients
against hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness or
motor coordination within the first 6 hours of dosing or after first
initiating treatment until certain that Xyrem does not affect them
adversely. Xyrem is a Schedule III controlled substance. The rapid onset
of sedation, coupled with the amnestic features of Xyrem, particularly
when combined with alcohol, has proven to be dangerous for the voluntary
and involuntary user (e.g. assault victim). Monitor patients for
emergent or increased depression and suicidality and for impaired
motor/cognitive function. Episodes of sleepwalking should be fully
evaluated and appropriate interventions considered. Consider the amount
of daily sodium intake in each dose of Xyrem in patients sensitive to
salt intake.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc
"Safe Harbor" Statement under
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This press
release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited
to, statements related to future events in the Phase 1 clinical trial of
JZP-386, the therapeutic potential of JZP-386 and other statements that
are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are based on
Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ current expectations and inherently involve
significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties,
which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated
with the uncertainty of clinical trials and therapeutic value of
JZP-386; the uncertainty of regulatory approval; and those risks with
respect to research and development and clinical trials detailed from
time-to-time under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in Jazz
Pharmaceuticals plc’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings and
reports (Commission File No. 001-33500), including the Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, and future filings
and reports by Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Jazz Pharmaceuticals undertakes no
duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in
this press release as a result of new information, future events or
changes in its expectations.
Concert Pharmaceuticals Cautionary Note on Forward Looking Statements
Any
statements in this press release about our future expectations, plans
and prospects, including statements about the potential effectiveness of
JZP-386, our plans and timelines for the clinical development of
JZP-386, the Company’s potential to realize milestone payments upon
meeting development objectives and other statements containing the words
“anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,”
“target,” “would,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking
statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those
indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various
important factors, including: the uncertainties inherent in the
initiation of future clinical trials, availability and timing of data
from ongoing and future clinical trials and the results of such trials,
whether preliminary results from a clinical trial will be predictive of
the final results of that trial or whether results of early clinical
trials will be indicative of the results of later clinical trials,
expectations for regulatory approvals and other factors discussed in the
"Risk Factors" section of our Annual Report on Form 10-Q filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 2014 and in other filings
that we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition,
any forward-looking statements included in this press release represent
our views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied
upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. We
specifically disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements included in this press release.
Concert Pharmaceuticals Inc., the CoNCERT Pharmaceuticals Inc. logo and
DCE Platform are registered trademarks of Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals and the Jazz Pharmaceuticals logo are registered
trademarks of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc or its subsidiaries
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