RedHill Biopharma Receives Additional U.S. Patent Covering RHB-105 Ahead of Confirmatory Phase III Study for H. pylori Infection
RedHill has received a Notice of Allowance for an additional U.S. patent covering RHB-105, expected to be valid until 2034 once granted
The planned confirmatory Phase III study with RHB-105 for the treatment of H. pylori infection, if successful, is expected to support a U.S. New Drug Application (NDA)
The first Phase III study with RHB-105 successfully demonstrated 89.4% efficacy in eradicating H. pylori infection (p<0.001), supporting the potential superior efficacy of RHB-105 over current standard-of-care (SoC) therapies
RHB-105 was granted FDA QIDP designation under the GAIN Act, including Fast-Track development, NDA Priority Review and extended U.S. market exclusivity, for a total of eight years
H. pylori bacterial infection is estimated to affect half of the adult population worldwide and is a major cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma
With increasing failure rates of SoC therapies due to antibiotic resistance, the 2015 global and U.S. market potential for H. pylori eradication therapies are estimated at approximately $4.83 billion and $1.45 billion, respectively
TEL-AVIV, Israel, July 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (RDHL) (RDHL) (“RedHill” or the “Company”), a biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on development and commercialization of late clinical-stage, proprietary, orally-administered, small molecule drugs for inflammatory and gastrointestinal diseases and cancer, today announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a new patent covering RHB-105, a proprietary, fixed-dose, oral combination therapy for the eradication of H. pylori infection.
The patent application, entitled “Pharmaceutical Compositions For The Treatment Of Helicobacter Pylori” expands RedHill’s patent portfolio covering RHB-105 and is expected to be valid until 2034, once granted. The Company is currently prosecuting additional U.S. and international patent applications covering RHB-105.
“The grant of this new patent is an important addition to RedHill’s expanding IP portfolio covering RHB-105. On top of its extensive patent estate, RHB-105 was granted FDA QIDP designation under the Gain Act, providing for a total of 8 years of U.S. market exclusivity,” said Danielle Abramson, Ph.D., RedHill’s Director of Intellectual Property & Research. “We are making good progress with preparations for the confirmatory Phase III study with RHB-105 for eradication of H. pylori, which follows the successful first Phase III study with RHB-105 and a positive meeting with the FDA regarding the path to marketing approval.”
H. pylori bacterial infection is a major cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. H. pylori infection is estimated to affect half of the adult population worldwide[1]. The growing resistance of the H. pylori bacteria to metronidazole and clarithromycin has resulted in increasing failure rates of current standard-of-care therapies (SoC) for H. pylori eradication, reaching an estimated 30%[2]. Despite the strong unmet medical need, no new drug has been approved by the FDA for this indication in over a decade. The 2015 U.S. and global market potential for H. pylori eradication therapies, at current branded prices, were estimated at approximately $1.45 billion and $4.83 billion, respectively, and could potentially grow with increasing awareness of the health risks associated with H. pylori infection and the benefits of its eradication[3].
RedHill announced in April 2016 that it had concluded a positive Type B Meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the path to U.S. marketing approval of RHB-105 and the planned confirmatory Phase III study. As a result of the productive and supportive feedback received from the FDA, RedHill is preparing for a confirmatory Phase III randomized, double-blind, active comparator, two-arm clinical study, comparing RHB-105 against a high dose amoxicillin and omeprazole regimen.
Subject to a successful outcome, the confirmatory Phase III study, and the supportive PK program to be completed prior to its initiation, are expected to complete the clinical package required for a U.S. New Drug Application (NDA) for RHB-105.
RHB-105 was previously granted Qualifying Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) designation by the FDA, providing a Fast-Track development pathway, as well as NDA Priority Review status, potentially leading to a shorter NDA review time by the FDA, if filed. If approved, RHB-105 will also receive an additional five years of U.S. market exclusivity, in addition to the standard exclusivity period, for a total of 8 years of U.S. market exclusivity.
With RHB-105, RedHill is pursuing an indication of first-line treatment of H. pylori infection, regardless of ulcer status, a significantly broader indication than current standard treatments for H. pylori, which are typically indicated only for patients with active or recent history of duodenal ulcer disease. If approved, RHB-105 may be the first H. pylori eradication therapy to target this broader indication, which would significantly expand the potential patient population for this drug candidate.
About RHB-105:
RHB-105 is a new and proprietary fixed-dose oral combination therapy of two antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in an all-in-one oral capsule with a planned indication for the treatment of H. pylori infection. H. pylori bacterial infection is a major cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. A first Phase III study with RHB-105 was completed in the U.S. with positive results (the ERADICATE Hp study). The study demonstrated an overall success rate of 89.4% in eradicating H. pylori, and met its protocol-defined primary endpoint of superiority in eradication of H. pylori infection over historical standard of care efficacy levels of 70%, with high statistical significance (p<0.001). A confirmatory Phase III study is planned to be initiated in the U.S. Additional studies may be required, subject to FDA feedback. RHB-105 has been granted Qualifying Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) designation by the FDA, providing a Fast-Track development pathway, as well as NDA Priority Review status, potentially leading to a shorter NDA review time by the FDA, if filed. If approved, RHB-105 will also receive an additional five years of exclusivity, in addition to the standard exclusivity period, for a total of 8 years of U.S. market exclusivity.
