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Company Continues Clinical and Non-Clinical Testing in Pursuit of
Post-Exposure Indication
ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 12, 2007--Emergent
BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) announced today that the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for
BioThrax(R) (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed) as a post-exposure prophylaxis
against anthrax infection. BioThrax is the only FDA approved product
for pre-exposure prophylaxis of anthrax infection. The company plans
to seek FDA approval of BioThrax for use in combination with
antibiotics as a post-exposure prophylaxis for anthrax infection. The
company is targeting a three dose regimen given two weeks apart for
this indication.
"We are extremely pleased that the FDA has taken this step as we
continue our efforts to expand the label indication for BioThrax to
include, in combination with antibiotics, its use for post-exposure
prophylaxis for anthrax infection," said Fuad El-Hibri, chairman and
chief executive officer of Emergent BioSolutions. "Our ongoing
BioThrax enhancement programs are critically important and are
designed to address the U.S. government's requirements in protecting
our front-line forces as well as to building a national stockpile of
safe and effective countermeasures against the use of anthrax as a
weapon of bioterrorism."
Under the FDA Modernization Act of 1997, Fast Track designation
expedites the development and review of a drug that is intended for
the treatment of a serious life-threatening condition and demonstrates
the potential to address an unmet medical need for such a condition.
BioThrax Post-Exposure Development Program
Currently, the company has an ongoing development program to
expand the licensed label indications for BioThrax to include
post-exposure prophylaxis when used in conjunction with antibiotics.
In support of this expanded label indication, the company is
conducting clinical trials, as well as non-clinical trials in
accordance with the FDA's animal rule. If the results from these
studies are favorable, the company would anticipate filing with the
FDA a biologics license application (BLA) supplement for marketing
approval of BioThrax for this indication.
The scientific information discussed in this press release related
to the use of BioThrax in combination with antibiotic therapy as a
post-exposure prophylaxis for anthrax infection is preliminary and
investigative. BioThrax is not currently approved by the FDA for this
purpose, and no conclusions can or should be drawn regarding the
safety or effectiveness of BioThrax for this purpose. Only the FDA can
determine whether BioThrax is safe and effective for this purpose.
Healthcare professionals should refer to and rely upon the
FDA-approved labeling for BioThrax, and not the information discussed
in this press release.
About Emergent BioSolutions Inc.
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused
on the development, manufacture and commercialization of
immunobiotics, such as vaccines and therapeutics that induce or assist
the body's immune system to prevent or treat disease. The company's
biodefense business is focused on developing and commercializing
immunobiotics for use against biological agents that are potential
weapons of bioterrorism. The company's commercial business is focused
on developing immunobiotics for use against infectious diseases with
significant unmet or underserved medical needs. More information on
the company is available at www.emergentbiosolutions.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any
statements, other than statements of historical fact, including
statements regarding our pursuit of a label expansion for BioThrax(R)
in combination with antibiotics as a post-exposure prophylaxis for
anthrax infection, our strategy, future operations, future financial
position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and
objectives of management and any other statements containing the words
"believes", "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "estimates" and similar
expressions are forward-looking statements. There are a number of
important factors that could cause the company's actual results to
differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking
statements, including our performance under existing BioThrax(R) sales
contracts with the U.S. government, including the timing of deliveries
under these contracts; our ability to obtain new BioThrax(R) sales
contracts with the U.S. government; our plans for future sales of
BioThrax(R); our plans to pursue label expansions and improvements for
BioThrax(R); our plans to expand our manufacturing facilities and
capabilities; the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical
utility of our products; our ongoing and planned development programs,
preclinical studies and clinical trials; our ability to identify and
acquire or in license products and product candidates that satisfy our
selection criteria; the potential benefits of our existing
collaboration agreements and our ability to enter into selective
additional collaboration arrangements; the timing of and our ability
to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our product
candidates; our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing
capabilities and strategy; our intellectual property portfolio; our
estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and
needs for additional financing; and other factors identified in the
company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 and subsequent reports
filed with the SEC. The company disclaims any intention or obligation
to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments
occurring after the date of this press release.
CONTACT: Emergent BioSolutions Inc.
Robert G. Burrows, 301-795-1877
Vice President, Corporate Communications
burrowsr@ebsi.com
SOURCE: Emergent BioSolutions Inc.
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