Iterum Therapeutics Provides Business Update
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Insights
The anticipated resubmission of Iterum Therapeutics plc's NDA for oral sulopenem presents a pivotal moment for the company's financial trajectory. The earlier-than-expected resubmission timeline suggests an expedited regulatory process that could lead to a shortened time-to-market for sulopenem, pending FDA approval. This development is significant as it pertains to Iterum's cash flow projections, with the extended cash runway into 2025 indicating a strengthened financial position and reduced near-term liquidity risk.
Investors should note that the company's ability to sustain operations through the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date without additional financing is a positive signal. However, the inherent risks of FDA approval processes, which include potential requests for additional data or further trials, could impact the company's financial health if the resubmitted NDA does not fully address the FDA's concerns from the CRL.
The strategic process to sell or license sulopenem, along with the engagement of a financial advisor, underscores a proactive approach to unlocking value for shareholders. The outcome of these strategic alternatives could significantly influence the company's market valuation and should be monitored closely by investors for potential impacts on stock performance.
Oral sulopenem represents a critical advancement in the fight against multi-drug resistant pathogens, a growing concern in community healthcare settings. As Iterum Therapeutics approaches the resubmission of its NDA, the medical community anticipates the potential impact of a new antibiotic class available for use outside hospital environments.
The positive top-line results from the REASSURE trial may bolster the company's resubmission, suggesting efficacy and safety that align with regulatory standards. However, the medical research community understands that the FDA's review process is stringent, especially for antibiotics, due to concerns over resistance and long-term efficacy. Therefore, Iterum's resubmission must be robust in addressing the FDA's previous deficiencies to achieve approval.
Should sulopenem gain approval, it could significantly alter the treatment landscape for infections caused by resistant bacteria, offering a new oral therapy option where intravenous treatments were previously the norm. This shift could have far-reaching implications for patient outcomes and healthcare costs.
The antibiotic market, particularly for treatments targeting multi-drug resistant pathogens, is both competitive and highly regulated. Iterum's strategic focus on community settings places it within a niche yet increasingly important sector of this market. The potential approval of oral sulopenem could disrupt current treatment paradigms, capturing market share from existing intravenous antibiotic treatments.
Market dynamics, such as the rise of antimicrobial resistance and the need for new antibiotics, play in Iterum's favor. However, market adoption will hinge on the drug's competitive advantages in efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness compared to existing therapies. Iterum's decision to explore strategic alternatives, including the sale or licensing of sulopenem, indicates a recognition of the challenges in commercializing new antibiotics and a strategic move to mitigate risk while maximizing stakeholder value.
It is important for market analysts to consider the broader implications of Iterum's potential success or failure in bringing sulopenem to market, including the impact on the competitive landscape and on the company's long-term viability as a standalone entity.
Resubmission of NDA is On Track for First Half of Q2 24
Extended Cash Runway into 2025
DUBLIN, Ireland and CHICAGO, March 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iterum Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: ITRM) (Iterum), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing next-generation oral antibiotics to treat infections caused by multi-drug resistant pathogens in community settings, today provided a general business update.
Iterum announced that it now expects to resubmit its new drug application (NDA) for oral sulopenem to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the first half of the second quarter of 2024, earlier than originally planned. Provided that the resubmitted NDA addresses all of the deficiencies identified in the complete response letter (CRL) Iterum received from the FDA in July 2021, Iterum expects that the FDA will complete its review and take action six months from the date the FDA receives the resubmitted NDA (or during the first half of the fourth quarter of 2024).
Based on Iterum’s current operating plan, Iterum believes that its existing cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments as of December 31, 2023, together with the net proceeds from the sale of ordinary shares under its “at-the-market” offering agreement through February 29, 2024, are expected to enable it to fund its operating expenses into 2025, including through the expected Prescription Drug User Fee Act date in the first half of the fourth quarter of 2024.
In January 2024, Iterum announced positive top-line results from the REASSURE trial and that it would be focusing on a strategic process to sell, license, or otherwise dispose of its rights to sulopenem with the goal of maximizing value for its stakeholders. Iterum plans to engage a financial advisor in the near-term to assist management and the Board in evaluating Iterum’s strategic alternatives.
About Iterum Therapeutics plc
Iterum Therapeutics plc is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing differentiated anti-infectives aimed at combatting the global crisis of multi-drug resistant pathogens to significantly improve the lives of people affected by serious and life-threatening diseases around the world. Iterum is currently advancing its first compound – sulopenem – a novel penem anti-infective compound, in Phase 3 clinical development with an oral formulation. Sulopenem also has an IV formulation. Sulopenem has demonstrated potent in vitro activity against a wide variety of gram-negative, gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria resistant to other antibiotics. Iterum has received Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) and Fast Track designations for its oral and IV formulations of sulopenem in seven indications. For more information, please visit www.iterumtx.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the development, therapeutic and market potential of sulopenem, our ability to address the deficiencies set out in the CRL received in July 2021, the expected timing of resubmission of the NDA, the expected timing of review by the FDA, the sufficiency of Iterum’s cash resources to enable it to fund its operating expenses into 2025, and Iterum’s strategic process to sell, license, or otherwise dispose of its rights to sulopenem, including its expectation to engage a financial advisor in the near-term. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “may,” “believes,” “intends,” “seeks,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “expects,” “should,” “assumes,” “continues,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “future,” “potential” or the negative of these or similar terms and phrases. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Iterum’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. Actual future results may be materially different from what is expected due to factors largely outside Iterum’s control, including uncertainties inherent in the conduct of clinical and non-clinical development, changes in regulatory requirements or decisions of regulatory authorities, the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, including the potential resubmission of the NDA for oral sulopenem, changes in public policy or legislation, commercialization plans and timelines, if oral sulopenem is approved, the actions of third-party clinical research organizations, suppliers and manufacturers, the accuracy of Iterum’s expectations regarding how far into the future Iterum’s cash on hand will fund Iterum’s ongoing operations, Iterum’s ability to maintain its listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, risks and uncertainties concerning the outcome, impact, effects and results of Iterum’s pursuit of strategic alternatives, including the terms, timing, structure, value, benefits and costs of any strategic process and Iterum’s ability to complete one at all and other factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 14, 2023, and other documents filed with the SEC from time to time. Forward-looking statements represent Iterum’s beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, Iterum assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
Investor Contact:
Judy Matthews
Chief Financial Officer
312-778-6073
IR@iterumtx.com
FAQ
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