press release, regulated information -- Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(NASDAQ: JAZZ) and UCB (Euronext Brussels: UCB) announced today
positive preliminary top-line results from the second of two Phase
III clinical trials of sodium oxybate (JZP-6) for the treatment of
fibromyalgia. Confirming the positive results from the first Phase
III study, this international, placebo-controlled trial of sodium
oxybate to treat fibromyalgia achieved its key endpoints. As in the
first randomized, double-blind fibromyalgia study, sodium oxybate
significantly decreased pain and fatigue and improved daily
function and patient global impression of change. Sodium oxybate
has not been evaluated by regulators for the treatment of
fibromyalgia and is not approved for this use.
"Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness, characterized by widespread
pain, unrefreshing sleep, chronic fatigue, and psychological
distress," said I. Jon Russell, M.D., Ph.D., lead investigator in
the first Phase III study and Associate Professor of Medicine,
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, and Director,
University Clinical Research Center, University of Texas Health
Science Center at San Antonio. "Sodium oxybate has shown a positive
effect on a number of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, and thus could
have a significant impact on patients' quality of life."
The second 14-week Phase III trial, conducted in the United
States and seven European countries, included 573 adult patients
with fibromyalgia randomized to one of three treatment arms: sodium
oxybate 4.5 g/night, sodium oxybate 6 g/night, or placebo. The
primary outcome measure, viewed by both U.S. and E.U. regulatory
authorities as a clinically meaningful endpoint, was the proportion
of patients who achieved at least 30 percent reduction in pain from
baseline to endpoint based on the Pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Data from the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) are
considered equally relevant as Pain VAS data in the E.U. FIQ data
are considered supportive data by U.S. regulators.
In the top-line results, significantly more patients treated
with sodium oxybate achieved 30 percent or greater improvement in
their pain compared to patients treated with placebo. Of those
patients receiving sodium oxybate treatment, 35% of patients on 4.5
g/night and 35% of patients on 6 g/night reported this level of
pain relief on the pain VAS, compared with 20% of patients on
placebo. These results were highly statistically significant.
Patients' physical functioning and ability to perform daily
tasks, as measured by the FIQ, were highly statistically
significantly different from placebo for the 4.5 g/night dose and
for the 6 g/night dose. Sodium oxybate-treated patients also
reported highly statistically significant improvement in fatigue,
another common symptom of fibromyalgia.
The most common adverse events (greater than or equal to five
percent and at least twice the rate of placebo) were nausea,
dizziness, vomiting, insomnia, anxiety, somnolence, fatigue, muscle
spasms, and peripheral oedema. Sodium oxybate was generally well
tolerated, with the majority of adverse events reported being mild
to moderate in nature.
"These results from our second Phase III trial, confirming the
positive results of our first Phase III study, are an exciting
milestone for Jazz Pharmaceuticals," said Bruce Cozadd, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals. "I'd like to
thank the investigators, patients, and Jazz Pharmaceuticals
employees who helped us complete this trial."
"UCB is committed to improving the lives of people living with
severe CNS diseases," said Iris Loew-Friedrich, Chief Medical
Officer of UCB. "The positive results of the two Phase III trials
are encouraging and suggest that subject to regulatory approval,
this may offer a new treatment option for people with
fibromyalgia."
Only preliminary top-line efficacy and safety data are available
at this time. Further analyses are planned, including analyses of
additional secondary endpoints. Jazz Pharmaceuticals anticipates
submitting a New Drug Application for sodium oxybate to the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the end of 2009. UCB will
consult with the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) to define the
path forward. UCB has the exclusive marketing and distribution
rights to sodium oxybate for fibromyalgia in Europe and some other
countries outside North America and will manage registrations
accordingly.
For further information
Contacts at Jazz Pharmaceuticals:
Willie Quinn, Executive Director, Corporate Development of Jazz
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
+1-650-496-2800 - investorinfo@jazzpharmaceuticals.com
BCC Partners on behalf of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Karen L. Bergman, 650-575-1509
Michelle Corral, 415-794-8662
Contacts at UCB:
Antje Witte, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, UCB
T +32.2.559.9414, antje.witte@ucb.com
Richard Simpson, Investor Relations, UCB
T +32.2.559.9494, Richard.Simpson@ucb.com
Nancy Nackaerts, External Communications, UCB
T +32.2.559.9264, nancy.nackaerts@ucb.com
Notes to the editor
About Sodium Oxybate
Sodium oxybate is the sodium salt form of gamma-hydroxybutyrate,
an endogenous neurotransmitter and metabolite of GABA. While the
precise mechanism of action is unknown, the effects may be mediated
in part through interaction with GABA(B) and GHB receptors. Sodium
oxybate is the active ingredient in XYREM�, approved by the FDA and
marketed by Jazz Pharmaceuticals in the U.S. for the treatment of
excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy (the sudden loss of
muscle tone) in adult patients with narcolepsy. The American
Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends sodium oxybate as a standard
of care for the FDA-approved indications. UCB markets XYREM�
(sodium oxybate oral solution) in Europe, where it is approved by
the EMEA for the treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy in adult
patients under a license from Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Most commonly
reported adverse drug reactions in narcolepsy patients are
dizziness, nausea and headaches. Sodium oxybate has the potential
to induce respiratory depression and neuropsychiatric events.
Sodium oxybate has not been evaluated by regulators for the
treatment of fibromyalgia and is not approved for this use.
About Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by widespread
pain, affects 0.5% - 5% of adults worldwide. Fibromyalgia is
believed to be a central nervous system condition, resulting from
neurological changes in how the brain perceives and responds to
pain. In addition to pain, the main symptoms are fatigue, disturbed
sleep and morning stiffness. The exact causes of fibromyalgia are
unknown. It may be triggered by physical trauma, emotional stress,
chronic pain or infection. Genetics, neurochemicals that affect
pain modulation, neurohormones and sleep physiology abnormalities
are thought to play a role. Research also has suggested a
relationship between sleep and pain. Fibromyalgia patients
experience a high prevalence of sleep problems, including a
reduction in non-restorative or deep sleep.
About Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: JAZZ) is a specialty
pharmaceutical company that identifies, develops and commercializes
innovative treatments for important, underserved markets in
neurology and psychiatry. For further information see
www.JazzPharmaceuticals.com.
About UCB
UCB (Brussels, Belgium, www.ucb.com) is a biopharmaceutical
company dedicated to the research, development and
commercialization of innovative medicines with a focus on central
nervous system and immunology disorders. Employing around 10,000
people in over 40 countries, UCB achieved revenue of EUR 3.6
billion in 2008. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol:
UCB).
Jazz Pharmaceuticals "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This press release contains forward-looking statements related
to the development and commercial potential of Jazz
Pharmaceuticals' sodium oxybate (JZP-6) product candidate for the
treatment of fibromyalgia, including further analysis of the study
results and the anticipated timing for the submission of a New Drug
Application to the FDA. These forward-looking statements are based
on the company's current expectations and inherently involve
significant risks and uncertainties. Jazz Pharmaceuticals' 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
related to the outcome of further analysis of the data from the
study, risks related to the company's financial position and
default on its senior debt, and risks that regulatory filings may
not be made, or may be delayed, and that the sodium oxybate (JZP-6)
product candidate may not be approved for marketing for the
treatment of fibromyalgia by regulatory authorities. These and
other risk factors are discussed under "Risk Factors" in the
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009
filed by Jazz Pharmaceuticals with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on May 7, 2009. Jazz Pharmaceuticals undertakes no duty
or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in
this release as a result of new information, future events or
changes in its expectations.
UCB Forward-looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on
current plans, estimates and beliefs of management. Such statements
are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual
results to be materially different from those that may be implied
by such forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
Important factors that could result in such differences include:
changes in general economic, business and competitive conditions,
effects of future judicial decisions, changes in regulation,
exchange rate fluctuations and hiring and retention of
employees.
This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The
issuer is solely responsible for the content of this
announcement.
Copyright � Hugin AS 2009. All rights reserved.
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