Healthcare Industry News: Lipoxygenase
News Release - June 26, 2007
Critical Therapeutics' Zileuton Provides Additional Asthma Control When Combined with Inhaled Corticosteroids
Study Data Presented in Peer-Reviewed Journal Respiratory MedicineLEXINGTON, Mass.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Critical Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRTX ), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of products for respiratory, inflammatory and critical care diseases, announced today the publication of a peer-reviewed article based on a study of zileuton, the Company's 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitor. The study suggests that combining zileuton (400 or 600 mg QID) with a low-dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) improves pulmonary lung function and may be an effective therapeutic approach to achieving asthma control in patients with moderate to severe persistent disease.
The article, "Zileuton added to low-dose inhaled beclomethasone for treatment of moderate to severe persistent asthma", was published in the June issue of Respiratory Medicine. The lead author is Brian J. O'Connor, M.D. of King's College London School of Medicine.
Data presented in the article was based on a two-week, single-blind run-in period, followed by a 12-week randomized, active-controlled, multi-center study. A total of 320 patients qualified for the double-blind testing period and were randomized to three groups across 32 centers in Canada and Europe: zileuton 400 mg 4 times per day plus 400 mg beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) twice daily (n=108); zileuton 600 mg 4 times per day plus 400 mg BDP twice daily (n=110); and placebo group plus 800 mg BDP twice daily (n=102).
The study was designed to assess the therapeutic effects of oral zileuton tablets combined with low-dose BDP, compared to doubling the dose of BDP, in improving lung function and reducing asthma symptoms. There were no clinically significant differences between treatment groups in the primary outcome of Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV(1)), as all treatment groups improved. There were significant improvements in Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) in the 400 and 600 mg zileuton groups, compared to baseline. The data suggests that the addition of zileuton to low-dose BDP may be an alternative to using higher doses of ICS in patients unable to achieve asthma control on a low-dose ICS therapy.
In this study, adverse events were similar across all groups. Five patients had alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values of greater than two times the upper limit of normal (greater than or equal to 2x ULN): four on zileuton and one on placebo. Of the four patients taking zileuton who had ALT values greater than or equal to 2x ULN, two had values that returned to normal while patients continued treatment and in the other two patients, resolution occurred within 20 days after discontinuation of the study drug.
About Zileuton / ZYFLO CR(TM)/ ZYFLO®
Zileuton inhibits 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO), an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of leukotrienes from arachidonic acid. 5-LO is the main enzyme responsible for the production of leukotrienes, a family of inflammatory mediators that can trigger asthma symptoms, including inflammation, swelling, bronchoconstriction and mucus secretion. ZYFLO CR(TM) (zileuton) extended-release tablets and ZYFLO® (zileuton tablets) have a unique mechanism of action that works early in the inflammatory cascade, thus blocking all types of leukotrienes. ZYFLO CR and ZYFLO are the only FDA-approved leukotriene synthesis inhibitors for the prophylaxis and chronic treatment of asthma in adults and children 12 years of age and older. ZYFLO CR and ZYFLO are not indicated for use in the reversal of bronchospasm in acute asthma attacks. Therapy with ZYFLO CR and ZYFLO can be continued during acute exacerbations of asthma. ZYFLO CR uses SkyePharma PLC's (LSE: SKP ) proprietary Geomatrix® drug delivery technology, which controls the amount and rate of drug released into the body.
The recommended dose of ZYFLO CR is two 600 mg extended-release tablets twice daily, within one hour after morning and evening meals, for a total daily dose of 2400 mg. The recommended dose of ZYFLO is one 600 mg immediate-release tablet four times a day for a total daily dose of 2400 mg.
ZYFLO CR and ZYFLO are contraindicated in patients with active liver disease or transaminase elevations greater than or equal to three times the upper limit of normal. A small percentage of patients treated with ZYFLO CR (2.5%) and ZYFLO (1.9%) in placebo-controlled trials showed an increased release of a liver enzyme known as ALT and bilirubin (an orange or yellowish pigment in bile). As a result, the level of liver enzymes in patients treated with ZYFLO CR and ZYFLO should be measured by a simple blood test. It is recommended that physicians perform this test before administering ZYFLO CR and ZYFLO and repeat the test on a regular basis while patients are on the medication. Patients taking ZYFLO CR or ZYFLO and theophylline should reduce the theophylline dose by 50%. Patients taking ZYFLO CR or ZYFLO and propranolol or warfarin should be monitored and doses adjusted as appropriate. Most common side effects associated with the use of ZYFLO CR and ZYFLO are sinusitis, nausea and pharyngolaryngeal pain and abdominal pain, upset stomach and nausea, respectively.
For full prescribing information for ZYFLO CR, please visit www.zyflocr.com or call the Company's toll free telephone number 1-866-835-8216 to request medical information.
For full prescribing information for ZYFLO, please visit www.zyflo.com or call the Company's toll free telephone number 1-866-835-8216 to request medical information.
About Critical Therapeutics
Critical Therapeutics, Inc. is developing and commercializing innovative products for respiratory, inflammatory and critical care diseases. The Company owns worldwide rights to two FDA-approved drugs for the prevention and chronic treatment of asthma in patients 12 years of age and older: twice-daily ZYFLO CR(TM) (zileuton) extended-release tablets and ZYFLO® (zileuton tablets). Critical Therapeutics is working to develop products for acute asthma attacks that lead patients to the emergency room and other urgent care settings. The Company also is developing therapies directed toward the body's inflammatory response. Critical Therapeutics is located in Lexington, Mass. For more information, please visit www.crtx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Critical Therapeutics, Inc., including, without limitation, statements regarding possible therapeutic benefits, market acceptance and future sales of ZYFLO CR; the anticipated success of the co-promotion arrangement with DEY; the progress, timing and success of the product launch for ZYFLO CR; prospects, plans and objectives of management; and all other statements that are not purely historical in nature, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including risks and uncertainties relating to: our ability to successfully market and sell ZYFLO CR, including the success of our co-promotion arrangement with DEY; our ability to develop and maintain the necessary sales, marketing, distribution and manufacturing capabilities to commercialize ZYFLO CR; patient, physician and third-party payor acceptance of ZYFLO CR as a safe and effective therapeutic product; adverse side effects experienced by patients taking ZYFLO CR; our heavy dependence on the commercial success of ZYFLO CR; our ability to maintain regulatory approvals to market and sell ZYFLO CR; our ability to successfully enter into additional strategic co-promotion, collaboration or licensing transactions on favorable terms, if at all; conducting clinical trials, including difficulties or delays in the completion of patient enrollment, data collection or data analysis; our ability to obtain the substantial additional funding required to conduct our research, development and commercialization activities; our dependence on our strategic collaboration with MedImmune, Inc.; and our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for ZYFLO, ZYFLO CR, our discoveries and our drug candidates. These and other risks are described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other filings that we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these factors materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
In addition, the statements in this press release reflect our expectations and beliefs as of the date of this release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our expectations and beliefs to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements publicly at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release.
ZYFLO® is a registered trademark of Critical Therapeutics, Inc.
ZYFLO CR(TM) is a trademark of Critical Therapeutics, Inc.
Geomatrix® is a registered trademark of SkyePharma PLC
Source: Critical Therapeutics
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