FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact:
Cerexa‚ Inc.
Stan Abel
Phone: 510–747–3911
seabel@cerexa.com
Press Contact:
Noonan Russo
Jane Petrino
Phone: 212–845–4274
jane.patrino@eurorscg.com
Cerexa‚ Inc. Initiates Phase 2 Clinical Trial of PPI–0903
ALAMEDA‚ Calif.‚ October 19‚ 2005 –– Cerexa‚ Inc. (www.cerexa.com) today announced the initiation of patient enrollment in a Phase 2 clinical study of PPI–0903‚ a novel broad–spectrum‚ next–generation cephalosporin antibiotic with excellent in vitro activity against methicillin–resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Cerexa is investigating PPI–0903 as a potential treatment for serious bacterial infections.
“With the rapidly increasing incidence of serious and life–threatening infections caused by resistant bacteria‚ we are pleased to be accelerating the development of PPI–0903‚” said Dennis G. Podlesak‚ Chief Executive Officer of Cerexa. “The clinical and preclinical results to date are very encouraging‚ indicating that PPI–0903 is well tolerated and has excellent broad–spectrum coverage‚ including potent in vitro activity against increasingly resistant gram–positive pathogens such as MRSA. We are fully committed to advancing PPI–0903 and to providing patients and physicians with a much needed new antibiotic for the treatment of life–threatening infections.”
The Phase 2 study in complicated skin and skin structure infections will investigate the efficacy and safety of PPI–0903 versus standard therapy in approximately 100 patients recruited from over 20 investigational centers worldwide. The primary efficacy endpoint for this study is clinical outcome at the test–of–cure visit‚ which occurs between 8 and 14 days after end of therapy.
About PPI–0903
PPI–0903 is a novel broad–spectrum‚ next–generation cephalosporin antibiotic. Cephalosporins are the most frequently prescribed class of antibiotics in the world. Unlike currently marketed cephalosporins‚ PPI–0903 has demonstrated in vitro and in vivo bactericidal activity against the most resistant strains of gram–positive bacteria‚ including MRSA and vancomycin–resistant and –intermediately susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. PPI–0903 has also demonstrated bactericidal activity against penicillin–resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and many common gram–negative bacteria‚ exemplifying its potential as a broad–spectrum antibiotic. Cerexa licensed from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited the exclusive right to develop and commercialize PPI–0903 in all countries worldwide except Japan.
About Cerexa
Cerexa‚ Inc.‚ located in Alameda‚ California‚ is an innovation driven‚ biopharmaceutical company committed to developing and commercializing a growing portfolio of novel anti–infective therapies for the treatment of serious and life–threatening infections. Cerexa’s lead compound‚ ceftaroline acetate‚ is a next–generation cephalosporin that is currently being investigated as a potential treatment for cSSSI. Cerexa licensed from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited the exclusive right to develop and commercialize ceftaroline. For additional company information‚ please visit www.cerexa.com.