Transcept Pharmaceuticals Announces Broadened Intermezzo Commercialization Strategy Including Initiation of a Direct to Consumer Advertising Campaign by Purdue Pharma
POINT RICHMOND, Calif., Nov. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: TSPT) announced today that Purdue Pharmaceutical Products, L.P. (Purdue), the Transcept U.S. commercialization partner for Intermezzo® (zolpidem tartrate) sublingual tablet C-IV, is launching a national direct-to-consumer (DTC) promotional campaign, including digital, print and television advertising to support Intermezzo commercialization. Intermezzo digital and print DTC campaigns began in November 2012 and television promotion is expected to begin in February 2013. Elements of the online DTC campaign will be available at www.myintermezzo.com later in December 2012.
Purdue has committed $19 million to this consumer advertising campaign, and Transcept plans to provide an additional $10 million. This $29 million program will be primarily executed during the first six months of 2013.
To reinforce the DTC promotional campaign, Purdue plans to utilize for the first time its established analgesic sales force, which consists of approximately 525 sales representatives, to promote Intermezzo to primary care prescribers and certain medical specialists. Purdue will continue to market Intermezzo to psychiatrists and other specialty prescribers with a specialty sales force of approximately 90 sales representatives who are exclusively devoted to Intermezzo.
Intermezzo is the first and only prescription sleep aid approved for use as needed for the treatment of insomnia when a middle-of-the-night awakening is followed by difficulty returning to sleep. Intermezzo is not indicated for the treatment of middle-of-the-night insomnia when the patient has fewer than four hours of bedtime remaining before the planned time of waking. Intermezzo was developed by Transcept and is the Company's first FDA approved product. Intermezzo is being marketed in the United States under the terms of a collaboration agreement between Transcept and Purdue.
"We are very excited to be working with our partner Purdue to launch the next phase of the Intermezzo commercialization plan," stated Glenn A. Oclassen, President and CEO of Transcept. "We expect that the DTC campaign will help educate consumers about Intermezzo's unique indication within the insomnia therapeutic category."
"The new Intermezzo consumer advertising campaign supports our commitment to enhanced prescriber and patient education," commented John H. Stewart, President and CEO of Purdue. "We believe that Intermezzo addresses a significant medical need, and we remain committed to increasing awareness of Intermezzo and making the product available to those insomnia patients for whom it is appropriate."
Important Safety Information
Intermezzo is contraindicated in patients with known
hypersensitivity to zolpidem. Observed reactions with zolpidem
include anaphylaxis and angioedema.
Co-administration with Intermezzo and other CNS depressants increases the risk of CNS depression. Intermezzo should not be taken with alcohol. The use of Intermezzo with other sedative-hypnotics (including other zolpidem products) at bedtime or the middle of the night is not recommended.
The risk of next-day driving impairment (and psychomotor impairment) is increased if Intermezzo is taken with less than four hours of bedtime remaining; if a higher than recommended dose is taken; if co-administered with other CNS depressants; or co-administered with other drugs that increase the blood levels of zolpidem. A small negative effect on SDLP (standard deviation of lateral position, a measure of driving impairment) may remain in some patients four hours after the 1.75 mg dose in women, and after the 3.5 mg dose in men, such that a potential negative effect on driving cannot be completely excluded.
Additional Important Safety Information is presented below.
About Intermezzo
Intermezzo is the first and only prescription sleep aid approved
for use as needed for the treatment of insomnia when a
middle-of-the-night awakening is followed by difficulty returning
to sleep. Intermezzo is not indicated for the treatment of
middle-of-the-night insomnia when the patient has fewer than four
hours of bedtime remaining before the planned time of waking.
Intermezzo is contraindicated in patients with known
hypersensitivity to zolpidem. Observed reactions with zolpidem
include anaphylaxis and angioedema.
The safety and efficacy of Intermezzo was evaluated in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in patients with insomnia characterized by difficulty returning to sleep after a middle-of-the-night awakening. Patients met the diagnosis for primary insomnia as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) and had at least 3 prolonged middle-of-the-night awakenings per week of at least 30 minutes in duration.
In a four-week outpatient study in 295 adult patients aged 18 to 64 years (201 females, 94 males), Intermezzo 3.5 mg or placebo was taken on an as-needed basis following spontaneous awakenings when patients had difficulty returning to sleep after waking in the middle of the night, provided they had at least four hours remaining in bed. Subjective time to fall back to sleep after a middle-of-the-night awakening was significantly shorter for Intermezzo 3.5 mg (38 minutes) compared to placebo (56 minutes). The most commonly observed adverse reactions ( > 1% ) were headache (Intermezzo 3%, placebo 1%), nausea (1% for both patient groups), and fatigue (Intermezzo 1%, placebo 0%).
In a sleep laboratory study, 82 adult patients aged 19 to 64 years (58 females, 24 males) were evaluated in a 3-period, 2-consecutive-night treatment period cross-over design. Patients were awakened four hours after bedtime, administered Intermezzo 3.5 mg, 1.75 mg, or placebo, and were kept awake for 30 minutes before lights-out. As compared to placebo, Intermezzo significantly decreased objective mean time to fall back asleep after a middle-of-the-night awakening (women taking 1.75 mg: 16 min vs. placebo: 28 min; men taking 3.5 mg: 13 min vs. placebo: 29 min).
How to Take Intermezzo
The recommended and maximum dose of Intermezzo for male adults is
3.5 mg and for female adults is 1.75 mg, administered as a
sublingual tablet only once per night as needed if a
middle-of-the-night awakening is followed by difficulty returning
to sleep. The recommended doses for men and women are different
because women clear zolpidem from the body at a lower rate than
men.
The recommended dose for elderly men and women over 65 years old or patients with hepatic impairment is 1.75 mg. The recommended dose for men and women who are taking concomitant CNS depressants is 1.75 mg. Dose adjustment of concomitant CNS depressants may be necessary when co-administered with Intermezzo because of potentially additive effects. The use of Intermezzo with other sedative-hypnotics (including other zolpidem products) at bedtime or the middle of the night is not recommended.
Intermezzo is to be taken in bed when a patient wakes in the middle of the night and has difficulty returning to sleep. Intermezzo should only be taken if the patient has at least four hours of bedtime remaining before the planned time of waking.
Intermezzo should be placed under the tongue and allowed to disintegrate completely before swallowing. The tablet should not be swallowed whole. For optimal effect, Intermezzo should not be administered with or immediately after a meal. The blister should be removed from the pouch just prior to dosing.
Each sublingual tablet is individually packaged in a foil blister inside a unit-dose pouch. Before going to bed, a single pouch should be placed by the bedside with a clock or watch nearby. All other unopened Intermezzo pouches should be stored with other medicines away from the bedside. Patients should open the Intermezzo pouch only when they are ready to use it.
Patients can either use the Dosing Time Chart or the Dosing Time Tool that comes with Intermezzo to find the latest time during the night they can take Intermezzo.
Dosing Time Tool: Patients turn a wheel to find the earliest time they must be awake, which corresponds with instructions to take Intermezzo before a specified time.
Dosing Time Chart: The chart helps patients locate the earliest time they need to be awake and match it to the latest time they can take Intermezzo.
When patients wake in the morning, they should make sure that at least four hours have passed since they took Intermezzo and they feel fully awake before driving or engaging in other activities requiring full mental alertness. Patients should not do dangerous activities until they know how Intermezzo affects them.
Additional Important Safety Information
The failure of insomnia to remit after 7 to 10 days of treatment
may indicate the presence of a primary psychiatric and/or medical
illness that should be evaluated.
Cases of angioedema involving the tongue, glottis, or larynx have been reported in patients after taking the first or subsequent doses of zolpidem. Some patients have had additional symptoms such as dyspnea, throat closing, or nausea and vomiting that suggest anaphylaxis. Some patients have required medical therapy in the emergency department. Angioedema and additional symptoms suggesting anaphylaxis may be fatal. Patients who develop angioedema or anaphylaxis should not be re-challenged.
Abnormal thinking and behavior changes have been reported in patients treated with a sedative-hypnotic, including zolpidem. Complex behaviors, including driving or eating while not fully awake, with amnesia for the event, as well as visual and auditory hallucinations and abnormal behaviors such as decreased inhibition, bizarre behavior, agitation, and depersonalization may occur. Although behaviors such as "sleep-driving" have occurred with zolpidem alone at therapeutic doses, the co-administration of zolpidem with alcohol and other CNS depressants increases the risk of such behaviors, as does the use of zolpidem at doses exceeding the maximum recommended dose. Discontinuation of Intermezzo should be strongly considered for patients reporting a "sleep-driving" episode.
In primarily depressed patients, worsening of depression, including suicidal thoughts and actions (including completed suicides) have been reported with the use of sedative-hypnotics. Intentional overdosage is more common in this group of patients; therefore, protective measures may be required. Prescribe the least amount of Intermezzo that is feasible in these patients.
Because persons with a history of addiction to or abuse of drugs or alcohol are at increased risk for misuse, abuse, and addiction of zolpidem, they should be monitored carefully when receiving Intermezzo. Zolpidem tartrate is a Schedule IV controlled substance. Post-marketing reports of abuse, dependence, and withdrawal resulting from use of oral zolpidem tartrate have been received. Zolpidem has produced withdrawal signs and symptoms following a rapid dose decrease or abrupt discontinuation.
For additional information, please read the Intermezzo Full Prescribing Information available at http://www.purduepharma.com/IntermezzoPI.
Conference call and webcast information
Transcept will host a conference call and webcast on Tuesday,
November 27, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the broadened
Intermezzo® commercialization strategy and direct to consumer
advertising campaign. Telephone numbers for the live conference
call are 877-638-4558 (U.S.) or 914-495-8537 (International). The
webcast can be accessed on the Investors page of the Transcept
website at www.transcept.com and will be available for replay until
close of business on January 30, 2013.
About Transcept Pharmaceuticals
Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical
company focused on the development and commercialization of
proprietary products that address important therapeutic needs in
the field of neuroscience. Intermezzo® (zolpidem tartrate)
sublingual tablet C-IV is the first FDA approved Transcept product.
Purdue Pharma holds commercialization and development rights for
Intermezzo in the United States. Transcept is currently conducting
a Phase 2 study of an investigational product, TO-2061, in patients
with obsessive-compulsive disorder. For further information about
Transcept, please visit www.transcept.com. For information about
Intermezzo, please visit www.IntermezzoRx.com.
Forward looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve
substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than
statements of historical facts, included in this press release
regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial
position, future revenues, projected expenses, prospects, plans and
objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Examples
of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements
relating to the following: plans by Purdue and Transcept to launch
and fund a consumer advertising campaign for Intermezzo; the
nature, effectiveness, results and expected duration of a consumer
advertising campaign for Intermezzo, and the parties' expectations
as to the size and expected timing of such a campaign; Purdue's
commitment to increasing awareness of Intermezzo; the importance of
Intermezzo in addressing significant medical needs, including those
related to insomnia; and the availability of Intermezzo to insomnia
patients. Transcept may not actually achieve the plans, carry out
the intentions or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in
our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or
events could differ materially from the plans, intentions,
expectations and projections disclosed in the forward-looking
statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or
events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements
that Transcept makes, including the following: achieving acceptance
of Intermezzo by physicians, patients and third party payors;
supplying sufficient quantities of Intermezzo from third party
manufacturers and suppliers to meet anticipated market demand; the
impact of competitive products and the market for Intermezzo
generally; our dependence on our collaboration with Purdue;
obtaining, maintaining and protecting regulatory exclusivity and
intellectual property protection for Intermezzo; and the ability of
Transcept to obtain additional funding, if needed, to support its
business activities. These and other risks are described in greater
detail in the "Risk Factors" section of the Transcept Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 13, 2012 and
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 30, 2012.
Forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of
any future in-licensing, collaborations, acquisitions, mergers,
dispositions, joint ventures, or investments Transcept may enter
into or make. Transcept does not assume any obligation to update
any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Contact:
Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Greg Mann
Sr. Director, Corporate Communications
(510) 215-3567
gmann@transcept.com
SOURCE Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.transcept.com
Posted: November 2012
