Skip to main content

Flutiform

Generic name: fluticasone and formoterol
Treatment for: Asthma

SkyePharma PLC - Flutiform Progress Update

LONDON, UK, 6 August 2007 - SkyePharma PLC today provides an update to investors on Flutiform, the Company's lead development product for the treatment of asthma. As envisaged in the AGM statement released on 29 June 2007, a routine pre-NDA (New Drug Application) meeting was held in July with the US Food and Drug Administration ('FDA') to discuss the planned regulatory filing for Flutiform. The meeting covered the clinical, non-clinical and CMC (Chemistry, Manufacture and Control) development aspects of the project.

Following the meeting with the FDA, the Company has increased confidence with the progress being made with the CMC programme. However, unexpectedly, the FDA queried one particular aspect of the design of the clinical trial programme. The Company has considered this issue carefully and it has concluded that, in order to provide further information to satisfy the FDA, it may be necessary to generate additional clinical data to supplement the ongoing Phase III programme. Further discussions will be held over the coming weeks with the FDA to agree the scope of any additional clinical work. Undertaking this work could result in the filing of the Flutiform NDA being delayed to the second half of 2008. Our current estimate is that the additional net cash cost to the Company of any additional clinical work over the period up to approval could be in the order of £3m to £5m. The Company will make a further announcement when the FDA's requirements have been clarified.

Encouraging progress continues to be made with the current Phase III trials, with over 1,500 patients recruited to date (over 85% recruitment). The long-term safety study is now complete and the data is being collated.

Any additional clinical work required for the FDA is not expected to affect the timescales or costs of completing the development of Flutiform in Europe.

Commenting, Frank Condella, CEO of SkyePharma, said:

'Flutiform's potential is exciting due to its unique combination of the fastest onset long-acting beta-agonist (formoterol) and the most commonly prescribed steroid (fluticasone). Although the potential requirement for additional clinical data would mean that we face some delay to the filing of Flutiform, we are pleased with the progress being made with the FDA on all other aspects of the planned filing and we are encouraged by the level of commitment of Abbott Laboratories, our US partner, to the project.'

Eugene Sun, M.D., vice president of Global Pharmaceutical Clinical Development of Abbott Laboratories, added:

'Abbott supports undertaking the best clinical approach to producing the scientific evidence needed to secure an FDA approval for Flutiform.'

For further information please contact:

SkyePharma PLC

Frank Condella +44 20 7491 1777
Ken Cunningham
Peter Grant

Financial Dynamics (UK Enquiries)

David Yates +44 20 7831 3113
Deborah Scott

Trout Group (US Enquiries)

Christine Labaree +1 617 583 1308
Seth Lewis

About SkyePharma PLC

Using its proprietary drug delivery technologies, SkyePharma develops new formulations of known molecules to provide a clinical advantage and life-cycle extension. The Company has eleven approved products in the areas of oral, inhalation and topical delivery. The Group's products are marketed throughout the world by leading pharmaceutical companies.

Note to Analysts

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements. in particular in relation to the timing of regulatory filings and estimated costs. Although SkyePharma believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will materialize. Because the expectations are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may vary significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements based upon a number of factors, which are described in SkyePharma's Annual Report. Factors that could cause differences between actual results and those implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release include, without limitation, risks related to the timing and scope of any additional clinical work . SkyePharma undertakes no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Posted: August 2007

Related articles

Flutiform (fluticasone and formoterol) FDA Approval History

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.