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Eisai Co., Ltd. and Biogen Inc. recently announced the initiation of a rolling submission of a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for LEQEMBI® subcutaneous autoinjector for weekly maintenance dosing. 

According to the company's press release on May 14, 2024, the injection process requires less time than the intravenous (IV) formulation.

If approved by the FDA, the LEQEMBI autoinjector could be used to administer LEQEMBI at home or medical facilities.

LEQEMBI (lecanemab-irmb) is a humanized immunoglobulin gamma 1 monoclonal antibody. It is indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment or mild dementia stage of disease.

LEQEMBI is now approved in the U.S., Japan, and China, and applications have been submitted for review in the European Union, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Great Britain, India, Israel, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Switzerland.

Previously, Eisai submitted a Supplemental BLA for monthly LEQEMBI IV maintenance dosing to the FDA in March 2024.

According to the Alzheimer's Association's Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, an estimated 6.5 million Americans aged 65 and older live with dementia due to AD.

As of May 16, 2024, the FDA has not approved a vaccine that prevents AD.

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VBI Vaccines Inc. today announced a business update and financial results for the March 31, 2024 quarter. The Company's innovative Hepatitis B vaccine (PreHevbrio®, PreHevbri®) has quickly gained global market access and produced measurable revenues.

PreHevbrio is the only 3-antigen hepatitis B vaccine, comprised of the three surface antigens of the hepatitis B virus.

"To date in 2024, our focus has centered around pipeline execution, expanding access and increased uptake of PreHevbrio in targeted market segments, and execution of strategic partnerships to drive opportunity for our portfolio assets, create shareholder value, and strengthen our balance sheet," said Jeff Baxter, VBI's President and CEO, in a press release on May 16, 2024.

PreHevbrio product revenue net increased 105% from Q1 2023, with $1.0 million earned in Q1 2024. During early 2024, PreHevbrio U.S. sales continue to demonstrate substantial growth over 2023, with over 80% of the 2023 full-year volume being sold in the first five months of 2024.

Furthermore, VBI partners with Valneva SE to make PreHevbri available in certain European countries. PreHevbri was launched in the UK, Sweden, Netherlands, and Belgium in 2023, and in early 2024, PreHevbri also became available in Denmark and Norway.

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An analysis published in the journal Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease revealed that 86% of travelers diagnosed with chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection over two years experienced joint pain, significantly impacting their quality of life.

Furthermore, 42.6% of patients with chronic arthralgia reported a recurrence of symptoms once they felt they had disappeared. 

Published on May 15, 2024, this study underscores the need for comprehensive pre-travel advice and the effective management of patients enhancing outcomes.

Additionally, an in-depth knowledge of this disease is essential for early identification, particularly in non-endemic areas with competent mosquito vectors for virus transmission. 

The World Health Organization says CHIKV was identified in nearly 115 countries in 2024, primarily in the Region of the Americas. In 2024, over 160,000 CHIKV cases and 50 deaths have been reported worldwide.

In the United States, the U.S. FDA-approved IXCHIQ® single-dose chikungunya vaccine is awaiting a commercial release in 2024.

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ECDC: Chikungunya virus cases January—March 2024
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Current and Resolved Drug Shortages and Discontinuations Report says as of May 14, 2024, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. mefloquine hydrochloride tablet medication (Tablet, 250 mg, NDC 0555-0171-78) is in limited supply through August 2024.

The company's contact number is 800-545-8800.

In 2024, the Pan American Health Organization estimated that approximately 41 million people are living in areas where the risk of infection by mosquito-carrying Malaria is considered moderate to high. Most malaria infections in the United States and its territories occur among persons who have traveled to regions with ongoing malaria transmission.

While Teva's product shortage may disrupt summer vacation plans, pharmacists and travel clinics may offer alternative products.

As of May 15, 2024, numerous malaria cases have been reported in the United States in 2024.

While two malaria vaccines are available in Africa, neither are offered in the United States.

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Blackstone today announced the launch of the Blackstone Life Sciences portfolio company Uniquity Bio, a clinical-stage drug development company focused on immunology and inflammation.

Uniquity Bio launches with the U.S. FDA's acceptance of its Phase 2 investigational new drug application for solrikitug, a monoclonal antibody targeting TSLP.

Solrikitug is a highly potent anti-TSLP monoclonal antibody that prevents the binding of TSLP to its receptors. Given TSLP's position as the "master switch" cytokine at the top of the inflammatory cascade, solrikitug could have potential utility in various immunology and inflammation programs.

Solrikitug was in-licensed from Merck & Co., Inc.

Up to $300 million in capital from Blackstone will advance Solrikitug in multiple indications.

"Our investment in Uniquity Bio illustrates Blackstone Life Sciences' commitment to finding, developing, and delivering potentially transformative medicines to patients around the world," said Nicholas Galakatos, Ph.D., Global Head of Blackstone Life Sciences, in a press release on May 15, 2024.

"We are proud to partner with Uniquity's team of veteran industry leaders as they advance solrikitug and expand their immunology and inflammation pipeline with additional programs in the near future."

The company aims to deliver best-in-class efficacy with solrikitug across several critical respiratory and GI indications with significant unmet needs. In the next month, Uniquity Bio will launch Phase 2 clinical trials in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — the third leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization — and asthma, which the WHO estimates affects more than 260 million people across the globe.

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UTI
RECCE® 327 at 4,000 mg intravenously at a fast infusion rate of 20-minutes

RECCE 327 Treatment

RECCE® 327 Treatment

Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd.'s anti-infective pipeline includes patented, broad-spectrum, synthetic polymer RECCE® 327 (R327), an intravenous and topical therapy being developed for the treatment of severe and potentially life-threatening infections caused by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including their superbug forms, such as Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), which are common infectious diseases caused by pathogens, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) (62%). Recce's anti-infectives are wholly synthetic, based on a patented polymeric structure, and designed to overcome resistance. Recce's anti-infectives can potentially overcome the hypercellular mutation of bacteria and viruses, which is the challenge of all existing antibiotics. R327 affects the assembly of bacterial cell division complex components that require cellular energy to remain assembled, confirming its ability to disrupt cellular bioenergetics. This decreases the formation of the bacterial cell division complex into ring-like structures (Z-rings) in a concentration-dependent manner. RECCE® 327 is not a UTI preventive vaccine.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded RECCE® 327 Qualified Infectious Disease Product designation under the Generating Antibiotic Initiatives Now (GAIN) Act, labeling it for Fast Track Designation, plus ten years of market exclusivity post approval. On May 7, 2024, Recce announced that the China National Intellectual Property Administration Granted a new Patent Family 2 for Recce's anti-infectives, "Copolymer and Method for Treatment of Bacterial Infections" in China, expiry 2035.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), RECCE® 327 was added to the WHO List of Antibacterial Products in Clinical Development on June 18, 2024. R327 is the only compound classified as an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production disruptor. Disruption of ATP production in bacterial cells, when targeted as the primary mechanism of action, not secondary to other cell perturbation mechanisms, can confer activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens.

On May 15, 2024, Recce reported that it had successfully dosed the first male and female participants in the nexCohortrt with RECCE® 327, 4,000mg intravenously, at a fast infusion rate of 20 minutes in its Phase I/II UTI/Urosepsis clinical trial. On June 28, 2024, Recce announced that the Phase I/II rapid infusion clinical trial demonstrated efficacy in bacterial growth in dosed participants injected with RECCE® 327 at the highest tested dose of 4,000mg. These results indicate that RECCE® 327 administered intravenously is safe and efficacious against E. coli.

On October 8, 2024, the company announced that RECCE® 327 topical gel (R327G) was safe and well tolerated in human subjects, with promising antibacterial responses observed in patients.

Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: RCE, FSE: R9Q) is developing a New Class of Synthetic Anti-Infectives designed to address the urgent global health problems of antibiotic-resistant superbugs and emerging viral pathogens. On June 18, 2024, the Company confirmed a further cash refund of AUD $2,624,860.47 for the Research and Development Tax Incentive rebate from the Australian Tax Office for the financial year ending 30 June 2023. On August 5, 2024, the Company's pro forma cash position was A$19.8 million.

RECCE® 327 Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Treatment Dosage

RECCE® 327 may be administered for intravenous, topical, nasal, oral, and inhaled use. RECCE® 327's universal mechanism of action has a patented ability to continuously kill bacteria without a tendency for the emergence of resistance, even with repeated use, indicating a unique ability to combat antibiotic-resistant superbugs. The Company has explored multiple infusion times of R327: 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, and 45 minutes. The highest dose tested in the phase 1 study is 4,000mg. Administering antibiotics through rapid intravenous infusions has proven to be a safe and effective method that significantly impacts patient treatment, reduces wait times, and alleviates nursing workloads worldwide.

RECCE® 327 Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Indication

Data in 2024 is expected to pave the way for a Phase II UTI/Urosepsis efficacy trial, potentially establishing R327 as a frontline treatment. UTI is one of the most common infectious diseases in the pediatric population. In high-income countries, UTIs affect up to 2.8% of children annually, with recurrence rates ranging from 8% to 30% [2,3]. It is estimated that 11.3% of females and 3.6% of males develop at least one episode of UTI within the first 16 years of life.

RECCE® 327 Acinetobacter Baumannii Indication

On July 8, 2024, results from a study on the efficacy of RECCE® 327 (R327) against the multidrug-resistant World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) demonstrated R327’s bactericidal activity compared to placebo and ciprofloxacin in just one-hour post-treatment and at 24 hours post-treatment in primary human epidermal keratinocytes (skin cells) infected with A. baumannii.

RECCE® 327 Mechanism of Action

Most antibiotics inhibit a single target, such as bacterial gyrase enzymes, cell wall biosynthetic enzymes, or enzymes required for DNA replication during bacterial cell division. They operate on a ‘lock and key’ mechanism and only bind to a few active sites on the bacterial target. However, if a mutation is introduced into the target site, the antibiotic will cease to be effective. Recce’s anti-infectives are wholly synthetic, based on a patented polymeric structure, and have been designed to overcome resistance.

RECCE 327 UTI Treatment Side Effects

No significant side effects have been reported. In April 2024, Recce Pharmaceuticals reported that an Independent Safety Committee had approved an increase of R327 to 4,000mg (I.V.) over a fast infusion of 30 minutes. In June 2024, the Company reported no serious side effects in a Phase 1/2 study.

RECCE 327 UTI Treatment Availability

RECCE® 327 is not market-approved for human use. As of April 2024, the Company was producing 5,000 GMP doses of R327 per week.

RECCE 327 UTI Treatment News

August 5, 2024—Recce Pharmaceuticals Limited announces the successful close of its Share Purchase Plan, which was announced on July 2, 2024.

June 28, 2024 - Dr. Marc Sharp, Chief Scientific Officer at Linnaeus Bioscience, leading independent experts in bacterial Mechanism of Action analysis, added: "The ability of R327 to achieve biologically relevant concentrations and exhibit antibacterial activity in urine samples is highly encouraging."

June 18, 2024 - Recce Pharmaceuticals CEO James Graham said, "We are pleased that R327 has been included in the list of antibacterial products to tackle the urgent global health threat posed by antibiotic resistance. There is a demand for new antibiotic therapies, and this report further showcases R327's potential as a novel treatment for a broad range of life-threatening and resistant bacteria."

May 15, 2024 - The first participants were successfully dosed at 4,000mg IV over 20 minutes, at 4,000mg in a phase 1/2 study.

April 17, 2024 - Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd. announced the successful batch completion under Good Manufacturing Practices for RECCE® 327 (R327), with the patented manufacturing process now producing 5,000 GMP doses of R327 per week.

September 26, 2023 - Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd. announced it completed the cohort dosing of healthy male and female subjects in its Phase I/II clinical trial, evaluating its lead anti-infective candidate, RECCE® 327, at faster infusion rates.

RECCE® 327 UTI Treatment Clinical Trials

UTI clinical trials are active as of May 2024. A phase 1 clinical trial (ACTRN12623000448640) consists of up to 4 cohorts with 4 participants at each dose level. Each participant will begin with a single dose of RECCE®327 intravenously over Period A (longer infusion duration), followed by 48 hours of safety surveillance and PK data collection. The second dose of RECCE®327 infusion over Period B (shorter infusion duration) had the same dose level and concentration and a minimum time elapsed of 48 hours from the start of the first to the second dose. For the subsequent, a non-Data Safety Monitoring Board committee will review the safety and PK data (the latter, if available). It may suggest adjusting the dose level, infusion rate, and/ or concentration of the RECCE®327 before proceeding to the nexCohortrt. The non-DSMB committee may determine not to proceed with additional cohorts as well. Four non-DSMB committee meetings will be planned one week after Period B for the last participant in eacCohortrt.

Announced on June 28, 2024, the Phase 1/2 trial met all primary endpoints, demonstrating the compound's tolerability and strong antibacterial efficacy. The study successfully concludes having determined an optimal dosing regimen for R327 (20-minute infusion optimal) intravenously, showing rapid onset and sustained impact on Escherichia coli via an ATP mechanism in the urine of dosed participants with the safety of participants maintained. Building on these promising results, Recce Pharmaceuticals plans to commence a Phase 2 trial in the second half of 2024, involving 30 patients, to validate these findings further and explore additional therapeutic indications for  327. The Company is also investigating the potential of R327 in treating a broader range of bacterial infections beyond UTIs and urosepsis, such as acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections.

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Availability: 
N/A
Generic: 
R327
Drug Class: 
Synthetic Anti-Infectives
Last Reviewed: 
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 - 04:10
Brand: 
RECCE® 327
Status: 
Manufacturer Country ID: 
FDA First In Class: 
Yes
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An innovative, second-generation vaccine for dengue prevention recently received prequalification from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Developed by Takeda GmbH, QDENGA® (TAK-003) (Dengue Tetravalent Vaccine [Live, Attenuated]) is an approved two-dose vaccine containing weakened versions of the four dengue serotypes that cause disease in people.

As of May 2024, QDENGA was launched in 21 countries and is available in 17 European countries but not the United States.

“The prequalification of TAK-003 is an important step in the expansion of global access to dengue vaccines, as it is now eligible for procurement by UN agencies, including UNICEF and PAHO,” said Dr. Rogerio Gaspar, WHO Director for Regulation and Prequalification, in a press release on May 15, 2024.

The WHO prequalification list also includes the Dengvaxia (CYD-TDV) vaccine developed by Sanofi Pasteur. 

According to the WHO, the most significant number of dengue outbreaks reported was in 2023 with the WHO Region of the Americas reporting about 4.5 million cases and 2,300 deaths. 

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