ZUG, Switzerland, Dec. 06, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auris Medical Holding AG (NASDAQ: EARS ), a clinical-stage company dedicated to developing therapeutics that address important unmet medical needs in otolaryngology, today confirmed that the TACTT3 Phase 3 trial with Keyzilen TM (AM-101) will resume enrollment in early 2017 as per previous guidance. This announcement follows receipt of key approvals from regulatory agencies and ethics committees in Europe on the recently submitted TACTT3 protocol amendment.
“We believe that the protocol amendment we are implementing improves TACTT3’s probability of success, and we look forward to top-line results from this trial in early 2018,” commented Thomas Meyer, Auris Medical’s founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “With Keyzilen’s strong safety profile and positive data from several trials, we are working to realize the potential of what could become the first pharmacological treatment for patients who suffer from acute tinnitus of the inner ear.”
As previously announced, the TACTT3 protocol was amended based on analysis of the TACTT2 Phase 3 trial outcomes. The amended protocol elevates the Tinnitus Functional Index score from a key secondary endpoint to an alternate primary efficacy endpoint, includes certain patient subgroups in confirmatory statistical testing and increases the trial size with the enrollment of an additional 120 patients.
As part of the Company’s continued dialogue with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Auris Medical recently had two meetings related to the Keyzilen TM program. Through a Type C Meeting, the FDA confirmed that, as per standard practice, two positive confirmatory trials would be required to submit a New Drug Application (NDA); the Agency did not provide feedback on the TACTT3 protocol amendment because the trial is being conducted in Europe and is not under the Investigational New Drug Application. In a separate meeting with the FDA, alignment was achieved on key items of the Keyzilen TM Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls section for a future NDA.
About Acute Inner Ear Tinnitus
Tinnitus, the perception of sound without external acoustic stimulation, is a symptom common to various ear or other diseases. Inner ear tinnitus may be provoked by various injuries to the cochlea, the organ of hearing, such as overexposure to noise or inflammation. Tinnitus may be transitory; however, it may also become permanent. Tinnitus of less than three months of duration is considered acute, while older tinnitus is considered chronic. Inner ear tinnitus often has a serious impact on the ability to sleep, relax, or concentrate, and it may lead to tiredness, irritation, nervousness, despair, frustration, or even depression. As of today, neither a universal standard of care for acute inner ear tinnitus, nor a truly proven and effective treatment method is available.
About Keyzilen TM (AM-101)
Keyzilen TM is a small molecule N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist formulated in a biocompatible gel for intratympanic injection. Emerging evidence suggests that NMDA receptors in the cochlea play a major role in the occurrence of tinnitus following acute injury to the inner ear, e.g. from exposure to excessive noise, infections, disturbances in inner ear blood supply, or the administration of certain ototoxic drugs. Persistent overexpression of NMDA receptors may lead to pathologic excitation of auditory nerve fibers, which in the brain is perceived as tinnitus. The development of Keyzilen TM is based on research conducted at the INSERM Institute for Neurosciences, and patents have been granted in more than 40 countries worldwide so far.
About Auris Medical
Auris Medical is a Swiss biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing therapeutics that address important unmet medical needs in otolaryngology. The Company is currently focusing on the Phase 3 development of treatments for acute inner ear tinnitus (Keyzilen TM ; AM-101) and for acute inner ear hearing loss (AM-111) by way of intratympanic administration with biocompatible gel formulations. In addition, Auris Medical is pursuing early-stage research and development projects. The Company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland. The shares of the parent company Auris Medical Holding AG trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "EARS."
Forward-looking Statements
This press release may contain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical fact and may include statements that address future operating, financial or business performance or Auris Medical’s strategies or expectations. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “potential,” “outlook” or “continue,” and other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the timing and conduct of clinical trials of Auris Medical’s product candidates, the clinical utility of Auris Medical’s product candidates, including the likelihood that the TACTT3 trial may not meet its endpoints , the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, Auris Medical’s intellectual property position and Auris Medical’s financial position, including the impact of any future acquisitions, dispositions, partnerships, license transactions or changes to Auris Medical’s capital structure, including future securities offerings. These risks and uncertainties also include, but are not limited to, those described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Auris Medical’s Annual Report on Form 20-F and future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Auris Medical does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable law. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
Contact: Cindy McGee, Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, +41 61 201 1350, investors@aurismedical.com Media contact: David Schull, Russo Partners, 1-858-717-2310, david.schull@russopartnersllc.com
