This post features recent comments from a couple of competitors to Optimer Pharmaceuticals $OPTR in the Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (C. difficile or CDAD) market.
For prior coverage, start with the OPTR and CBST stock research pages, click on the blog archives for either company, or use the site search box at the top of the page.
For prior coverage, start with the OPTR and CBST stock research pages, click on the blog archives for either company, or use the site search box at the top of the page.
Sanofi $SNY (c/o SeekingAlpha)
"And this year, we're going to enter Phase III with the C. difficile toxoid vaccine. And C. difficile, it's not the organism that hurts the patient, it's the toxins produced by the organism, and therefore, we're trying to develop a vaccine against the toxins which we have been able to do with a good Phase II rated results with very broad protection. So we're going to start a multinational Phase III trial in the third quarter of 2013, with Olivier Charmeil's team in Sanofi Pasteur, and we're going to target patients at high risk. This infection is growing not only in the hospital environment but also in the community environment, and so we do believe that the need is going to grow over time."
"And this year, we're going to enter Phase III with the C. difficile toxoid vaccine. And C. difficile, it's not the organism that hurts the patient, it's the toxins produced by the organism, and therefore, we're trying to develop a vaccine against the toxins which we have been able to do with a good Phase II rated results with very broad protection. So we're going to start a multinational Phase III trial in the third quarter of 2013, with Olivier Charmeil's team in Sanofi Pasteur, and we're going to target patients at high risk. This infection is growing not only in the hospital environment but also in the community environment, and so we do believe that the need is going to grow over time."
Cubist Pharmaceuticals $CBST (c/o SeekingAlpha)
"Our two year co-promote with Optimer for the CDAD therapy Dificid in the U.S. began in July of 2011 and continue through July of this year. This has been another great opportunity to leverage the acute care infrastructure we built in the U.S. and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Optimer over the next several months."
"We will continue to enroll patients throughout 2013 in the phase 3 program for surotomycin formerly known as CB-315 in clostridium difficile associated diarrhea, or CDAD."
Analyst Question: "Wondering if you could give us an update on your views on the C. diff opportunity for 315. And to what extent you are still involved with Optimer and the co-marketing and the sort of insights you are gaining from that?"
"Sure, while we are still involved with Optimer until July of this year we don’t expect that the relationship will continue past that. Both companies have essentially said that the partnership will likely end at that point. We’ve been very pleased with the relationship and we are continuing to promote the product through July of this year but at that point the Optimer folks will focus on Dificid and we will focus on Surotomycin (CB-315). And we do believe that the market opportunity remains healthy. That’s still a very, very large market, worldwide we estimate they are at least 30 million days of therapy in the CDAD space. And while we will have to see what the impact of Optimer’s pricing schedule will be and it’s really too early to tell what impact that will have on the market. We still believe that the market is strong and that where we have a drug that can get to the 400, 500 million worldwide peak year number. And again, keep in mind Alan that we have complete rights to this product, that we owe no royalties and essentially the incremental commercialization costs assuming ceftolozane/tazobactam will be minimal."
"Our two year co-promote with Optimer for the CDAD therapy Dificid in the U.S. began in July of 2011 and continue through July of this year. This has been another great opportunity to leverage the acute care infrastructure we built in the U.S. and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Optimer over the next several months."
"We will continue to enroll patients throughout 2013 in the phase 3 program for surotomycin formerly known as CB-315 in clostridium difficile associated diarrhea, or CDAD."
Analyst Question: "Wondering if you could give us an update on your views on the C. diff opportunity for 315. And to what extent you are still involved with Optimer and the co-marketing and the sort of insights you are gaining from that?"
"Sure, while we are still involved with Optimer until July of this year we don’t expect that the relationship will continue past that. Both companies have essentially said that the partnership will likely end at that point. We’ve been very pleased with the relationship and we are continuing to promote the product through July of this year but at that point the Optimer folks will focus on Dificid and we will focus on Surotomycin (CB-315). And we do believe that the market opportunity remains healthy. That’s still a very, very large market, worldwide we estimate they are at least 30 million days of therapy in the CDAD space. And while we will have to see what the impact of Optimer’s pricing schedule will be and it’s really too early to tell what impact that will have on the market. We still believe that the market is strong and that where we have a drug that can get to the 400, 500 million worldwide peak year number. And again, keep in mind Alan that we have complete rights to this product, that we owe no royalties and essentially the incremental commercialization costs assuming ceftolozane/tazobactam will be minimal."
RSS Feed
