On track to complete enrollment in all three Phase 3 clinical trials before year-end

Filed patent application that may extend Iterum’s intellectual property rights into the 2040s

DUBLIN, Ireland and CHICAGO, May 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iterum Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: ITRM), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing anti-infectives against multi-drug resistant pathogens, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019.

“The first quarter of 2019 was highlighted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granting us Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) status in four new indications, as well as Fast Track designation for all seven potential indications of oral and IV sulopenem for which QIDP status has been received,” said Corey Fishman, Chief Executive Officer of Iterum Therapeutics plc. “We remain focused on completing enrollment of all three of our ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials this year. A new effective oral therapy in our studied indications has become critical due to the rise in multi-drug resistant infections in the community, and we are excited to be at the forefront of seeking to provide a near-term solution.”

Q1 2019 Highlights and Recent Events

• FDA granted QIDP designation and Fast Track:  In the first quarter, oral sulopenem and sulopenem IV received QIDP designation in four new indications: community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, acute bacterial prostatitis, gonococcal urethritis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. These indications, as well as the three indications currently in Phase 3 development, also received Fast Track designation from the FDA.  

• Based on current enrollment rates, all three Phase 3 clinical trials are on track to complete enrollment before year-end; sample size adjustment review underway for uncomplicated urinary tract infection (uUTI) study: Based on current enrollment rates, all three Phase 3 clinical trials are on track to complete enrollment before year-end.  Enrollment in the uUTI study has passed the 1/3 target level and this triggers the first of two pre-planned analyses relating to potential sample size adjustments.  The results of this analysis are expected to be available around the end of Q2.   

• Presented data showing that mismatched empiric antibiotic therapy leads to double the rate of hospitalization for a uUTI:  As presented at the 29th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in April 2019, culture data shows that age, gender,
  Diabetes mellitus and prior resistance to antibiotics increased the likelihood of treatment failure, and that hospitalization rates doubled to over 15% for patients whose pathogens were not susceptible to the antibiotic they received.

• Filed a non-provisional patent application with United States Patent and Trademark Office:  The extensive pharmacokinetic work supporting the sulopenem program demonstrated that plasma levels of sulopenem after multiple days of oral dosing when combined with probenecid remained at or above the concentrations on Day 1, relative to dosing with oral sulopenem alone, enhancing its potential antimicrobial effect.  If granted, this method of use patent on the combination of sulopenem and probenecid would provide 20 years of intellectual property protection. The current U.S. composition of matter patent on sulopenem etzadroxil expires in 2029 with potential extension to 2034 under the HatchWaxman Act.

Upcoming Scientific and Investor Presentations

• Corporate presentation at the RBC Capital Markets Global Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, in New York, New York

• Multiple scientific presentations at American Society of Microbiology (ASM) Microbe 2019 from June 20-24, 2019, in San Francisco, California

First Quarter 2019 Financial Results

As of March 31, 2019, Iterum had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $69.6 million and approximately 14.4 million shares outstanding. Iterum expects that its cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, along with its available borrowings, will be sufficient to fund operations into 2020. 

Research and development (R&D) expenses for the first quarter of 2019 were $17.4 million compared to $10.9 million for the same period in 2018. The increase was primarily due to higher clinical trial expenses associated with the three Phase 3 clinical trials initiated in the third quarter of 2018.  

General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the first quarter of 2019 were $3.1 million compared to $1.5 million for the same period in 2018. The increase was primarily due to increased costs associated with operating as a public company, additional headcount to support business activities, and increased marketing and market research expenses.

For the first quarter of 2019, Iterum reported a net loss of $20.6 million compared to a net loss of $12.1 million for the same period in 2018.

About Sulopenem

Sulopenem, a novel penem anti-infective compound with oral and IV formulations, has demonstrated potent in vitro activity against a wide variety of gram-negative, gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria resistant to other antibiotics. If approved, sulopenem will help address the significant clinical and economic need for new oral antibiotics that enable the effective treatment of resistant pathogens in the community, make possible the avoidance of hospitalization, and facilitate early hospital discharge by providing continuity-of-care step-down therapy. The safety profile of IV sulopenem has been documented in a Phase 2 program. Oral and IV sulopenem are being evaluated in three pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials for uncomplicated urinary tract infections, complicated urinary tract infections, and complicated intra-abdominal infections.

Probenecid, which is being co-administered with sulopenem in a bilayer tablet, is approved as an adjuvant to therapy for elevation and prolongation of plasma levels of β-lactam compounds including penicillin, ampicillin, methicillin, oxacillin, cloxacillin, and nafcillin.

About Iterum Therapeutics plc

Iterum Therapeutics plc is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing differentiated anti-infectives aimed at combatting the global crisis of multi-drug resistant pathogens to significantly improve the lives of people affected by serious and life-threatening diseases around the world. Iterum Therapeutics is advancing its first compound, sulopenem, a novel penem anti-infective compound, in Phase 3 clinical development with oral and IV formulations. Sulopenem has demonstrated potent in vitro activity against a wide variety of gram-negative, gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria resistant to other antibiotics. Iterum Therapeutics has received QIDP and Fast Track designations for its oral and IV formulations of sulopenem in seven indications. For more information, please visit http://www.iterumtx.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding expectations about future revenue, expenses, cash flows and net income or loss, the sufficiency of cash resources, the granting or issuing of patents, the development, therapeutic and market potential of sulopenem, and the timing, progress and results of clinical trials. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “may,” “believes,” “intends,” “seeks,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “expects,” “should,” “assumes,” “continues,” “could,” “will,” “future,” “potential” or the negative of these or similar terms and phrases. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Iterum Therapeutics’ actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forwardlooking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. Actual future results may be materially different from what is expected due to factors largely outside Iterum Therapeutics’ control, including the uncertainties inherent in the initiation and conduct of clinical trials, clinical trial patient enrollment, availability and timing of data from clinical trials, changes in regulatory requirements or decisions of regulatory authorities, commercialization plans and timelines, if approved, the actions of third-party clinical research organizations, suppliers and manufacturers and other factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in its Quarterly Report on Form 10Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May 14, 2019, and other documents filed with the SEC from time to time. Forward-looking statements represent Iterum Therapeutics’ beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, Iterum Therapeutics assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Investor Contact:
Judy Matthews
Chief Financial Officer
312-778-6073
IR@iterumtx.com

Released May 14, 2019