A phase 3 trial has been approved for SPR994, a candidate being developed as an oral carbapenem antibiotic for the treatment of cUTIs.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted Spero Therapeutics’ Investigational New Drug application for SPR994, a candidate being developed as an oral carbapenem antibiotic for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI).
With the acceptance of the application, the company will initiate enrollment of a phase 3 clinical trial in the United States.
The candidate, SPR994, has an oral formulation of tebipenem, which is a carbapenem-class antibiotic that has been marketed in Japan since 2009 for pediatric infections of pneumonia, otitis media, and sinusitis.
Spero Therapeutics conducted a phase 1, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dosing study in Australia, which enabled dose selection for the phase 3 trial. The company also reports that the candidate has shown potent antibiotic activity against gram-negative bacteria, including E coli-producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, similar to IV-administered ertapenem in preclinical studies.
The phase 3 clinical trial, ADAPT-PO, is designed as a double-blind trial that will evaluate the investigational candidate with the current intravenous standard of care, ertapenem. The trial will enroll approximately 2400 patients with either cUTI or acute pyelonephritis in 1 of 2 treatment arms, with participants randomized 1:1 at the point of enrollment.
“With the FDA’s acceptance of our IND application for SPR994, we are excited to continue our Phase 3 initiation efforts, including opening clinical trial sites for enrollment in the US," Ankit Mahadevia, MD, chief executive officer of Spero Therapeutics, said in a
According to the company, the primary endpoint of the trial is combined clinical and microbiological response at the test of cure with a 10% non-inferiority margin versus IV ertapenem.
The trial will feature a lead-in cohort of 70 patients with intensive pharmacokinetics to assess the dose and exposure in cUTI patients. Additionally, the company will conduct parallel ancillary pharmacology studies including a renal insufficiency study.
The interim pharmacokinetic data from the lead-in cohort is expected in the second half of 2019.
Spero Therapeutics also reports that the project has received funding from the Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.
