AstraZeneca announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a positive opinion, recommending the approval of a new antibiotic, CAZ AVI 2g/0.5g powder.
CAZ AVI is being developed to treat a broad range of Gram-negative bacterial infections that are increasingly resistant to antibiotics, including multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa, carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative pathogens, and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Increasing antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacteria is a growing public health concern because of the limited new treatment options for these serious infections. In Europe, Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for two thirds of the annually reported 25,000 deaths resulting from antimicrobial resistance.
The recommendation is for intravenous use in the treatment of adult patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection (cIAI), complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI) including pyelonephritis, and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), including ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). The CHMP also recommended that CAZ AVI be indicated for the treatment of infections caused by aerobic Gram-negative organisms in adult patients who have limited treatment options.
The CHMP’s positive opinion is based on a review of data from an extensive clinical trial programme demonstrating the safety and efficacy of CAZ AVI. The submission included data from three Phase III studies in cIAI; Phase II and III studies in cUTI; and data from a Phase I study for HAP/VAP. An additional Phase III study, which evaluated the efficacy of CAZ AVI in ceftazidime-resistant cUTI and cIAI compared to the best available therapy, was also included for consideration.
The CHMP’s positive opinion on CAZ AVI will now be reviewed by the European Commission (EC), which has the authority to approve medicines for the European Union (EU). The final decision by the EC is expected in the coming months and will be applicable to all 28 EU member countries plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
CAZ AVI is being jointly developed by AstraZeneca and Allergan. AstraZeneca holds the global rights to commercialise ceftazidime-avibactam, with the exception of North America, where the rights are held by Allergan.
