AcelRx Pharmaceuticals Completes Patient Enrollment in Remaining Phase 3 Studies of ARX-04 as a Potential Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Acute Pain

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., June 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACRX), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain, announced that it has completed patient enrollment in the two remaining Phase 3 studies of ARX-04 (sufentanil sublingual tablet, 30 mcg):

• SAP302 is a single-arm, open-label study that enrolled 76 adult patients who presented in the emergency room with moderate-to-severe acute pain associated with trauma or injury. The primary endpoint is the time-weighted summed pain intensity difference (SPID) to baseline over the first hour, or SPID1.
• SAP303 is a multicenter, open-label study that enrolled 139 patients 40 years and older who had moderate-to-severe acute pain following a surgical procedure with general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia (except those who received intrathecal opioids). The primary efficacy endpoint of this study is SPID over the 12-hour study period, or SPID12.

Data from both studies are currently being analyzed, and top-line results are expected to be available in the third quarter of 2016.

Dr. Pamela Palmer, AcelRx's chief medical officer and co-founder, stated, "Pending positive results for SAP302 and SAP303, we believe we are on track to file a New Drug Application for ARX-04 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the end of this year."

Howie Rosen, AcelRx's chief executive officer, added, "The completion of enrollment in these ARX-04 clinical studies represents a tremendous accomplishment for AcelRx. With $106 million in cash on hand (as of the end of 1Q), I believe we are in a good financial position to drive ARX-04 through the regulatory process."

Clinical and Rehabilitative Medicine Research Program (CRMRP)
ARX-04 is funded in part by the Clinical and Rehabilitative Medicine Research Program (CRMRP) of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) under contract No. W81XWH-15-C-0046. The CRMRP was established in 2008 to foster research and technology advances for regeneration, restoration and rehabilitation of traumatic injuries.

In accordance with USAMRMC guidelines, in the conduct of clinical research, AcelRx has adhered to the policies regarding the protection of human subjects as prescribed by Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 45, Volume 1, Part 46; Title 32, Chapter 1, Part 219; and Title 21, Chapter 1, Part 50 (Protection of Human Subjects).

About ARX-04
ARX-04 is a non-invasive investigational product candidate consisting of 30 mcg sufentanil tablets delivered sublingually via a disposable, pre-filled, single-dose applicator (SDA). AcelRx is developing ARX‑04 for the management of moderate-to-severe acute pain in a variety of medically supervised settings, including the emergency room, outpatient or ambulatory surgery, non-surgical patients experiencing pain in the hospital, and post-operative patients following short-stay surgery, who do not require more long-term patient-controlled analgesia (PCA).

Based on its market research, the Company estimates there are more than 51 million injury-related emergency department visits annually that on average receive two doses of opioids for moderate-to-severe acute pain in the United States.

About AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of acute pain. The Company's late-stage pipeline includes ARX-04 (sufentanil sublingual tablet, 30 mcg) designed for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain in a medically supervised setting; and Zalviso^® (sufentanil sublingual tablet system) designed for the management of moderate-to-severe acute pain in adult patients in the hospital setting.

ARX-04 delivers 30 mcg sufentanil, a high therapeutic index opioid, sublingually through a disposable, pre-filled, single-dose applicator. AcelRx has reported positive results from the pivotal Phase 3 SAP301 ambulatory surgery study, and has recently completed enrollment of SAP302 (study in emergency room patients) and SAP303 (study in post-operative patients 40 years and older). Zalviso delivers 15 mcg sufentanil sublingually through a non-invasive delivery route via a pre-programmed, patient-controlled analgesia device. In response to the New Drug Application (NDA) AcelRx submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval for Zalviso, AcelRx received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) on July 25, 2014. The FDA has requested an additional clinical study (IAP312), which AcelRx is planning to initiate once supply testing is complete in order to support its NDA resubmission.

For additional information about AcelRx's clinical programs, please visit www.acelrx.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to the process and timing of anticipated future development of AcelRx's product candidates, ARX-04 (sufentanil sublingual tablet, 30 mcg) and Zalviso^® (sufentanil sublingual tablet system), including the planned initiation of the IAP312 clinical trial for Zalviso; anticipated resubmission of the Zalviso NDA and submission of the ARX-04 NDA to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA; and the therapeutic and commercial potential of AcelRx's product candidates, including ARX-04 and Zalviso. These forward-looking statements are based on AcelRx Pharmaceuticals' current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. AcelRx Pharmaceuticals' actual results and timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, and as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks related to AcelRx Pharmaceuticals' ability to complete Phase 3 clinical development of ARX-04 and support ARX-04 development under the contract with the Department of Defense; AcelRx's ability to successfully execute the pathway towards a resubmission of the Zalviso NDA to the FDA, including the initiation and completion of the IAP312 clinical study for Zalviso; any delays or inability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of its product candidates, including ARX-04 in the United States and Europe, and Zalviso in the United States; the uncertain clinical development process, including adverse events; the risk that planned clinical trials may not begin on time, have an effective clinical design, enroll a sufficient number of patients, or be initiated or completed on schedule, if at all; the success, cost and timing of all development activities and clinical trials, including the Phase 3 ARX-04 SAP302 and SAP303 trials, and the additional clinical trial for Zalviso, IAP312; the fact that the FDA may dispute or interpret differently clinical results obtained to date from the Phase 3 SAP301 study of ARX-04; the market potential for AcelRx's product candidates; and other risks detailed in the "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in AcelRx's U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 2, 2016. AcelRx undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.

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SOURCE AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.acelrx.com