Avanir Pharmaceuticals Announces Acceptance of New Drug Application for AVP-825 for the Acute Treatment of Migraine

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., March 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVNR) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company's New Drug Application (NDA) of AVP-825, its innovative Breath Powered™ investigational drug-device combination product for the acute treatment of migraine.

As previously reported the company's 505(b)(2) NDA for AVP-825 includes data from one pivotal phase III clinical trial for the acute treatment of migraine. The NDA is also supported by data from a phase II placebo-controlled clinical trial for acute treatment of migraine, and two pharmacokinetic studies. Overall, the NDA includes safety data from 222 subjects who received AVP-825 in clinical trials, and references data from the extensive clinical use of sumatriptan over the past 20 years.

The acceptance of the NDA indicates that the application is sufficiently complete to permit a substantive review. The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) V goal date is November 26, 2014.

About AVP-825

AVP-825 is an investigational drug-device combination product consisting of low-dose sumatriptan powder delivered intranasally utilizing a novel Breath Powered delivery technology. If approved, AVP-825 would be the first and only fast-acting, dry-powder intranasal form of sumatriptan for the treatment of migraine.

The Breath Powered delivery technology is activated by user's breath to propel medications deep into the nasal cavity where absorption is more efficient and consistent than through most other routes. A user exhales into the device, automatically closing the soft palate and sealing off the nasal cavity completely. Through a sealing nosepiece placed into the nostril, the exhaled breath carries medication from the device directly into one side of the nose. Narrow nasal passages are gently expanded and medication is dispersed deep into the nasal cavity reaching areas where it can be rapidly absorbed. As the medication is delivered, the air flows around to the opposite side of the nasal cavity and exits through the other nostril. Closure of the soft palate helps prevent swallowing or inhalation of sumatriptan powder into the lungs.

About Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on bringing innovative medicines to patients with central nervous system disorders of high unmet medical need. As part of our commitment, we have extensively invested in our pipeline and are dedicated to advancing medicines that can substantially improve the lives of patients and their loved ones. For more information about Avanir, please visit www.avanir.com.

AVANIR® is a trademark or registered trademark of Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. licensed exclusive rights for the development and commercialization of AVP-825, a novel Breath Powered intranasal system containing a low-dose sumatriptan powder from OptiNose Inc. of Yardley, PA.

©2014 Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Forward Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements regarding Avanir's plans, potential opportunities, financial or other expectations, projections, goals, objectives, milestones, strategies, market growth, timelines, legal matters, product pipeline, clinical studies, product development and the potential benefits of its commercialized products and products under development are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the risks and uncertainties associated with, the market demand for and acceptance of Avanir's products domestically and internationally, research, development and commercialization of new products domestically and internationally, including the risks and uncertainties associated with the NDA acceptance for AVP-825, including, but not limited to, risks relating to the successful development of this investigational drug-device product, delays or failures in obtaining FDA approval, obtaining additional indications for commercially marketed products domestically and internationally, obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals domestically and internationally, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on current information that may change and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the issuance of this press release.

Avanir Investor & Media Contact
Ian Clements, PhD
[email protected]
+1 (949) 389-6700

Brewlife Media Contact
Nicole Foderaro
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+1 (415) 946-1058

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SOURCE Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.