ITMN reports Oritavancin, Actimmune data

InterMune (ITMN) reported data from a Phase III trial of its oritavancin glycopeptide antibiotic to treat gram-positive bacterial infections, and from a Phase II trial of Actimmune interferon gamma-1b to treat cryptococcal meningitis. Data from the Phase III trial in 517 patients showed oritavancin cut the treatment time for complicated skin and skin-structure infections (CSSIs) by 54% compared to standard therapy of vancomycin plus cephalexin (average of 5.5 days versus 11.9 days). ITMN said oritavancin was clinically equivalent to the standard therapy, with 63% of patients given 3 mg/kg oritavancin having a successful clinical outcome compared to 65% of standard care patients. ITMN expects to run 3 additional Phase III studies of oritavancin for gram-positive infections in 2002, with an NDA submission targeted for the end of 2003. ITMN in-licensed oritavancin from Eli Lilly (LLY) in September. ...