Dr. Mahadevia continued, “While this decision was difficult, we believe it is in the best interest of the company and its shareholders. The need for antibiotic resistance solutions is more pressing than ever before, and both SPR720 and SPR206 are in clinical development stages and have shown promising results to date. SPR720’s Phase 2 clinical hold was recently lifted, enabling its continued development as an oral therapy for non-tuberculosis mycobacterium infection, a debilitating, chronic disease. We are also very pleased with the ongoing development of SPR206 as a treatment for MDR gram-negative lung infections. Finally, we believe in the long-term potential of tebipenem HBr for patients with cUTI and look forward to engaging the FDA on the best path forward to approval.”
“Spero is powered by incredibly hard-working and dedicated professionals who have made significant strides over the past year to bring the medicines in our pipeline forward and closer to patients. I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to all our employees, especially those affected by today’s announcement, for their contributions to Spero. We are committed to treating all impacted team members with fairness and respect, consistent with our culture, and to supporting them through this transition,” concluded Dr. Mahadevia.
Tebipenem HBr has been granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP), Fast Track and Priority Review designations for treatment of complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI), including acute pyelonephritis. The FDA set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date for June 27, 2022. On March 31, 2022, Spero announced that as part of the FDA’s ongoing review of Spero’s NDA for tebipenem HBr, the FDA had identified deficiencies that precluded the discussion of labeling and post-marketing requirements/commitments at such time. Spero’s LCM with the FDA was in late April 2022.
In evaluating the efficacy of tebipenem HBr in the Phase 3 (ADAPT-PO) cUTI study, the FDA conducted a separate analysis of the microbiological intent-to-treat (micro-ITT) population, relative to the prespecified analysis as set forth in the previously submitted and reviewed protocol and statistical analysis plan for ADAPT-PO. The effect of this new analysis was to reduce the number of evaluable patients in the primary analysis population compared with those resulting from the trial’s pre-specified micro-ITT population as outlined in the statistical analysis plan. As a result, the FDA considers that the pre-specified non-inferiority (NI) margin of -12.5%, was not met. Spero is continuing its dialogue with the FDA, as the company seeks a pathway forward for potential approval of tebipenem HBr.
On April 7, 2022, The New England Journal of Medicine published the results from the Phase 3 ADAPT-PO clinical trial, whose topline results Spero originally reported in September 2020. The article, titled “Oral Tebipenem Pivoxil Hydrobromide in Complicated Urinary Tract Infection,” is available online at The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
Restructuring to Prioritize Programs and Capital Allocation
Spero ended the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2021 with an estimated $146.4 million in cash. Based on the restructuring and the cessation of commercialization activities for the tebipenem HBr program and assuming the repayment of amounts under the Company’s Revenue Interest Financing Agreement with certain entities managed by HealthCare Royalty Management, LLC, Spero believes that its existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, together with other non-dilutive funding commitments, will be sufficient to fund its