AstraZeneca reports positive trial data for new antibiotic

AstraZeneca has announced positive top-line results from two pivotal phase III trials of a new antibiotic therapy for hospitalised adult patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections.

The antibiotic ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) has been evaluated in a pair of studies called RECLAIM-1 and RECLAIM-2, which both evaluated the product's safety and efficacy among a total of 1,066 patients from 30 countries.

CAZ-AVI was able to meet the objective of statistical non-inferiority compared to the established product meropenem, offering effective treatment of patients both with and without ceftazidime-resistant bacteria.

The drug, which was developed in partnership with Forest Laboratories, is now expected to be submitted for European regulatory approval during the first quarter of 2015.

Briggs Morrison, executive vice-president for global medicines development and chief medical officer at AstraZeneca, said: "We are very encouraged by these results which highlight the potential for CAZ-AVI to provide a much-needed new treatment option for serious and life-threatening intra-abdominal infections, especially where antibiotic resistance poses a threat to treatment."

This comes after the firm recently commenced a phase III trial programme for tralokinumab, a potential treatment for patients with severe, inadequately controlled asthma.