On October 20, 2017, Antares Pharma, Inc. (the “Company” or “we”) received a Complete Response Letter (the “CRL”) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) regarding the New Drug Application (the “NDA”) the Company submitted to the FDA under Section 505(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act for XYOSTED
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(testosterone enanthate) injection. The CRL indicates that the FDA cannot approve the NDA in its present form.
The CRL identified two deficiencies related to clinical data. Based on findings in studies QST-13-003 and QST-15-005, the FDA is concerned that XYOSTED
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could cause a clinically meaningful increase in blood pressure. In addition, the letter also raised a concern regarding the occurrence of depression and suicidality. The CRL did not cite any Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC), device or efficacy issues with regard to XYOSTED
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. The Company anticipates that the next step will be to request a meeting with the FDA to further evaluate the deficiencies raised and to agree upon a path forward for a potential approval of XYOSTED
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.
The Company is assessing the content of the CRL, including the information that may be needed to resolve the deficiencies, and intends to work closely with the FDA to determine the appropriate responses to the deficiencies noted in the CRL.
On October 20, 2017, the Company issued a press release (the “Press Release”) announcing its receipt of the CRL. A copy of the Press Release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
By filing this Current Report on Form 8-K, the Company makes no admission as to the materiality of any information contained herein. The information contained in this report is intended to be considered in the context of the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and other public announcements that the Company makes, by press release or otherwise, from time to time. The Company undertakes no duty or obligation to publicly update or revise the information contained in this report, except as required by law, although it may do so from time to time as it believes is appropriate. Any such updating may be made through the filing of other reports or documents with the Commission, through press releases or through other public disclosure.
This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding the Company’s expectations to request a meeting with the FDA to further evaluate the deficiencies raised and to agree upon a path forward for a potential approval of XYOSTED
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, and to work closely with the FDA to understand the nature of the deficiencies and resolve such deficiencies. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those described. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that we have made in light of our industry experience as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. As you read and consider this report, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance results. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. While we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this report, we caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and projections of the future about which we cannot be certain. Many factors may affect our ability to achieve our objectives, including, without limitation, the Company’s ability to adequately and timely respond to the deficiencies in the CRL, whether any such response will be accepted by the FDA, the Company’s ability and timing to resubmit the NDA for XYOSTED
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, whether FDA approval is received for XYOSTED
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, for the Company’s other products candidates or for its partners product candidates, delays in product introduction and marketing or interruptions in supply, a decrease in business from our major customers and partners, our inability to compete successfully against new and existing competitors or to leverage our research and development capabilities and our marketing capabilities, our inability to effectively market our products and services or obtain and maintain arrangements with our customers, partners and manufacturers, our inability to obtain adequate third-party payor coverage of our marketed products, our inability to effectively protect our intellectual property, costs associated with future litigation and the outcome of such litigation, our inability to attract and retain key personnel, changes or delays in the regulatory process, adverse economic and political conditions; and our ability to obtain additional financing, reduce expenses or generate funds when necessary. In addition, you should refer to the “Risk Factors” sections of this report and of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for a discussion of other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those described by our forward-looking statements. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements contained in this report will prove to be accurate and, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. We encourage readers of this report to understand forward-looking statements to be strategic objectives rather than absolute targets of future performance. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We do not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by law. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, if at all.