Melinta Therapeutics President and CEO Christine Ann Miller Elected to Board of Directors of Iveric Bio

Melinta Therapeutics President and CEO Christine Ann Miller Elected to Board of Directors of Iveric Bio

January 6, 2022

Melinta Therapeutics President and CEO Christine Ann Miller Elected to Board of Directors of Iveric Bio

Press Release

Melinta Therapeutics President and CEO Christine Ann Miller
Elected to Board of Directors of Iveric Bio

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Jan. 6, 2022 — Melinta Therapeutics, LLC (“Melinta”), a commercial-stage company providing innovative therapies for acute and life-threatening illnesses, announced today that President and Chief Executive Officer Christine Ann Miller has been elected to the Board of Directors of IVERIC bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISEE), effective immediately.

Iveric Bio is a science-driven biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel treatments for retinal diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The Company is committed to having a positive impact on patients’ lives by delivering high-quality, safe and effective treatments designed to address debilitating retina diseases including all stages of age-related macular degeneration.

“I am thrilled to join the impressive Iveric Bio board and to have the opportunity to work with a highly dedicated executive team at this pivotal time,” said Ms. Miller. “I look forward to contributing my insight and expertise to a Company that is committed to delivering treatments for debilitating retina diseases and having a positive impact on patients’ lives.”

Iveric Bio Chief Executive Officer Glenn P. Sblendorio said, “We are excited to welcome Christine, a highly qualified executive in the life-science industry, to our Board of Directors. Christine’s leadership, commercial and supply chain management experience and commitment to patients will serve us well as we prepare for a potential launch of Zimura® (avacincaptad pegol) in geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration. We believe her addition to our Board of Directors is part of our continued commitment to build a strong Board of Directors that can guide the growth of the Company and best represent our shareholders.”

A global pharmaceutical veteran with more than 20 years of experience in life sciences, Ms. Miller has led Melinta and its executive team since joining the firm in August 2020. Prior to her current role, Ms. Miller led the global and U.S. product portfolio for Sandoz, a $10 billion division of Novartis, where she was responsible for transitioning the portfolio toward rapid-growth and higher-margin segments such as complex generics and value-added medicines, while continuing to build the branded generics business. Her achievements at Sandoz included directing more than 50 product launches that generated more than $300 million of new annual revenue, closing numerous business development acquisitions, and building a robust five-year development and acquisition product pipeline.

In addition to her work at Sandoz, Ms. Miller spent more than a decade at Actavis (now Allergan) and its predecessor Watson Pharmaceuticals, where she led the preparation of numerous product launches and held leadership roles in both R&D operations and supply chain management. She began her career as a chemical engineer and procurement analyst at Merck.

Ms. Miller earned her Master in Business Administration and Master in Technology Management degrees at Stevens Institute of Technology, as well as her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

About Melinta Therapeutics

Melinta Therapeutics, LLC provides innovative therapies to people impacted by acute and life-threatening illnesses. Our portfolio currently includes five commercial-stage antibiotics: Baxdela® (delafloxacin), Kimyrsa™ (oritavancin), Minocin® (minocycline) for Injection, Orbactiv® (oritavancin), and Vabomere® (meropenem and vaborbactam). With an unsurpassed commitment to providers and the patients they serve, we work to ensure that all people who need our therapies can receive them. We focus our expanding portfolio on serving patients with an unmet need because that’s how we make the most meaningful impact. At Melinta, we’re visionaries dedicated to innovation while staying grounded in what matters most: patients. Visit our website for more information.

Melinta Contact Information
Susan Blum
Chief Financial Officer
Melinta Therapeutics
(312) 767-0296
info@melinta.com

Iveric Bio Contact Information:
Investor / Media Contact:
Kathy Galante
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Iveric Bio
212-845-8231
kathy.galante@ivericbio.com

Media Contact:
Alex Van Rees
SmithSolve
973-442-1555, x111
alex.vanrees@smithsolve.com

 

Melinta Therapeutics President and CEO Christine Ann Miller Elected to Board of Directors of Iveric Bio

Melinta Therapeutics Announces Appointment of Doug Girgenti as Vice President of Drug Development

October 25, 2021

Melinta Therapeutics Announces Appointment of Doug Girgenti as Vice President of Drug Development

Press Release

Melinta Therapeutics Announces Appointment of Doug Girgenti as Vice President of Drug Development

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Oct. 25, 2021 — Melinta Therapeutics, LLC (“Melinta”), a commercial-stage company providing innovative therapies for acute and life-threatening illnesses, announces the appointment of Dr. Doug Girgenti as Vice President of Drug Development, effective today.

Dr. Girgenti, a global leader in clinical research and drug development, joins Melinta under the leadership of President and Chief Executive Officer Christine Ann Miller. With the addition of Dr. Girgenti, Melinta expects to expand its world-class portfolio while continuing to drive operational excellence.

“At Melinta, we’re on a legendary journey to become the leader in acute care and continue to serve patients with critical, unmet needs. I’m excited to welcome Doug to the team as a seasoned leader with extensive medical, scientific and operational experience,” Ms. Miller said. “I’m confident he’ll play a key role as we evaluate potential assets to expand our portfolio and help lead our team to meet clinical, operational, regulatory and financial objectives.”
Dr. Girgenti joins Melinta from Magenta Therapeutics where he led clinical development programs for stem-cell mobilization and autoimmune diseases. Prior to Magenta, Dr. Girgenti led global clinical programs for Wyeth, Pfizer and Boehringer-Ingelheim developing investigational vaccines targeting Staphylococcus aureus and invasive pneumococcal disease as well as numerous small and large molecules in the fields of immunology, stem-cell transplantation, nephrology, ophthalmology, cardiology and rare diseases.
Prior to joining the pharma industry, he was a practicing pediatrician and internist for 10 years, and he served as a medical director and managing physician of multiple medical and surgical subspecialists.
“I’m excited to join this team that is so passionately committed to patients in need,” Dr. Girgenti said. “I look forward to helping lead the way for more sustainable growth through clinical and developmental success while keeping patients at the center of our legendary future.”

About Melinta Therapeutics

Melinta Therapeutics, LLC provides innovative therapies to people impacted by acute and life-threatening illnesses. Our portfolio currently includes five commercial-stage antibiotics: Baxdela® (delafloxacin), Kimyrsa™ (oritavancin), Minocin® (minocycline) for Injection, Orbactiv® (oritavancin), and Vabomere® (meropenem and vaborbactam). With an unsurpassed commitment to providers and the patients they serve, we work to ensure that all people who need our therapies can receive them. We focus our expanding portfolio on serving patients with an unmet need because that’s how we make the most meaningful impact. At Melinta, we’re visionaries dedicated to innovation while staying grounded in what matters most: patients. Visit www.melinta.com for more information.
Contact Information
Susan Blum
(312) 767-0296
info@melinta.com

 

Melinta Therapeutics President and CEO Christine Ann Miller Elected to Board of Directors of Iveric Bio

Melinta Therapeutics Announces Appointment of Jisoo Park as Head of Business Development, M&A and Strategy

July 6, 2021

Melinta Therapeutics Announces Appointment of Jisoo Park as Head of Business Development, M&A and Strategy

GLOBE NEWSWIRE

Melinta Therapeutics Announces Appointment of Jisoo Park as Head of Business Development, M&A and Strategy 

MORRISTOWN, N.J., July 6, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Melinta Therapeutics, LLC (Melinta), a commercial-stage company providing innovative therapies for acute and life-threatening illnesses, announces the appointment of Jisoo Park as Head of Business Development, M&A and Strategy, effective today.  

Jisoo Park, a leader in global pharmaceutical business development, joins Melinta under the leadership of President and Chief Executive Officer Christine Ann Miller. With the addition of Mr. Park, Melinta expects to expand its world-class portfolio with additional products that address therapeutic areas of critical need. 

“At Melinta, we’re committed to expanding our portfolio to continue to serve patients with unmet needs. I’m excited to have Jisoo in this role as someone who shares our passion and purpose,” Ms. Miller said. “He has a proven track record in global pharmaceutical business development and I know he’ll be an incredible partner in helping us achieve our vision.”   

Said Mr. Park, “Melinta is on a mission to make the most meaningful impact for patients with life-threatening illnesses and I’m excited to join the team in the middle of such great momentum. I look forward to working with this truly committed team toward continued growth and expansion to serve patients in need in the U.S. and beyond.” 

Mr. Park joins Melinta from Covis Pharma where he served as Vice President of Business Development and M&A. At Covis, he led global business development and M&A, including transformational buy-side and sell-side M&A, licensing and financings. In less than five years, Jisoo led seven deals worth roughly $2 billion in transaction value, helping to expand the organization beyond the U.S. and into more than 50 markets.  

Prior to Covis, he was an investment banker in J.P. Morgan’s Global Healthcare team in New York and San Francisco, where he advised companies in the pharmaceuticals, biotech and life sciences industries on M&A, equity and debt financings. 

About Melinta Therapeutics 

Melinta Therapeutics, LLC provides innovative therapies to people impacted by acute and life-threatening illnesses. Our portfolio currently includes five commercial-stage antibiotics: Baxdela® (delafloxacin), Kimyrsa™ (oritavancin), Minocin® (minocycline) for Injection, Orbactiv® (oritavancin), and Vabomere® (meropenem and vaborbactam). With an unsurpassed commitment to providers and the patients they serve, we work to ensure that all people who need our therapies can receive them. We focus our expanding portfolio on serving patients with an unmet need because that’s how we make the most meaningful impact. At Melinta, we’re visionaries dedicated to innovation while staying grounded in what matters most: patients. Visit www.melinta.com for more information. 

 

Melinta Therapeutics President and CEO Christine Ann Miller Elected to Board of Directors of Iveric Bio

Melinta Therapeutics Announces Commercial Availability of KIMYRSA™ (oritavancin)

July 7, 2021

Melinta Therapeutics Announces Commercial Availability of KIMYRSA™ (oritavancin)

Businesswire

Melinta Therapeutics Announces Commercial Availability of KIMYRSA™ (oritavancin) 

-Single-Dose Antibiotic with One-Hour Infusion, Additional Compatibilities in Normal Saline and D5W, and Lower Infusion Volume- 

MORRISTOWN, N.J., July 7, 2021 (Businesswire) — Melinta Therapeutics (Melinta), a commercial-stage company providing innovative therapies for acute and life-threatening illnesses, today announced the commercial launch of KIMYRSA™ (oritavancin), a lipoglycopeptide antibiotic that delivers a complete course of therapy for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) in a single, one hour, 1,200 mg infusion. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved KIMYRSA on March 12, 2021, for the treatment of adult patients with ABSSSI caused by susceptible isolates of designated Gram-positive microorganisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).  

“Melinta is focused on expanding our portfolio to provide innovative therapies to patients with an unmet need, and the launch of KIMYRSA demonstrates this commitment,” said Christine Ann Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Melinta. “Now, physicians and patients will have a new, one-hour, single-dose alternative to the current standard of multi-dose regimens for ABSSSI. Our vision is that all patients who need our therapies will be able to receive them and we believe this important new medicine will provide patients with more flexibility and accessibility in ABSSSI treatment outside of the hospital setting.”  

ABSSSIs affect approximately 14 million patients in the U.S. each year, are responsible for more than 3 million visits to the emergency room annually, and represent the 8th most common cause of emergency department hospital admissions1,2. ABSSSIs cost U.S. hospitals $4 billion each year, with a 4.0-day average length of stay for a hospitalized ABSSSI patient.2  

“KIMYRSA is a direct response to the requests of the medical community to provide an oritavancin product with a shorter infusion time, additional diluent options, and lower infusion volume,” said John Harlow, Chief Commercial Officer. “As the second product in the oritavancin franchise, our commercial team has deep experience serving this market and we are excited to have begun introducing this new therapy to our customers.” 

For more information about KIMYRSA, visit www.kimyrsa.com. 

About KIMYRSA (oritavancin) 

KIMYRSA™ (oritavancin) is a single-dose, long-acting lipoglycopeptide antibiotic with rapid bactericidal activity for the treatment of adult patients with ABSSSI caused by designated susceptible gram-positive microorganisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). 

KIMYRSA is the first oritavancin product that is infused over one-hour, prepared from one 1,200 mg vial, and has compatibility with both 0.9% sodium chloride injection (NS) and 5% dextrose in sterile water (D5W). As an oritavancin product, KIMYRSA has three bactericidal mechanisms of action: inhibition of transpeptidation, inhibition of transglycosylation, and disruption of cell membrane integrity. 

KIMYRSA approval is based on the results of a pharmacokinetics (PK) study that compared KIMYRSA administered over 1 hour (N=50) to ORBACTIV® (oritavancin) administered over 3 hours (N=52) for the treatment of adult patients with ABSSSI. The efficacy and safety of KIMYRSA were established in the SOLO clinical trials with another oritavancin product, ORBACTIV. The SOLO trials were randomized, double-blind, multicenter studies that evaluated a single 1,200 mg IV dose of oritavancin for the treatment of ABSSSI in 1,987 adult patients. These trials demonstrated that 1,200 mg one-dose IV oritavancin infusion was as effective as 7-to-10 days of twice-daily vancomycin (1 g or 15 mg/kg) for the primary and secondary endpoints. The most common adverse reactions in patients treated with oritavancin were headache, nausea, vomiting, limb and subcutaneous abscesses, and diarrhea. The adverse reactions occurring in ≥2 patients receiving KIMYRSA in the PK study were hypersensitivity, pruritus, chills and pyrexia. 

KIMYRSA™ and ORBACTIV® INDICATION AND USAGE 

Both KIMYRSA™ and, ORBACTIV® are oritavancin products that are indicated for the treatment of adult patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by susceptible isolates of the following gram-positive microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-susceptible [MSSA] and -resistant [MRSA] isolates), Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus anginosus group (includes S. anginosus, S. intermedius, and S. constellatus), and Enterococcus faecalis (vancomycin-susceptible isolates only). 

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of oritavancin and other antibacterial drugs, oritavancin should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. 

KIMYRSA and ORBACTIV are not approved for combination use and have differences in dose strength, duration of infusion, and preparation instructions, including reconstitution, dilution and compatible diluents. Please see the full Prescribing Information available at www.melinta.com. 

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION 

Contraindications 

Use of intravenous unfractionated heparin sodium is contraindicated for 120 hours (5 days) after oritavancin administration because the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) test results are expected to remain falsely elevated for approximately 120 hours (5 days) after oritavancin administration. 

Oritavancin products are contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to oritavancin. 

Warnings and Precautions 

Coagulation test interference: Oritavancin has been shown to artificially prolong aPTT for up to 120 hours, and may prolong PT and INR for up to 12 hours and ACT for up to 24 hours. Oritavancin has also been shown to elevate D-dimer concentrations up to 72 hours. 

Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been reported with the use of oritavancin products. Discontinue infusion if signs of acute hypersensitivity occur. Monitor closely patients with known hypersensitivity to glycopeptides. 

Infusion Related Reactions: Infusion reactions characterized by chest pain, back pain, chills and tremor have been observed with the use of oritavancin products, including after the administration of more than one dose of oritavancin during a single course of therapy. Stopping or slowing the infusion may result in cessation of these reactions. 

Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea: Evaluate patients if diarrhea occurs. 

Concomitant warfarin use: Oritavancin has been shown to artificially prolong PT and INR for up to 12 hours. Patients should be monitored for bleeding if concomitantly receiving oritavancin products and warfarin. 

Osteomyelitis: Institute appropriate alternate antibacterial therapy in patients with confirmed or suspected osteomyelitis. 

Prescribing oritavancin products in the absence of a proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection or a prophylactic indication is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of development of drug-resistant bacteria. 

Adverse Reactions 

The most common adverse reactions (≥3%) in patients treated with oritavancin products were headache, nausea, vomiting, limb and subcutaneous abscesses, and diarrhea. The adverse reactions occurring in >2 patients receiving KIMYRSA were hypersensitivity, pruritis, chills and pyrexia. 

About Melinta Therapeutics 

Melinta Therapeutics provides innovative therapies to people impacted by acute and life-threatening illnesses. Our portfolio currently includes five commercial-stage antibiotics: Baxdela® (delafloxacin), Kimyrsa™ (oritavancin), Minocin® (minocycline) for Injection, Orbactiv® (oritavancin), and Vabomere® (meropenem and vaborbactam). With an unsurpassed commitment to providers and the patients they serve, we work to ensure that all people who need our therapies can receive them. We focus our expanding portfolio on serving patients with an unmet need because that’s how we make the most meaningful impact. At Melinta, we’re visionaries dedicated to innovation while staying grounded in what matters most: patients. Visit www.melinta.com for more information. 

Enquires 

For more information on this topic, please contact Susan Blum, Chief Financial Officer by phone at +1 312 767-0296, or by email at info@melinta.com.  

  1. Hersh AL, Chambers, HF, et al; National Trends in Ambulatory Visist and Antibiotic Prescribing for Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(14):1585-1591. 
  1. 2018 Data from HCUPnet, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. https://hcupnet.ahrq.gov/  

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Susan Blum
Chief Financial Officer
Melinta Therapeutics, LLC
+1 312 767-0296
info@melinta.com 

 

Melinta Therapeutics President and CEO Christine Ann Miller Elected to Board of Directors of Iveric Bio

Melinta Therapeutics Announces Appointment Of Susan Blum As Chief Financial Officer

June 29, 2021

Melinta Therapeutics Announces Appointment Of Susan Blum As Chief Financial Officer

GLOBE NEWSWIRE

MORRISTOWN, N.J., June 29, 2021 — Melinta Therapeutics, LLC (“Melinta”), a commercial-stage company providing innovative therapies for acute and life-threatening illnesses, announces the appointment of Susan Blum as Chief Financial Officer, effective July 1, 2021.

Ms. Blum has served as Melinta’s interim CFO, under the leadership of President and Chief Executive Officer Christine Ann Miller, since March 31, 2021, and she has been an integral leader on Melinta’s finance and accounting teams since 2016. Ms. Blum has a proven track record of strengthening and executing corporate financial strategy, efficiencies and controls for Melinta as well as diverse companies prior to Melinta.

“Susan is a seasoned finance executive and our trusted partner, with extensive knowledge about our company, products and markets. I’m both proud and excited to welcome her as our CFO to help lead our company forward with sustainable growth,” Ms. Miller said. “As we continue to build a legendary future, her experience, as well as her enthusiasm and dedication to Melinta, will be an incredible asset.”

Before joining Melinta, Ms. Blum held leadership positions in finance and accounting at Textura, Orbitz Worldwide, Facet Biotech and PDL BioPharma. In these roles, some of her notable experience includes directing global financial processes, leading accounting functions through dynamic business conditions, including initial and secondary public offerings, and directing financial reporting and integration activities for mergers and acquisitions.

“I’m honored to lead Melinta’s financial team and operations at this exciting moment in the company’s journey,” Ms. Blum said. “Melinta is truly unparalleled in passion and purpose, and I’m excited to continue to work with Christine and the rest of the team toward financial sustainability while staying grounded in what matters most — the patients we serve.”

About Melinta Therapeutics

Melinta Therapeutics, LLC provides innovative therapies to people impacted by acute and life-threatening illnesses. Our portfolio currently includes five commercial-stage antibiotics: Baxdela® (delafloxacin), Kimyrsa™ (oritavancin), Minocin® (minocycline) for Injection, Orbactiv® (oritavancin), and Vabomere® (meropenem and vaborbactam). With an unsurpassed commitment to providers and the patients they serve, we work to ensure that all people who need our therapies can receive them. We focus our expanding portfolio on serving patients with an unmet need because that’s how we make the most meaningful impact. At Melinta, we’re visionaries dedicated to innovation while staying grounded in what matters most: patients. Visit www.melinta.com for more information.

Melinta Therapeutics President and CEO Christine Ann Miller Elected to Board of Directors of Iveric Bio

Melinta Therapeutics Announces FDA Approval of KIMYRSA™ (oritavancin)

March 15, 2021

Melinta Therapeutics Announces FDA Approval of KIMYRSA™ (oritavancin)

GLOBE NEWSWIRE

Single-Dose Antibiotic with One-Hour Infusion, Additional Compatibilities in Normal Saline and D5W, and Lower Infusion Volume–

— Launch Expected in Summer 2021-

MORRISTOWN, N.J., March 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Melinta Therapeutics, LLC (Melinta), a commercial-stage company focused on the development and commercialization of novel antibiotics, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved KIMYRSA™ (oritavancin)  for the treatment of adult patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by susceptible isolates of designated Gram-positive microorganisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). KIMYRSA is a lipoglycopeptide antibiotic that delivers a complete course of therapy for ABSSSI in a single, one hour 1,200 mg infusion. “The approval of KIMYRSA demonstrates Melinta’s commitment to provide innovative therapies to patients with acute and life-threatening illnesses,” said Christine Ann Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Melinta. “We have responded to the requests of the medical community to provide an oritavancin product with a shorter infusion time.  We believe that with the approval of KIMYRSA and product availability this summer, physicians and patients will now have a compelling new one-dose alternative to the current standard of multi-dose regimens for ABSSSI.” ABSSSI affect approximately 14 million patients in the U.S. each year, are responsible for over 3 million visits to the Emergency Room annually and represent the 8th most common cause of Emergency Department hospital admissions1,2. ABSSSI cost U.S. hospitals $4 billion each year, with a 4.1-day average length of stay for hospitalized ABSSSI patients.2 “KIMYRSA is an important new treatment option that will provide clinicians with additional flexibility to treat ABSSSI patients in multiple care settings, without the need for hospitalization,” said Andrew Dold, D.O., member of a private infectious disease practice covering the Greater Atlanta Region. “Single-dose, long-acting antibiotics, such as KIMYRSA, may be especially beneficial for patients who lack the support or resources to adhere to multiple intravenous administrations.” The efficacy and safety of KIMYRSA were established in the SOLO clinical trials with another oritavancin product, ORBACTIV®. The SOLO trials were randomized, double-blind, multicenter studies that evaluated a single 1,200 mg IV dose of oritavancin against twice-daily vancomycin for the treatment of ABSSSI in 1,987 adult patients and assessed one of the largest subsets of documented MRSA infection (405 patients). These trials demonstrated that 1,200 mg one-dose IV oritavancin infusion was as effective as 7-to-10 days of twice-daily vancomycin (1 g or 15 mg/kg) for the primary and secondary endpoints.  KIMYRSA approval is based on the results of an open-label, multi-center, pharmacokinetics study, which compared KIMYRSA administered over 1 hour (N=50) to ORBACTIV administered over 3 hours (N=52) for the treatment of adult patients with ABSSSI. Michael Waters, M.D. and lead investigator in the PK clinical trial stated, “KIMYRSA was shown to be comparable to ORBACTIV with a favorable safety profile.  I’m pleased that these outcomes support the approval of KIMYRSA to provide oritavancin with a shorter infusion time and lower infusion volume.  With these features, KIMYRSA can further enhance the treatment experience for the patient and efficiency of administration in clinical practice.” Melinta is planning to launch KIMYRSA in summer 2021.

About KIMYRSA™ (oritavancin)

KIMYRSATM (oritavancin) is a single-dose, long-acting lipoglycopeptide antibiotic with rapid bactericidal activity for the treatment of adult patients with ABSSI caused by designated Gram-positive microorganisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). KIMYRSA is the first oritavancin product that is infused over one-hour, prepared from one 1,200 mg vial, and has compatibility with both 0.9% sodium chloride injection (NS) and 5% dextrose in sterile water (D5W). As an oritavancin product, KIMYRSA has three bactericidal mechanisms of action: inhibition of transpeptidation, inhibition of transglycosylation, and disruption of cell membrane integrity. KIMYRSA approval is based on the results of a pharmacokinetics (PK) study that compared KIMYRSA administered over 1 hour (N=50) to ORBACTIV® administered over 3 hours (N=52) for the treatment of adult patients with ABSSSI. The efficacy and safety of KIMYRSA were established in the SOLO clinical trials with another oritavancin product, ORBACTIV. The SOLO trials were randomized, double-blind, multicenter studies that evaluated a single 1,200 mg IV dose of oritavancin for the treatment of ABSSSI in 1,987 adult patients. These trials demonstrated that 1,200 mg one-dose IV oritavancin infusion was as effective as 7-to-10 days of twice-daily vancomycin (1 g or 15 mg/kg) for the primary and secondary endpoints. The most common adverse reactions in patients treated with oritavancin were headache, nausea, vomiting, limb and subcutaneous abscesses, and diarrhea. The adverse reactions occurring in ≥2 patients receiving KIMYRSA in the PK study were hypersensitivity, pruritus, chills and pyrexia. KIMYRSATM and ORBACTIV® INDICATION AND USAGE Both KIMYRSATM and, ORBACTIV® are oritavancin products that are indicated for the treatment of adult patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused  susceptible isolates of the following gram-positive microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-susceptible [MSSA] and -resistant [MRSA] isolates), Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus anginosus group (includes S. anginosus, S. intermedius, and S. constellatus), and Enterococcus faecalis (vancomycin-susceptible isolates only). To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of oritavancin and other antibacterial drugs, oritavancin should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. KIMYRSA and ORBACTIV are not approved for combination use and have differences in dose strength, duration of infusion, and preparation instructions, including reconstitution and dilution instructions and compatible diluents.  Please see the full Prescribing Information available at www.melinta.com.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Contraindications

Use of intravenous unfractionated heparin sodium is contraindicated for 120 hours (5 days) after oritavancin administration because the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) test results are expected to remain falsely elevated for approximately 120 hours (5 days) after oritavancin administration. Oritavancin products are contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to oritavancin.

Warnings and Precautions

Coagulation test interference: Oritavancin has been shown to artificially prolong aPTT for up to 120 hours, and may prolong PT and INR for up to 12 hours and ACT for up to 24 hours. Oritavancin has also been shown to elevate D-dimer concentrations up to 72 hours. Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been reported with the use of oritavancin products. Discontinue infusion if signs of acute hypersensitivity occur. Monitor closely patients with known hypersensitivity to glycopeptides. Infusion Related Reactions:  Infusion reactions characterized by chest pain, back pain, chills and tremor have been observed with the use of oritavancin products, including after the administration of more than one dose of oritavancin during a single course of therapy.  Stopping or slowing the infusion may result in cessation of these reactions. Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea: Evaluate patients if diarrhea occurs. Concomitant warfarin use: Oritavancin has been shown to artificially prolong PT and INR for up to 12 hours. Patients should be monitored for bleeding if concomitantly receiving oritavancin products and warfarin. Osteomyelitis: Institute appropriate alternate antibacterial therapy in patients with confirmed or suspected osteomyelitis. Prescribing oritavancin products in the absence of a proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection or a prophylactic indication is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of development of drug-resistant bacteria.

Adverse Reactions

The most common adverse reactions (≥3%) in patients treated with oritavancin products were headache, nausea, vomiting, limb and subcutaneous abscesses, and diarrhea. The adverse reactions occurring in >2 patients receiving KIMYRSATM were hypersensitivity, pruritis, chills and pyrexia.

About Melinta Therapeutics

Melinta Therapeutics, LLC is the largest pure-play antibiotics company, dedicated to providing innovative therapies to people impacted by acute and life-threatening illnesses. There are currently five commercial-stage antibiotics in the Melinta portfolio: Baxdela® (delafloxacin), KimyrsaTM (oritavancin), Minocin® (minocycline) for Injection, Orbactiv® (oritavancin), and Vabomere® (meropenem and vaborbactam). This portfolio provides Melinta with the unique ability to provide providers and patients with a range of solutions that can meet the tremendous need for novel antibiotics treating serious infections. Visit www.melinta.com for more information.
  1. Hersh AL, Chambers, HF, et al; National Trends in Ambulatory Visist and Antibiotic Prescribing for Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(14):1585-1591.
  2. 2017 Data from HCUPnet, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://hcupnet.ahrq.gov/

Contact Information

Susan Blum (312) 767-0296 info@melinta.com