Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: CPIX) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended its review of the supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for the use of Acetadote® (acetylcysteine) Injection in patients with non-acetaminophen acute liver failure. The review has been extended by three months resulting in a new Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date in December 2010.
"We look forward to continued discussion with the FDA regarding this potentially life-saving treatment for patients who have few alternatives," said A.J. Kazimi, Chief Executive Officer of Cumberland Pharmaceuticals.
Acute liver failure is a rare syndrome associated with a high mortality rate and frequent need for liver transplantation. Approximately 50 percent of acute liver failure cases are caused by acetaminophen poisoning. Other causes of acute liver failure not induced by acetaminophen overdose include hepatitis B disease, autoimmune hepatitis, Wilson disease, fatty liver of pregnancy, and HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) syndrome. Currently, transplantation of the liver is the only treatment for patients with liver failure not caused by acetaminophen overdose. In March 2010, Cumberland submitted the sNDA to the FDA for the use of Acetadote in patients with non-acetaminophen acute liver failure. The FDA formally accepted the application for review and designated the review classification as Priority in May 2010.
Acetadote was launched by Cumberland in 2004 as the first U.S.-approved injectable drug to treat acetaminophen overdose. In 2006, the FDA approved Acetadote for use in pediatric patients. The Company also received FDA approval for updated labeling regarding the safety of Acetadote in 2008 based on new information from a post-marketing safety study reporting a lower-incidence of side effects compared to previously reported data.
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