Randomized Trial of Ceftazidime-Avibactam vs Meropenem for Treatment of Hospital-Acquired and Ventilator-Associated Bacterial Pneumonia (REPROVE): Analyses per US FDA-Specified End Points.

Background: Hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia (HAP/VAP; nosocomial pneumonia) due to Gram-negative pathogens are associated with significant morbidity and mortality; treatment options for multidrug-resistant infections are limited. The pivotal phase III REPROVE trial evaluated the efficacy of ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) vs meropenem in the treatment of patients with HAP/VAP. Study results for prespecified analyses per US Food and Drug Administration-recommended trial end points are reported here.

A series of pharmacokinetic studies of ceftaroline fosamil in select populations: normal subjects, healthy elderly subjects, and subjects with renal impairment or end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis.

Ceftaroline fosamil is a parenteral cephalosporin indicated for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. Ceftaroline, the active component of ceftaroline fosamil, exhibits broad-spectrum bactericidal activity against gram-positive organisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae, as well as common gram-negative pathogens. The objective of the studies presented herein was to establish the pharmacokinetic profile of ceftaroline in healthy subjects and special populations of interest, such as elderly subjects, subjects with renal impairment, or subjects with end-stage renal disease on intermittent hemodialysis.

Evaluation of protein engineering and process optimization approaches to enhance antibody drug manufacturability.

A potent single digit picomolar fully human monoclonal antibody (hMAb) inhibitor with a high degree of specificity to the antigen of interest was identified from a phage display library. The hMAb, however, exhibited a high degree of hydrophobicity and easily formed insoluble aggregates when purified using a Protein A based generic process. Strategies were designed using both protein engineering and process development approaches to optimize the molecule's amino acid sequence and its behavior in process conditions.