Announces Immediate Cessation of Tebipenem HBr Commercialization Initiatives; Company to Shift Focus to Advancement of SPR720 and SPR206

Spero to Explore Strategic Partnerships and Other Opportunities for Tebipenem HBr
                    
Conference Call and Live Webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET Today

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spero Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRO), a multi-asset clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing treatments in high unmet need areas involving multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections and rare diseases, today announced that it will immediately defer current commercialization activities for tebipenem HBr based on feedback from a recent Late Cycle Meeting (LCM) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding Spero’s New Drug Application (NDA) for tebipenem HBr. Although the review is still ongoing and the FDA has not yet made any final determination regarding approvability, the discussion suggested that the data package may be insufficient to support approval during this review cycle, as described below.

In connection with this development, Spero announced that it is undertaking a reduction in its workforce by approximately 75% and a restructuring of its operations to reduce operating costs and reallocate resources towards the clinical development programs of SPR720 and SPR206, while continuing engagement with the FDA on the appropriate path forward for tebipenem HBr. Based on the anticipated cost-savings of this restructuring and other assumptions, Spero anticipates it will be able to fund its planned operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements pursuant to the priorities of its strategic refocusing through late 2023.

“We are disappointed that the FDA has identified substantive review issues, and we strongly believe that tebipenem HBr would offer healthcare providers, payers and patients an important oral antibiotic alternative to IV treatment for cUTI for patients with limited oral treatment options,” said Ankit Mahadevia, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Spero Therapeutics. “After careful consideration, and in light of the current FDA position, we have made the strategic decision to transition Spero’s focus and resources to supporting the clinical development of our promising clinical-stage pipeline, including SPR720, aimed at treating non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung disease, and SPR206, aimed at treating MDR gram-negative bacterial infections. Further, we will continue to engage with the FDA on the appropriate path forward for tebipenem HBr. As a result, Spero will immediately refrain from investment in near-term commercialization activities for tebipenem HBr, and instead we will restructure our business to appropriately staff our new focus going forward. We believe these actions will help preserve the ongoing viability of tebipenem HBr’s development program, enabling either eventual commercialization by Spero, or commercialization through potential partnership or other opportunities.”

Dr. Mahadevia continued, “While this decision was difficult, we believe it is in the best interest of the company and its shareholders. The need for antibiotic resistance solutions is more pressing than ever before, and both SPR720 and SPR206 are in clinical development stages and have shown promising results to date. SPR720’s Phase 2 clinical hold was recently lifted, enabling its continued development as an oral therapy for non-tuberculosis mycobacterial infection, a debilitating, chronic disease. We are also very pleased with the ongoing development of SPR206 as a treatment for MDR gram-negative lung infections. Finally, we believe in the long-term potential of tebipenem HBr for patients with cUTI and look forward to engaging the FDA on the best path forward to approval.”

“Spero is powered by incredibly hard-working and dedicated professionals who have made significant strides over the past year to bring the medicines in our pipeline forward and closer to patients. I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to all our employees, especially those affected by today’s announcement, for their contributions to Spero. We are committed to treating all impacted team members with fairness and respect, consistent with our culture, and to supporting them through this transition,” concluded Dr. Mahadevia.

Tebipenem HBr has been granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP), Fast Track and Priority Review designations for treatment of complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI), including acute pyelonephritis. The FDA set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date for June 27, 2022. On March 31, 2022, Spero announced that as part of the FDA’s ongoing review of Spero’s NDA for tebipenem HBr, the FDA had identified deficiencies that precluded the discussion of labeling and post-marketing requirements/commitments at such time. Spero’s LCM with the FDA was in late April 2022.

In evaluating the efficacy of tebipenem HBr in the Phase 3 (ADAPT-PO) cUTI study, the FDA conducted a separate analysis of the microbiological intent-to-treat (micro-ITT) population, relative to the prespecified analysis as set forth in the previously submitted and reviewed protocol and statistical analysis plan for ADAPT-PO. The effect of this new analysis was to reduce the number of evaluable patients in the primary analysis population compared with those resulting from the trial’s pre-specified micro-ITT population as outlined in the statistical analysis plan. As a result, the FDA considers that the pre-specified non-inferiority (NI) margin of -12.5% was not met.   Spero is continuing its dialogue with the FDA, as the company seeks a pathway forward for potential approval of tebipenem HBr.

On April 7, 2022, The New England Journal of Medicine published the results from the Phase 3 ADAPT-PO clinical trial, whose topline results Spero originally reported in September 2020. The article, titled “Oral Tebipenem Pivoxil Hydrobromide in Complicated Urinary Tract Infection,” is available online at The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). 

Restructuring to Prioritize Programs and Capital Allocation

Spero ended the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2021 with an estimated $146.4 million in cash. Based on the restructuring and the cessation of commercialization activities for the tebipenem HBr program and assuming the repayment of amounts under the Company’s Revenue Interest Financing Agreement with certain entities managed by HealthCare Royalty Management, LLC, Spero believes that its existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, together with other non-dilutive funding commitments, will be sufficient to fund its planned operating expenses and capital expenditures pursuant to the priorities of its strategic refocusing through late 2023. During this period, the strategic refocusing prioritizes advancing SPR720 and SPR206 to Phase 2 milestones and includes key deliverables through 2024.

Conference Call and Webcast
In connection with this announcement, Spero will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:30 a.m. ET. To access the call, please dial 1-877-704-4453 (domestic) or 1-201-389-0920 (international) and refer to conference ID 13729673. The conference call will also be webcast live and a link to the webcast can be accessed here and also on Spero Therapeutics' website at www.sperotherapeutics.com in the "Investors and Media" section under "Events and Presentations." An archived webcast will be available on Spero's website for 30 days following the presentation. 

For more information, visit https://sperotherapeutics.com.

Tebipenem HBr Research Support
The tebipenem HBr development program has been funded in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, under contract number HHSO100201800015C.

About Spero Therapeutics
Spero Therapeutics is a multi-asset, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing, and commercializing novel treatments for bacterial infections, including multidrug resistant bacterial infections and rare diseases.

• A New Drug Application for tebipenem pivoxil oral tablets (tebipenem HBr) is currently being reviewed by the FDA; tebipenem HBr is not FDA-approved.
  
  
• Tebipenem HBr is an investigational drug in the United States being developed for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infection, including pyelonephritis, caused by certain microorganisms, in adult patients who have limited oral treatment options.
  
  
• Spero Therapeutics is developing SPR720 as a novel candidate oral therapy for the treatment of a rare, orphan pulmonary disease caused by non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections.
  
  
• Spero Therapeutics also has an IV-administered next generation polymyxin product candidate, SPR206, developed from its potentiator platform, which is in development to treat MDR Gram-negative infections in the hospital setting.
  

Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the potential approval of tebipenem HBr by the FDA and the timing thereof; the potential for a partnership of the tebipenem HBr franchise; the future development and commercialization of SPR206 and SPR720; the design, initiation, timing, progress and results of Spero’s preclinical studies and clinical trials and its research and development programs; management’s assessment of the results of such preclinical studies and clinical trials; and the expected cost-savings from the restructuring, Spero’s anticipated expenses and its anticipated cash runway. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “aim,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intent,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including whether the FDA will ultimately approve tebipenem HBr and, if so, the timing of any such approval; whether the FDA will require any additional clinical data or place labeling restrictions on the use of tebipenem HBr that would add costs for Spero, delay approval and/or reduce the commercial prospects of tebipenem HBr; whether any third parties would be interested in partnering with Spero to pursue continued efforts to obtain FDA approval of tebipenem HBr, or acquiring rights to the tebipenem HBr program from Spero through a partnership arrangement; the COVID-19 pandemic; Spero’s need for additional funding; Spero’s ability to successfully implement the restructuring; the impact of the restructuring on Spero’s business, including estimated costs related thereto; the risk that Spero may not be able to address the FDA's concerns with respect to tebipenem HBr; the lengthy, expensive, and uncertain process of clinical drug development for SPR720 and SPR206; whether results obtained in preclinical studies and clinical trials will be indicative of results obtained in future clinical trials; Spero’s reliance on third parties to manufacture, develop, and commercialize its product candidates, if approved; the ability to commercialize Spero’s product candidates, if approved; Spero’s ability to retain key personnel; whether Spero’s cash resources will be sufficient to fund its continuing operations for the periods and/or trials anticipated; and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” set forth in filings that Spero periodically makes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Spero’s views as of the date of this press release. Spero anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, while Spero may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Spero’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Investor Relations Contact: 
Ted Jenkins
Vice President, Investor Relations
Tjenkins@sperotherapeutics.com
(617) 798-4039

Media Contact:
Jacqueline Pomfret Kirby
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Jkirby@sperotherapeutics.com
(617) 798-4074

Source: Spero Therapeutics, Inc.