EXTON, Pa., Oct. 6, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- ViroPharma Incorporated (Nasdaq:VPHM) today announced the presentation of data by industry thought leaders on the changing epidemiology of Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) during a symposium sponsored by the company through an unrestricted educational grant. The satellite symposium, entitled Clostridium difficile: The Changing Epidemiology, Virulence, and Outcomes from A Reemerging Pathogen, was Chaired by Dale N. Gerding, M.D., professor of medicine with the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, and included presentations by four key opinion leaders in the field of C. difficile disease regarding their experience in treating and controlling the spread of this bacterial pathogen. This symposium was conducted today at the 43rd Annual Meeting of IDSA.
The symposium was designed to meet the educational needs of clinicians involved in the treatment of patients with CDAD.
New data were presented during the symposium by Carlene Muto, M.D., M.S., director of infection control and hospital epidemiology at the University of Pittsburg Medical Center (UPMC), regarding her institution's efforts to identify CDAD and control the spread of the disease. During her presentation, entitled Poor Outcomes Associated with Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea: Identification and Control, Dr. Muto described the strict control measures put into place in her institution to contain nosocomial CDAD. In 2000, incidence of hospital acquired C. difficile infection (HACDI) in her institution increased significantly to a mean high of 7.2/1000 discharges. Between 2001 and 2003, her institution initiated a series of major intervention, including increased case finding methodologies and early identification of CDAD disease, the development of informatics tools, implementation of a C. difficile management team, enhancement of infection control measures, and targeted antibiotic restriction. By 2004, these containment and control initiatives reduced their rate of HACDI significantly to 4.7/1000 discharges. However, despite the full implementation of these procedures, the HACDI rate in the first 7 months of 2005 again increased to a mean of 5.9/1000 discharges, though full year data will be necessary to determine if the rate is again on the rise.
"Certainly we are seeing a dramatic change in the incidence and severity of CDAD, in our institution and throughout the country, predominantly associated with the emergence of the Toxinotype III strain of Clostridium difficile," commented Dr. Muto. "However, what concerns us the most is difficulty in controlling the rates of nosocomial C. difficile infection. Reduction of HACDI and adverse events associated with infection requires ongoing and significant efforts on multiple fronts. It is essential that institutions attempting to control this infection assure that there is a high level of compliance with these control procedures throughout the institution."
In addition to the presentation by Dr. Muto, three additional presentations were given by opinion leaders during the symposium. L. Clifford McDonald, M.D., a medical epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provided a general overview of the worsening state of C. difficile disease in the U.S. in a presentation entitled The Changing Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile and Identification of Toxin Variant Strains. Ciaran Kelly, M.D., the associate professor of medicine at the Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, outlined the current difficulties in supporting and treating patients with CDAD, in a presentation entitled Clostridium difficile: Treatment Difficulties. Finally, Jacques Pepin, M.D., M.Sc., professor of microbiology and infectious diseases at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, discussed his institution's experience in addressing poor patient outcomes and identifying risk factors for severe disease in a presentation entitled C. difficile-associated Disease: Frequency of Poor Outcomes, Risk Factors, Interventions.
C. difficile is a bacterium, which under certain circumstances, typically after antibiotic therapy, can colonize the lower gastrointestinal tract where it may produce toxins which cause inflammation of the colon and diarrhea, and the associated complications of disease. Advanced age, gastrointestinal surgery/manipulation, long length of stay in healthcare settings, a serious underlying illness and immunocompromising conditions are associated with increased risk of disease. According to the CDC, there are approximately 3,000,000 cases of antibiotic associated diarrhea per year, of which 15 to 25 percent are caused by C. difficile.
About ViroPharma Incorporated
ViroPharma Incorporated is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of products that address serious diseases treated by physician specialists and in hospital settings. ViroPharma commercializes Vancocin(r), approved for oral administration for treatment of antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis caused by Clostridium difficile and enterocolitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains (for prescribing information, please download the package insert at http://www.viropharma.com/docs/pulvules_pi.pdf). ViroPharma currently focuses its drug development activities in viral diseases including cytomegalovirus (CMV) and hepatitis C (HCV). For more information on ViroPharma, visit the company's website at www.viropharma.com.
Certain statements in this press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those relating to continued increase in C. difficile disease incidence and severity. Our actual results could differ materially from those results expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. The commercialization of pharmaceutical products is subject to risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that there will be no decreases in the rate of infections for which Vancocin is prescribed or that the prescribing or procedural practices of infectious disease, gastroenterologists and internal medicine doctors will not change in a manner adverse to us. These factors, and other factors, including, but not limited to those described in ViroPharma's quarterly report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause future results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in this press release. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release may become outdated over time. ViroPharma does not assume any responsibility for updating any forward-looking statements.