SAN DIEGO, Feb. 16, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trius Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:TSRX) announced today the issuance of Patent # 908206 by the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China (PRC) that protects the composition of matter of the Company's Phase 3 investigational drug, tedizolid phosphate, through 2024. In addition to the issuance in China, patents for tedizolid phosphate have also issued in other jurisdictions including Australia, Canada, Europe, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia and the United States.
"The issuance of the tedizolid patent in China exemplifies Trius' commitment to engaging in key emerging markets both directly and through our strategic partners," said Jeffrey Stein, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Trius. "China is the world's largest emerging pharmaceutical market, and Trius continues to focus on maximizing the commercial potential of tedizolid in both the high growth emerging markets as well in the key traditional markets."
Trius licensed the rights to tedizolid phosphate for Asia-Pacific and emerging markets to Bayer Pharmaceuticals and recently announced receiving a $5 million milestone payment from Bayer after the successful completion of the "112" Phase 3 clinical study of tedizolid phosphate in acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). Trius retains the rights to tedizolid in the U.S., Canada and the EU countries.
About Trius Therapeutics
Trius Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative antibiotics for life-threatening infections. The company's lead investigational drug, tedizolid phosphate, is a once daily, IV and orally administered second generation oxazolidinone in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of ABSSSI. Trius has two Special Protocol Assessments with the FDA for its two Phase 3 ABSSSI trials and has partnered with Bayer HealthCare for the development and commercialization of tedizolid phosphate outside of the U.S., Canada and the European Union. In addition to the company's tedizolid phosphate clinical program, Trius has initiated IND-enabling studies for its Gyrase-B development candidate with potent activity against Gram-negative bacterial pathogens including multi-drug resistant strains of E. coli, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas. The Gyrase-B program is one of the three preclinical programs fully supported by federal contracts. For more information, visit www.triusrx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, Trius' expectations regarding the closing of the public offering and the expected gross proceeds therefrom. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties associated with market conditions and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the offering, as well as risks and uncertainties associated with Trius' business and finances in general, and the other risks described in Trius' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, and in the preliminary prospectus supplement related to the offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Trius undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.