Summit to Present Phase 2 CoDIFy Trial Data Highlighting Ridinilazole's Preservation of the Microbiome in CDI Patients at ASM Microbe 2016

OXFORD, United Kingdom, May 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Summit Therapeutics plc (AIM:SUMM) (NASDAQ:SMMT), the drug discovery and development company advancing therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Clostridium difficile infection (‘CDI’), announces that the Company will present additional positive Phase 2 CoDIFy trial data on ridinilazole versus standard of care, vancomycin, highlighting ridinilazole’s preservation of the microbiome in the treatment of CDI. These data will be presented as posters at the ASM Microbe 2016 meeting that will be held 16-20 June in Boston, MA, US.

Ridinilazole is part of a novel structural class of antibiotics with potential for broad use in the treatment of CDI. As previously reported, in a Phase 2 clinical trial called CoDIFy, ridinilazole demonstrated substantial clinical benefit over vancomycin. The data to be presented at ASM Microbe, including additional results from CoDIFy, further highlight ridinilazole as a highly selective antibiotic for CDI with the potential to treat the initial infection and reduce recurrent disease, the key clinical issue in the treatment of CDI.

All of the poster presentations take place on 20 June 2016 from 12:30-14:30 EDT. Details are as follows:

Session: Monday Late-Breaker Poster Presentations
Abstract Number: LB-116
Title: Ridinilazole Preserves Major Components of the Intestinal Microbiota During Treatment of Clostridium difficile Infection
Authors: J. Chang, A. Kane, L. McDermott, R. J. Vickers, D. R. Snydman, C. M. Thorpe

Session: Clostridium difficile: Efficacy of New Therapeutic Interventions
Abstract Number: MONDAY-440
Title: Ridinilazole (RDZ) for Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) – Further Data from the CoDIFy Phase 2 Clinical Trial
Authors: R. J. Vickers, M. H. Wilcox, D. N. Gerding

Session: Clostridium difficile: Efficacy of New Therapeutic Interventions
Abstract Number: MONDAY-441
Title: Ridinilazole for Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI). Reductions in Calprotectin and Lactoferrin During Therapy
Authors: Y. Ke, R. Vickers, Y-X. Li

Session: Clostridium difficile: Efficacy of New Therapeutic Interventions
Abstract Number: MONDAY-442
Title: Analysis of C. difficile Isolated from Stools of Patients Enrolled in a Phase II Clinical Trial of Ridinilazole (SMT19969)
Authors: D. R. Snydman, L. A. McDermott, C. M. Thorpe, J. Chang, J. Wick S. T. Walk, R. Vickers

Session: Clostridium difficile: Efficacy of New Therapeutic Interventions
Abstract Number: MONDAY-443
Title: Resistance Development Studies with Ridinilazole (RDZ) and Clostridium difficile
Authors: D. Hall, C. Pillar, R. Vickers, D. Shinabarger

About C. difficile Infection
C. difficile infection is a serious healthcare threat in hospitals, long-term care homes and increasingly the wider community with between 450,000 and 700,000 cases of CDI in the US annually. It is caused by an infection of the colon by the bacterium C. difficile, which produces toxins that cause inflammation, severe diarrhoea and in the most serious cases can be fatal. Patients typically develop CDI following the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics that can cause widespread damage to the natural gastrointestinal (gut) flora and allow overgrowth of C. difficile bacteria. Existing CDI treatments are predominantly broad spectrum antibiotics, and these cause further damage to the gut flora and are associated with high rates of recurrent disease. Recurrent disease is the key clinical issue as repeat episodes are typically more severe and associated with an increase in mortality rates and healthcare costs. The economic impact of CDI is significant with one study estimating annual acute care costs at $4.8 billion in the US.

About Ridinilazole
Ridinilazole (previously known as SMT19969) is an orally administered small molecule antibiotic that Summit is developing specifically for the treatment of CDI. In preclinical efficacy studies, ridinilazole exhibited a narrow spectrum of activity and had a potent bactericidal effect against all clinical isolates of C. difficile tested. In a Phase 2 proof of concept trial in CDI patients, ridinilazole showed statistical superiority in sustained clinical response (‘SCR’) rates compared to the standard of care, vancomycin. In this trial, SCR was defined as clinical cure at end of treatment and no recurrence of CDI within 30 days of the end of therapy. Ridinilazole has received Qualified Infectious Disease Product (‘QIDP’) designation and has been granted Fast Track designation by the US Food and Drug Administration. The QIDP incentives are provided through the US GAIN Act and include an extension of marketing exclusivity for an additional five years upon FDA approval.

About Summit Therapeutics
Summit is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel medicines for indications for which there are no existing or only inadequate therapies. Summit is conducting clinical programs focused on the genetic disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the infectious disease C. difficile infection. Further information is available at www.summitplc.com and Summit can be followed on Twitter (@summitplc).

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Forward Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about Summit’s future expectations, plans and prospects, including but not limited to, statements about the clinical and preclinical development of Summit’s product candidates, the therapeutic potential of Summit’s product candidates, and the timing of initiation, completion and availability of data from clinical trials, and other statements containing the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "would," and similar expressions, constitute forward looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties inherent in the initiation of future clinical trials, availability and timing of data from on-going and future clinical trials and the results of such trials, whether preliminary results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of that trial or whether results of early clinical trials or preclinical studies will be indicative of the results of later clinical trials, expectations for regulatory approvals, availability of funding sufficient for Summit’s foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of filings that Summit makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission including Summit’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016. Accordingly readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements or information. In addition, any forward looking statements included in this press release represent Summit’s views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing Summit’s views as of any subsequent date. Summit specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements included in this press release.

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