News Releases

DEER PARK, Ill., Oct. 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ETON), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative drug products, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Biorphen®, the first and only FDA-approved ready-to-use formulation of phenylephrine for the treatment of clinically important hypotension resulting primarily from vasodilation in the setting of anesthesia.

Prior to the FDA approval of Biorphen, phenylephrine injection was only approved and available as a highly concentrated formulation that required hospitals to manually dilute the concentrate prior to administration, or purchase ready-to-use formulations from 503B compounding pharmacies. Compounded drugs do not have to undergo FDA premarket review for safety, effectiveness and certain controls over manufacturing quality. Due to this lower regulatory standard, compounded drugs are often associated with higher risks of medication error.1

“Today’s FDA approval of Biorphen addresses a critical medical need for an approved, ready-to-use standardized formulation of phenylephrine that can potentially reduce medication administration errors and improve patient safety,” said Sean Brynjelsen, chief executive officer of Eton Pharmaceuticals. "The approval of Biorphen represents an important step forward in Eton’s commitment to improving existing medicines to address unmet patient needs. We look forward to working with our manufacturing partner, Sintetica, to make Biorphen available to hospitals across the United States before the end of the year.” 

“Operating rooms, emergency departments and intensive care units are fast-paced and time-sensitive environments. Add to that the complexity of caring for patients with a wide range of critical conditions and the use of high-alert medications like phenylephrine – and you have an atmosphere primed for potential medication error,” said Jared Marcucci, M.D., assistant director, Community First Medical Center Department of Emergency Medicine in Chicago. “As a practicing emergency medicine physician, the availability of an FDA-approved, ready-to-use formulation of phenylephrine is a welcome advance, providing physicians and hospital systems with an important new option that does not require compounding and can potentially help reduce the risk of medication errors and minimize harm to patients.”

“Providers at the bedside need reliable, easy to use, safe drugs that have a consistent supply.  Many hospitals outsource unapproved ready-to-use phenylephrine from 503B compounders, however often have to navigate supply disruptions through these suppliers,” said Heather Nixon, M.D., Associate Professor Anesthesiology, University of Illinois at Chicago Hospital. “The availability of Biorphen will help address many of the underlying causes for risk and error associated with compounded phenylephrine while also reducing potential for waste associated with overdrawing medications. This will be an important new tool for anesthesiologists, pharmacists and other hospital providers in their efforts to enhance patient safety and prevent patient harm.” 

About Biorphen
Biorphen® (phenylephrine HCI) Injection is the first and only FDA-approved ready-to-use formulation of phenylephrine for treating clinically important hypotension resulting primarily from vasodilation in the setting of anesthesia. Designed for patient safety, Biorphen can be administered without diluting, which reduces the risk of medication error in often stressful clinical environments. No compounding also reduces the risk of sterility breach, can assist safe injection practices, and reduces waste. Ready-to-use Biorphen can be standardized and stocked in the operating room, emergency department and intensive care unit, as well as in crash carts throughout the hospital. Biorphen’s three-year shelf life reduces the need for hospital staff to monitor and restock it as frequently as compounded phenylephrine.

INDICATION & USAGE 
BIORPHEN injection is an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of clinically important hypotension resulting primarily from vasodilation in the setting of anesthesia.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION 
Intravenous administration of phenylephrine can precipitate angina in patients with severe arteriosclerosis or history of angina, exacerbate underlying heart failure, and increase pulmonary arterial pressure.  BIORPHEN can cause excessive peripheral and visceral vasoconstriction and ischemia to vital organs as well as severe bradycardia and decreased cardiac output. 

Extravasation during intravenous administration may cause necrosis or sloughing of tissue.  The most common side effects of phenylephrine during treatment are nausea, vomiting, and headache. Interactions with concomitant medications may augment or antagonize the pressor effect.  

Contraindications 
None.  

Warnings and Precautions  

• Exacerbation of Angina, Heart Failure, or Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
• Peripheral and Visceral Ischemia
• Skin and Subcutaneous Necrosis
• Bradycardia

Adverse Reactions  
Most common adverse reactions during treatment: nausea, vomiting, and headache. 

Drug Interactions 

• Agonistic Effects (increase in BIORPHEN blood pressure effect) can occur with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), oxytocin and oxytocic drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, angiotensin and aldosterone, atropine, steroids, norepinephrine transporter inhibitors, ergot alkaloids.
• Antagonistic Effects (decrease in BIORPHEN blood pressure effect) can occur with α-adrenergic antagonists, phosphodiesterase Type 5 inhibitors, mixed α- and β-receptor antagonists, calcium channel blockers, benzodiazepines and ACE inhibitors, centrally acting sympatholytic agents 

Overdosage 
Overdose of BIORPHEN (phenylephrine hydrochloride) can cause a rapid rise in blood pressure. Symptoms of overdose include headache, vomiting, hypertension, reflex bradycardia, a sensation of fullness in the head, tingling of the extremities, and cardiac arrhythmias including ventricular extrasystoles and ventricular tachycardia.

Please see full Prescribing Information

About Eton Pharmaceuticals
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative products utilizing the FDA’s 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway. Eton is primarily focused on liquid dosage forms including injectables, oral liquids and ophthalmics. Eton has a diversified pipeline of high-value product candidates in various stages of development and therapeutic areas, including multiple product candidates currently under review by the FDA.

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, including statements associated with the expected ability of Eton to undertake certain activities and accomplish certain goals and objectives. These statements include but are not limited to statements regarding Eton’s business strategy, Eton’s plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates, the safety and efficacy of Eton’s product candidates, Eton’s plans and expected timing with respect to regulatory filings and approvals, and the size and growth potential of the markets for Eton’s product candidates. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "will," "goal," "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Eton’s current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks associated with the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs. These and other risks concerning Eton’s development programs and financial position are described in additional detail in Eton’s filings 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. Eton undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Company Contact:
David Krempa
dkrempa@etonpharma.com
847-805-1077

Media Contact:
Lindsay Rocco
Elixir Health PR
lrocco@elixirhealthpr.com
862-596-1304

REFERENCES
1. 2018 Compounding Policy Priorities Plan. US Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/2018-compounding-policypriorities-plan. Updated June 21, 2018. Accessed May 14, 2019./para 20/line 2-9

PR-ETON-001 10/2019

Source: Eton Pharmaceuticals