SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 29, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTNP) today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use ("CHMP") of the European Medicines Agency ("EMA") has adopted a positive opinion recommending the granting of a marketing authorization for the medicinal product Sixmo, the brand name for Probuphine (buprenorphine) implant in the European Union ("EU"). Sixmo is indicated for substitution treatment for opioid dependence in clinically stable adult patients who require no more than 8 mg/day of sublingual buprenorphine, within a framework of medical, social and psychological treatment.

The CHMP is a scientific committee composed of representatives from the EU, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. The CHMP reviews medical product applications on their scientific and clinical merit and provides advice to the European Commission ("EC"), which has the authority to approve medicines for the EU.

The CHMP's positive opinion of Sixmo will now be transmitted to the EC, which is expected to issue the Commission Decision for Sixmo for all 28 member states of the EU around the end of June 2019. The translations of the Product Information Annexes, which include the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), will be provided and reviewed in parallel in all EU official languages.

In March 2018, Titan entered into a definitive asset purchase, supply and support agreement with Molteni & C. dei F.lli Alitti Società di Esercizio S.p.A. ("Molteni") through which Molteni acquired the European intellectual property related to Probuphine, including the MAA under review by the EMA, and gained the exclusive right to commercialize the Titan supplied Probuphine product in Europe, as well as certain countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East and North Africa.

"Obtaining this positive CHMP opinion is an important step toward bringing this unique six month buprenorphine treatment to people in Europe living with opioid dependence, and represents a significant milestone for Titan, as well as for our commercialization partner, Molteni," said Titan's President and CEO, Sunil Bhonsle. "With Probuphine already approved and commercially available in the United States and Canada, we are looking forward to supporting Molteni as it prepares for Sixmo's pending European launch, while we also continue to work together to evaluate pursuing opportunities to commercialize the product in additional regions around the world to help reduce the significant social, economic and health burden associated with opioid dependence."

Molteni's Managing Director, Giuseppe Seghi Recli, commented, "We are pleased that our close collaboration with Titan over the past year has resulted in this positive CHMP opinion for Sixmo. In the world's second largest market for buprenorphine-based products, we believe Sixmo's unique six-month treatment period will offer European healthcare providers and patients with opioid dependence an attractive, novel treatment option. This significant achievement is in line with our European strategy of growth along our main therapeutic areas." 

About Probuphine

Probuphine is the only subdermal implant designed to deliver buprenorphine continuously for six months following insertion.

Probuphine was developed using ProNeura™, the continuous drug delivery system developed by Titan that consists of a small, solid implant made from a mixture of ethylene-vinyl acetate and a drug substance. The resulting construct is a solid matrix that is placed subdermally, normally in the upper arm in an outpatient office procedure, and removed in a similar manner at the end of the treatment period. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") approved Probuphine in May 2016, and it is the first and only buprenorphine implant available for the maintenance treatment of opioid addiction in eligible patients.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION INCLUDING INDICATION AND BOXED WARNING

Indication

PROBUPHINE is an implant that contains the medicine buprenorphine. PROBUPHINE is used to treat certain adults who are addicted to (dependent on) opioid drugs (either prescription or illegal). PROBUPHINE is indicated for the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence in patients who have achieved and sustained prolonged clinical stability on low-to-moderate doses (doses no more than 8 mg per day) of a transmucosal buprenorphine-containing product.

PROBUPHINE is part of a complete treatment program that also includes counseling and behavioral therapy.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to buprenorphine or any other ingredients in PROBUPHINE (e.g., EVA).

Call your healthcare provider right away if: 

• PROBUPHINE sticks out of the skin or comes out by itself
• You have bleeding or symptoms of infection at the site after insertion or removal, including excessive or worsening itching, pain, irritation, redness, or swelling
• You have numbness or weakness in your arm after the insertion or removal procedure
• You have weakness or numbness in your arm, or shortness of breath

Because of the risk of complications of, migration, protrusion, expulsion and nerve injury with insertion and removal of PROBUPHINE, it is only available through a restricted program called the PROBUPHINE REMS Program. Healthcare Providers who Prescribe and/or Insert PROBUPHINE must be certified with the program by enrolling and completing live training.

• PROBUPHINE is not available in retail pharmacies.
• PROBUPHINE must be inserted or removed only in the facility of the certified prescriber.

Implants may be difficult to locate if inserted too deeply, if you manipulate them, or if you gain significant weight after insertion.  Your healthcare provider may do special procedures or tests, or refer you to a surgical specialist to remove the implants if they are difficult to locate.

The medicine in PROBUPHINE can cause serious and life-threatening problems, especially if you take or use certain other medicines or drugs.  Call your healthcare provider right away or get emergency help if you feel faint or dizzy, have mental changes such as confusion, slower breathing than you normally have, severe sleepiness, blurred vision, problems with coordination, slurred speech, cannot think well or clearly, high body temperature, slowed reflexes, feel agitated, stiff muscles or have trouble walking.

These can be signs of an overdose or other serious problems. 

Coma or death can happen if you take anxiety medicines or benzodiazepines, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, or sedatives, antidepressants, or antihistamines, or drink alcohol during treatment with PROBUPHINE. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any of these medicines or if you drink alcohol.

Who should not use PROBUPHINE?
Do not use PROBUPHINE if you are allergic to buprenorphine or any of its ingredients, this includes buprenorphine hydrochloride and the inactive ingredient ethylene vinyl acetate or EVA.

PROBUPHINE may not be right for you. Before starting PROBUPHINE tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including:
Trouble breathing or lung problems, an enlarged prostate gland (men), a head injury or brain problem, problems urinating, a curve in your spine that affects your breathing, liver problems, gallbladder or adrenal gland problems, Addison's disease, low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism), a history of alcoholism, a history of keloid formation, connective tissue disease (such as scleroderma), or history of MRSA infections, mental problems such as hallucinations, an allergy to numbing medicines or medicines used to clean your skin, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

 What should I avoid while being treated with PROBUPHINE?

• Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or perform any other dangerous activities until you know how this medication affects you.
• You should not drink alcohol during treatment. You should not take anxiety medicines or benzodiazepines, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, or sedatives that are not prescribed to you during treatment with PROBUPHINE, as this can lead to slowed breathing, drowsiness, delayed reaction time, loss of consciousness or even death.

What are the possible side effects of PROBUPHINE?
PROBUPHINE can cause serious side effects, including:

• Infection at the insertion or removal site. Infection may happen at the implant site during insertion or removal. Do not try to remove PROBUPHINE yourself.
• Opioid withdrawal. If PROBUPHINE comes out of your arm or if you stop treatment, tell your doctor right away as you can have symptoms of shaking, sweating more than normal, feeling hot or cold more than normal, runny nose, watery eyes, goose bumps, diarrhea, vomiting and muscle aches.
• Physical dependency.
• Liver problems. Call your doctor right away if you notice signs of liver problems that may include your skin or the white part of your eyes turning yellow (jaundice)
• Allergic reaction. If you get a rash, hives, itching, swelling of your face, or wheezing, low blood pressure, dizziness or decrease in consciousness.
• Decrease in blood pressure. You may feel dizzy when you get up from sitting or lying down.

Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any of the symptoms listed.
Common side effects of PROBUPHINE include: Headache, nausea, toothache, constipation, depression, vomiting, back pain, mouth and throat pain.
Common risks with the minor surgical procedure:  Itching, pain, irritation, redness, swelling, bleeding, or bruising at the insertion or removal site. Scarring around the insertion site.

Please read U.S. Full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING. 

Titan encourages you to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. You can click here  or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

About Titan Pharmaceuticals
Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTNP), based in South San Francisco, CA, is a commercial stage company developing proprietary therapeutics with its ProNeura™ long-term, continuous drug delivery technology. The company's lead product is Probuphine® (buprenorphine) implant, a novel and long-acting formulation of buprenorphine for the long-term maintenance treatment of opioid dependence. Approved by the FDA in May 2016, Probuphine is the first and only commercialized treatment of opioid dependence to provide continuous, around-the-clock blood levels of buprenorphine for six months following a single procedure. The ProNeura technology also has the potential to be used in developing products for treating other chronic conditions such as Parkinson's disease and hypothyroidism, where maintaining consistent, around-the-clock blood levels of medication may benefit the patient and improve medical outcomes. For more information about Titan, please visit www.titanpharm.com.

About Molteni
Founded in Florence in 1892, Molteni is a privately-held specialty pharmaceutical company developing, manufacturing and marketing pharmacological treatments for addictions and moderate to severe pain.  Molteni is a leader in the field of drug dependence. Molteni operates both directly and through its network of specialized partners in more than 50 countries and it is a preferred and qualified partner of International Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations such as UNICEF, UNDP, IDA Foundation and Global Fund. For more information, please visit www.moltenifarma.it.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our product commercialization and development programs and any other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's current expectations include those risks and uncertainties relating to the commercialization of Probuphine, the regulatory approval process, the development, testing, production and marketing of our drug candidates, patent and intellectual property matters and strategic agreements and relationships.  We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

CONTACTS:

Sunil Bhonsle,
President & CEO
(650) 244-4990

Stephen Kilmer
Investor Relations
(650) 989-2215
skilmer@titanpharm.com

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SOURCE Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.