Merck Underscores Continued Commitment to Fighting Infectious Diseases With More than 25 Data Presentations at ECCMID 2017

KENILWORTH, N.J. April 19, 2017 –(BUSINESS WIRE)–Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that researchers are scheduled to provide more than 25 scientific data presentations on the company’s established and investigational infectious disease medicines at this year’s 27th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), April 22-25 in Vienna, Austria.

“Infectious diseases remain one of the great public health threats in the world today. At Merck, we have never wavered in our commitment to invest in developing anti-infective therapies that prevent and treat serious infectious diseases,” said Dr. Nicholas Kartsonis, vice president, infectious disease clinical research, Merck Research Laboratories. “We also continue to collaborate with researchers, clinicians and other stakeholders worldwide to advocate for responsible use of these important medicines.”

Presentations at ECCMID 2017 will include topline data from the pivotal Phase 3 clinical study of letermovir, Merck’s investigational antiviral medicine for prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection or disease in adult CMV-seropositive recipients of an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).

Researchers also will present “real-world use” data as well as data on the in vitro activity of ZERBAXA® 1.5 g (ceftolozane 1 g and tazobactam 0.5 g). ZERBAXA is indicated for the treatment of adults with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI), including pyelonephritis, and in combination with metronidazole, complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) caused by designated susceptible Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Other studies to be presented include data on the in vitro activity of relebactam, Merck’s investigational beta-lactamase inhibitor, in combination with imipenem/cilastatin (an approved carbapenem antibiotic), collected as part of the SMART (Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends) surveillance program. SMART was initiated by Merck in 2002 to monitor the in vitro susceptibility of clinical isolates to several commonly used antibiotics in different regions of the world to monitor changing trends in antibiotic susceptibility. Bacterial samples have been collected and characterized from patients with intra-abdominal, urinary tract and lower-respiratory tract infections.

Select data presentations at ECCMID 2017 include:

Letermovir

• Safety and tolerability of letermovir prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in adult CMV-seropositive recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (ALLO-HCT), R. Chemaly (Oral Presentation, Abstract No. 2800, 11:42 – 11:52 a.m., Monday, April 24, Exhibit Hall H)

ZERBAXA (ceftolozane and tazobactam)

• Ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) prescribing patterns in hospitalized patients: A multicenter evaluation, J. Pogue (Abstract No. 7013, 8:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Saturday, April 22, ePoster Viewing Area)
• Antimicrobial activity of ceftolozane/tazobactam tested against contemporary (2014-2016) P. aeruginosa isolates from hospitalized patients with bloodstream infections and pneumonia in European medical centres, D. Shortridge (Abstract No. 1577, 12:30 -1:30 p.m., Monday, April 24, Paper Poster Area)
• Antimicrobial activity of ceftolozane/tazobactam tested against contemporary (2014-2016) Gram-negative organisms collected from European medical centres, D. Shortridge (Abstract No. 1607, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., Monday, April 24, Paper Poster Area)
• Antimicrobial activity of ceftolozane/tazobactam tested against contemporary (2014-2016) Gram-negative organisms collected from Latin American medical centres, L. Duncan (Abstract No. 2739, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., Monday, April 24, Paper Poster Area)

Imipenem/Relebactam

• Determining resistance mechanisms in Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates that demonstrate altered susceptibility profiles to beta-lactam-relebactam (REL) versus beta-lactam-avibactam (AVI) combinations, M. Barnes (Abstract No. 5165, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., Saturday, April 22, Paper Poster Area)
• Activity of imipenem-relebactam against Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from respiratory tract infections in Europe, SMART 2015, V. Di Lorenzo (Abstract No. 1340, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., Monday, April 24, Paper Poster Area)
• Global perspective on imipenem non-susceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates collected as part of the SMART surveillance programme, 2015, K. Kazmierczak (Abstract No. 1462, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., Monday, April 24, Paper Poster Area)
• Relebactam (REL) in combination with imipenem (IMI) activity against KPC-producing Enterobacteriaceae, K. Papp-Wallace (Abstract No. 2629, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., Monday, April 24, Paper Poster Area)

For more information, including a complete list of presentation titles, please visit the ECCMID website at www.eccmid.org.

Merck’s commitment to infectious diseases
For more than 80 years, Merck has contributed to the discovery and development of novel medicines and vaccines to combat infectious diseases. In addition to a combined portfolio of antibiotic and antifungal medicines, vaccines, and medicines for HIV and HCV, Merck has multiple programs that span discovery through late-stage development. Merck currently has nine compounds in Phase 2/Phase 3 clinical trials for the potential treatment or prevention of infectious diseases.

About ZERBAXA
ZERBAXA (ceftolozane and tazobactam) is an antibacterial combination product for intravenous infusion consisting of the cephalosporin antibacterial drug ceftolozane sulfate and the beta-lactamase inhibitor tazobactam sodium.

ZERBAXA is approved in the United States and is indicated in adult patients for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI), including pyelonephritis, caused by the following Gram-negative microorganisms: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. ZERBAXA used in combination with metronidazole is indicated in adult patients for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) caused by the following Gram-negative and Gram-positive microorganisms: Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacteroides fragilis, Streptococcus anginosus, Streptococcus constellatus, and Streptococcus salivarius.

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of ZERBAXA and other antibacterial drugs, ZERBAXA should be used only to treat infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

Important Safety Information about ZERBAXA
Patients with renal impairment: Decreased efficacy of ZERBAXA has been observed in patients with baseline CrCl of 30 to ≤50 mL/min. In a clinical trial, patients with cIAIs with CrCl >50 mL/min had a clinical cure rate of 85.2% when treated with ZERBAXA plus metronidazole vs. 87.9% when treated with meropenem. In the same trial, patients with CrCl 30 to ≤50 mL/min had a clinical cure rate of 47.8% when treated with ZERBAXA (ceftolozane and tazobactam) plus metronidazole vs. 69.2% when treated with meropenem. A similar trend was also seen in the cUTI trial. Monitor CrCl at least daily in patients with changing renal function and adjust the dose of ZERBAXA accordingly.

Hypersensitivity: ZERBAXA is contraindicated in patients with known serious hypersensitivity to ceftolozane/tazobactam, piperacillin/tazobactam, or other members of the beta-lactam class. Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions have been reported in patients receiving beta-lactam antibacterials. Before initiating therapy with ZERBAXA, make careful inquiry about previous hypersensitivity reactions to cephalosporins, penicillins, or other beta-lactams. If an anaphylactic reaction to ZERBAXA occurs, discontinue use and institute appropriate therapy.

Clostridium difficile – associated diarrhea (CDAD), ranging from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis, has been reported with nearly all systemic antibacterial agents, including ZERBAXA. Careful medical history is necessary because CDAD has been reported to occur more than two months after the administration of antibacterial agents. If CDAD is confirmed, antibacterial use not directed against C. difficile should be discontinued, if possible.

Development of drug-resistant bacteria: Prescribing ZERBAXA in the absence of a proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria.

Adverse reactions: The most common adverse reactions occurring in ≥5% of patients were headache (5.8%) in the cUTI trial, and nausea (7.9%), diarrhea (6.2%) and pyrexia (5.6%) in the cIAI trial.

About Merck
For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and communities around the world – including cancer, cardio-metabolic diseases, emerging animal diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and infectious diseases including HIV and Ebola. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA
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Please see Prescribing Information for ZERBAXA (ceftolozane and tazobactam) at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/z/zerbaxa/zerbaxa_pi.pdf

SOURCE: Merck