Cempra, Inc. Continues to Differentiate Solithromycin's Potency and Activity Compared to other Macrolides in Presentations at IDWeek 2012™

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cempra, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEMP), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing antibiotics to meet critical medical needs in the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases, today announced that data show continued differentiation of the company's fourth-generation macrolide/fluoroketolide, solithromycin, from currently available macrolides.  The data will be presented at the IDWeek 2012™ conference on Oct. 17- 21 in San Diego. 

In one study, Abstract #1614, solithromycin demonstrated at least four-fold higher in vitro activity compared to azithromycin against contemporary Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains, even against strains resistant to azithromycin.  Solithromycin also demonstrates activity against intracellular N. gonorrhoeae in a human cell culture model. 

Macrolides have anti-inflammatory activity and they have been used to treat chronic inflammatory lung disorders (Martinez et al., 2008). Kobayashi et al. (Abstract #1613) compared solithromycin's anti-inflammatory activity against other macrolides in an in vitro human cell model.  They demonstrated that solithromycin is more potent than any other macrolide currently available in clinics in suppressing production of inflammatory cytokines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Activation of a transcription factor (Nf-kappaB) in these white blood cells, which is induced by oxidative stress in COPD, was completely reversed by solithromycin.

The third study, Abstract #758, added to the in vitro database of solithromycin activity against contemporary community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) pathogens.  Solithromycin demonstrated similar or greater potency than erythromycin, clindamycin and telithromycin against these organisms.  In addition, solithromycin had potent activity against enterococci, which are difficult to treat gram-positive pathogens.  

"These results add to the differentiated profile of solithromycin compared to other antibiotics either currently available or in development to treat serious infections such as CABP and gonorrhea," said Prabhavathi Fernandes, president and chief executive officer of Cempra. "We have recently released positive top-line results from our Phase 2 clinical trial in uncomplicated gonorrhea and expect to initiate our Phase 3 trial of oral solithromycin in CABP before the end of the year.  We look forward to presenting the full Phase 2 gonorrhea data set at a future conference and providing updates on the Phase 3 CABP program."    

About Cempra, Inc.
Founded in 2006, Cempra, Inc. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing antibiotics to meet critical medical needs in the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases. Cempra's two lead product candidates have both completed oral Phase 2 clinical trials and seek to address the need for new treatments targeting drug-resistant bacterial infections in the hospital and in the community. The company also intends to use its series of proprietary lead compounds from its novel macrolide library for uses such as the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, endocrine diseases and gastric motility disorders. Additional information about Cempra can be found at www.cempra.com.

About IDWeek 2012™
IDWeek 2012™ is the first joint annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA), and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS). With the theme—Advancing Science, Improving Care—IDWeek will feature the latest science and bench-to-bedside approaches in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology of infectious diseases, including HIV, across the lifespan. IDWeek 2012 takes place October 17-21 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. The full name of the meeting is IDWeek 2012™. For more information, visit www.idweek.org.

Please Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events. These statements are just predictions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the results, timing, costs and regulatory review of our studies and clinical trials; our need to obtain additional funding and our ability to obtain future funding on acceptable terms; our anticipated capital expenditures and our estimates regarding our capital requirements; our ability to obtain FDA approval of our product candidates; our dependence on the success of solithromycin and Taksta; and innovation by our competitors. The reader is referred to the documents that we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investor and Media Contacts:
Robert E. Flamm, Ph.D.
Russo Partners, LLC
(212) 845-4226
[email protected]

Andreas Marathovouniotis
Russo Partners LLC
(212) 845-4235
[email protected]

SOURCE Cempra, Inc.