ATLANTA, May 13, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alimera Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALIM) (Alimera), a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the research, development and commercialization of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, today announced the resubmission on May 12, 2011 of its New Drug Application for the investigational drug ILUVIEN® to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The resubmission addresses questions raised in the Complete Response Letter (CRL) received in December 2010.
According to the FDA's classification, this will be a Class 2 resubmission. Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), FDA review of a Class 2 resubmission is expected to be completed within a six-month period beginning on the date that the resubmission is received.
This resubmission addresses the FDA's request for analyses of the safety and efficacy data through month 36 of Alimera's FAME Study, and includes the data from the subgroup population that was presented last week at the 2011 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting. In addition, the resubmission includes further information regarding controls and specifications about the manufacturing, packaging and sterilization of ILUVIEN, which was requested by the FDA.
"We believe that the resubmission package sent to the FDA will demonstrate the safety and efficacy of ILUVIEN and address the FDA's additional issues," said Dan Myers, Alimera's president and CEO. "We look forward to working with the FDA for a prompt review and response."
In the CRL, the FDA also indicated that it had observed deficiencies in current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) during its facility inspections of two of Alimera's third-party manufacturers. Alimera believes the deficiencies have been resolved and no further action is required because the FDA has issued letters to both of these third-party manufacturers indicating that the inspections are now closed.
About Alimera Sciences, Inc.
Alimera Sciences, Inc., based in Alpharetta, Georgia, is a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the research, development and commercialization of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. Presently, Alimera is focused on diseases affecting the back of the eye, or retina. Its advanced product candidate, ILUVIEN, is an investigational intravitreal insert containing fluocinolone acetonide (FAc), a non-proprietary corticosteroid with demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of ocular disease. ILUVIEN is in development for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME), a disease of the retina that affects individuals with diabetes and can lead to severe vision loss and blindness.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding, among other things, Alimera's future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for Alimera's future operations. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "contemplate," "predict," "project," "target," "likely," "potential," "continue," "will," "would," "should," "could," or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. The events and circumstances reflected in Alimera's forward-looking statements may not occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in its forward-looking statements. Meaningful factors which could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, delay in or failure to obtain regulatory approval of Alimera's product candidates, uncertainty as to Alimera's ability to commercialize, and market acceptance of, its product candidates, the extent of government regulations, uncertainty as to relationship between the benefits of Alimera's product candidates and the risks of their side-effect profiles, dependence on third-party manufacturers to manufacture Alimera's product candidates in sufficient quantities and quality, uncertainty of clinical trial results, limited sales and marketing infrastructure, inability of Alimera's outside sales force to successfully sell and market ILUVIEN in the U.S. following regulatory approval and Alimera's ability to operate its business in compliance with the covenants and restrictions that it is subject to under its credit facility, as well as other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of Alimera's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and available on the SEC's website at . In addition to the risks described above and in Alimera's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the SEC, other unknown or unpredictable factors also could affect Alimera's results. There can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by Alimera will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Alimera. Therefore, no assurance can be given that the outcomes stated in such forward-looking statements and estimates will be achieved.
All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Alimera cautions investors not to rely too heavily on the forward-looking statements Alimera makes or that are made on its behalf. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release (unless another date is indicated). Alimera undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, to publicly update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACT: For press inquiries: Katie Brazel, Fleishman-Hillard for Alimera Sciences 404-739-0150 katie.brazel@fleishman.com For investor inquiries: John Mills, ICR for Alimera Sciences 310-954-1105 John.Mills@ICRINC.com