FDA accepts filing for CDI treatment

SAN DIEGO — The Food and Drug Administration has accepted a regulatory filing from Optimer Pharmaceuticals for a drug to treat bacterial infections.

Optimer announced Monday the FDA’s acceptance of its approval application for fidaxomicin for treating clostridium difficile infection, or CDI. CDI is a colon infection that is a particular problem in hospitals, long-term care centers and in the broader community. It is estimated to affect more than 700,000 people per year. The agency has granted the application priority review and expects to finish its review by May 30.

“In phase-3 clinical trials, fidaxomicin not only showed a high clinical cure rate, but also demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in reducing recurrences, one of the major problems in the current management of CDI,” Optimer president and CEO Pedro Lichtinger said.