SAN DIEGO, Jan. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: HRTX), a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on improving the lives of patients by developing best-in-class treatments to address some of the most important unmet patient needs, today highlighted progress in its pain management and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) franchises.

Recent Corporate Progress

Pain Management Franchise

• Acceptance of HTX-011 NDA for Postoperative Pain Management with Priority Review Designation; PDUFA Date of April 30, 2019: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently accepted the new drug application (NDA) for Heron's investigational agent, HTX-011, and has granted it a Priority Review designation. The FDA set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of April 30, 2019 and indicated that it is not currently planning an advisory committee meeting to discuss this application.
• 90% of Patients Treated with HTX-011 Opioid-Free 72 Hours Post-Surgery in New Multi-center Clinical Study: In this study, 63 patients undergoing hernia repair surgery received HTX-011 together with a regimen of generic, over-the-counter (OTC), oral analgesics (acetaminophen and ibuprofen). Ninety percent (90%) of patients were opioid-free 72 hours post-surgery, and 81% were still opioid-free 28 days post-surgery.
• Formal Development Initiated on HTX-034, Our Next-Generation Product for Postoperative Pain Management: Based on the positive results of preclinical studies in which HTX-034 demonstrated significant pain reduction for 7 days, Heron has initiated formal development of this next-generation postoperative pain product.

CINV Franchise

• Fourth-Quarter 2018 Net Sales: Fourth-quarter 2018 net sales for the CINV franchise were approximately $28.1 million, up 180% year-over-year and up 42% from the third quarter of 2018. This included net sales of approximately $23.0 million for CINVANTI^® (aprepitant) injectable emulsion and approximately $5.1 million for SUSTOL^® (granisetron) extended-release injection.
• Full-Year 2018 Net Sales: Full-year 2018 net sales for the CINV franchise were approximately $76.7 million, versus guidance of $70 million to $72 million. This included net sales of approximately $55.8 million for CINVANTI and approximately $20.9 million for SUSTOL.
• Full-Year 2019 Net Sales Guidance: Heron expects full year 2019 net sales for the CINV franchise of $115 million to $120 million.

"2018 was a year of significant progress for Heron. On the commercial front, we are very pleased with the strong sales performance of our CINV franchise. On the development front, HTX-011 has now been shown to reduce pain significantly better than placebo or bupivacaine solution in five diverse surgical models, including studies that resulted in significantly more patients receiving HTX-011 who were opioid-free through 72 hours after surgery," said Barry D. Quart, Pharm.D., Chief Executive Officer of Heron. "In 2019, we look forward to working with the FDA to bring an important non-opioid pain management option to patients. We believe that HTX-011, if approved, could have a considerable impact on the opioid epidemic by significantly reducing the proportion of patients who experience severe pain and receive opioids after surgery."

About HTX-011 for Postoperative Pain

HTX-011, which utilizes Heron's proprietary Biochronomer^® drug delivery technology, is an investigational, long-acting, extended-release formulation of the local anesthetic bupivacaine in a fixed-dose combination with the anti-inflammatory meloxicam for the management of postoperative pain. By delivering sustained levels of both a potent anesthetic and a local anti-inflammatory agent directly to the site of tissue injury, HTX-011 was designed to deliver superior pain relief while reducing the need for systemically administered pain medications such as opioids, which carry the risk of harmful side effects, abuse and addiction. HTX-011 has been shown to reduce pain significantly better than placebo or bupivacaine solution in five diverse surgical models: hernia repair, abdominoplasty, bunionectomy, total knee arthroplasty and breast augmentation. HTX-011 was granted Fast Track designation from the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2017 and Breakthrough Therapy designation in the second quarter of 2018. Heron submitted an NDA to the FDA for HTX-011 in October of 2018 and received Priority Review designation in December of 2018. The FDA set a PDUFA goal date of April 30, 2019.

About CINVANTI (aprepitant) injectable emulsion

CINVANTI, in combination with other antiemetic agents, is indicated in adults for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy (HEC) including high-dose cisplatin and nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy (MEC). CINVANTI is an intravenous formulation of aprepitant, a substance P/neurokinin-1 (NK₁) receptor antagonist. CINVANTI is the first intravenous (IV) formulation to directly deliver aprepitant, the active ingredient in EMEND^® capsules. Aprepitant (including its prodrug, fosaprepitant) is the only single-agent NK₁ receptor antagonist to significantly reduce nausea and vomiting in both the acute phase (0 – 24 hours after chemotherapy) and the delayed phase (24 – 120 hours after chemotherapy). CINVANTI is the only IV formulation of an NK₁ receptor antagonist indicated for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with HEC and nausea and vomiting associated with MEC that is free of polysorbate 80 or any other synthetic surfactant. Pharmaceutical formulations containing polysorbate 80 have been linked to hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis and irritation of blood vessels resulting in infusion-site pain. FDA-approved dosing administration included in the United States prescribing information for CINVANTI is a 30-minute infusion.

Please see full prescribing information at www.CINVANTI.com.

About SUSTOL (granisetron) extended-release injection

SUSTOL is indicated in combination with other antiemetics in adults for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) or anthracycline and cyclophosphamide (AC) combination chemotherapy regimens. SUSTOL is an extended-release, injectable 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist that utilizes Heron's Biochronomer^® drug delivery technology to maintain therapeutic levels of granisetron for ≥5 days. The SUSTOL global Phase 3 development program was comprised of two, large, guideline-based clinical studies that evaluated SUSTOL's efficacy and safety in more than 2,000 patients with cancer. SUSTOL's efficacy in preventing nausea and vomiting was evaluated in both the acute phase (0 – 24 hours after chemotherapy) and delayed phase (24 – 120 hours after chemotherapy).

Please see full prescribing information at www.SUSTOL.com.

About Heron Therapeutics, Inc.

Heron Therapeutics, Inc. is a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on improving the lives of patients by developing best-in-class treatments to address some of the most important unmet patient needs. Heron is developing novel, patient-focused solutions that apply its innovative science and technologies to already-approved pharmacological agents for patients suffering from pain or cancer.

For more information, visit www.herontx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Heron cautions readers that forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this news release and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, those associated with: the full-year 2019 net sales guidance for the CINV franchise; whether the FDA approves the HTX-011 NDA as submitted; the timing of the FDA's review process for HTX-011; whether the FDA will require an advisory committee meeting for HTX-011 in the future; the anticipated commercial launch of HTX-011; the timing and results of the studies in the HTX-034 development program; and other risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements reflect our analysis only on their stated date, and Heron takes no obligation to update or revise these statements except as may be required by law.

Investor Relations and Media Contact:

David L. Szekeres
Senior VP, General Counsel, Business Development and Corporate Secretary
[email protected] 
858-251-4447 

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SOURCE Heron Therapeutics, Inc.