CDTX - Cidara stock pops as CD388 helps cut influenza risk in phase 2a trial

Cidara Therapeutics ( NASDAQ: CDTX ) said interim data from an ongoing Phase 2a trial showed that a single dose of CD388 decreased influenza viral replication in the upper respiratory tract and lowered influenza incidence rate in a human challenge model compared to placebo.

The study is being conducted under an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a unit of Johnson & Johnson ( NYSE: JNJ ), to develop and sell Cidara's Cloudbreak drug-Fc conjugates (DFCs) for preventing seasonal and pandemic influenza.

The interim analysis included data from 56 healthy people. Of the total, 28 received a single dose of CD388 (150 mg) and 28 received a placebo and were then challenged with influenza five days later, as per the company.

Area Under the Viral Load-time Curve (VL-AUC)- Mean for placebo group was 16.1(11.9), while for CD388 was 10.7 (8). Meanwhile, PCR confirmed influenza infection - n (%) —  was 14 people (50%) in the placebo group, and 6 people (21.4%) in the drug group, according to the company.

CD388 was generally well-tolerated as of the data cut-off date Feb. 13, with no treatment emergent adverse events causing study discontinuation or serious adverse events reported in the interim analysis.

"This planned interim analysis of our Phase 2a study provides preliminary evidence that CD388 may effectively prevent influenza and supports our belief in the potential of DFCs from our Cloudbreak platform," said Cidara President and CEO Jeffrey Stein.

CDTX +1.99% to $1.54 premarket March 1

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