Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACHV) shares vaulted in early Tuesday trading after the company reported positive cytisine data demonstrating no clinically significant drug-drug interaction.
The Seattle-based company said the study demonstrated that cytisine has no clinically significant interaction with any of the hepatic enzymes commonly responsible for drug metabolism nor clinically significant interaction with drug transporters. This suggests that cytisine may be administered with other medications without the need to modify the dose of the co-administered drug.
Achieve Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Anthony Clarke commented: "We are very pleased with the results of these detailed studies. Smokers are as likely as anyone to take medications for a range of conditions.
"These results suggest that cytisine is unlikely to interfere with their ability to take other medications safely, and should help to minimize restrictions on the eligibility of subjects in our forthcoming clinical trials expected to commence later this year."
Achieve's focus is to address the global smoking health epidemic through the development and commercialization of cytisine. Tobacco use is currently the leading cause of preventable death and is responsible for nearly six million deaths annually worldwide. It is estimated that 28.6% of all cancer deaths in the U.S. are attributable to cigarette smoking.
Cytisine is a plant-based alkaloid with a high binding affinity to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Two prior, large-scale Phase 3 clinical studies of cytisine, with favorable outcomes, have been successfully completed in over 2,000 patients.
Shares hiked 95 cents, or 25%, Tuesday morning to $4.75.
Related Stories
