Citius discontinues weight loss product Suprenza

Citius Pharmaceutical last week announced the discontinuation of its weight loss product Suprenza. 

The FDA-approved product is being discontinued so the company can focus on Mino-Lok and Hydro-Lido.

"Suprenza no longer meets our core strategic objectives," Citius CEO Myron Holubiak said. "We are dedicating our focus on our Phase III asset Mino-Lok and our Phase IIb asset Hydro-Lido for hemorrhoids. We feel that the obesity and weight management market has shifted and therefore we are devoting our efforts on developing our leading two assets. We anticipate a minimal financial impact to Citius from discontinuation since we eliminate our ongoing regulatory expenses and have not historically received royalties from the product."

In its Phase IIb trial, Mino-Lok was evaluated for its ability to break down biofilms and kill bacteria in central venous catherters (CVCs). The patients suffering from catheter-related bloodstream infections may suffer from complications if the CVC is removed and replaced. Mino-Lok salvages the CVC by killing the bacteria. In the Phase IIb trial, Mino-Lok was 100 percent effective with zero adverse effects to the patients. Mino-Lok is being advanced to a Phase III trial.

Hydro-Lido, a combination of hydrocortisone and lidocaine, is moving forward to the Phase IIb trial. In the Phase IIa trial, 210 patients with hemorrhoids used a placebo or a drug treatment twice a day for 14 days. There were six different drug treatments evaluated: hydrocortisone, lidocaine or a hydrocortisone and lidocaine combination, with each drug provided in two different concentrations. Hydro-Lida showed the greatest relief from itching and pain within two days.