In June 1995 the Company notified the FDA that it had submitted incorrect efficacy data to the FDA pertaining to its Phase II dose-ranging studies of BCX-34 for CTCL and psoriasis. The FDA inspected the Company in November 1995 in relation to a study involving the topical application of BCX-34 concluded in early 1995, and in June 1996 the FDA inspected the Company and one of its clinical sites in relation to a Phase II dose-ranging study of BCX-34 for CTCL and a Phase II dose ranging study for psoriasis, both of which were concluded in early 1995. After each inspection, the FDA issued to the Company a List of Inspectional Observations ("Form FDA 483") setting forth certain deficient Good Clinical Practices procedures followed by the Company, some of which resulted in submission to the FDA of efficacy data which reported false statistical significance. The FDA also issued a Form FDA 483 to the principal investigator at one of the Company's clinical sites citing numerous significant deficiencies in the conduct of the Phase II dose-ranging studies of BCX-34 for CTCL and psoriasis. These deficiencies included improper delegations of authority by the principal investigator, failures to follow the protocols, institutional review board deviations, and discrepancies or deficiencies in documentation and reporting. The Company received notice from the FDA in November 1997 that work in support of products under FDA jurisdiction performed by this investigator would not be accepted by the FDA without validating information. Currently, the Company does not intend to pursue a topical treatment for BCX-34, which is the clinical study this investigator pursued for the Company. As a consequence of the FDA inspections and such resulting Form FDA 483s, the Company's ongoing and future clinical studies may receive increased scrutiny; this may delay the regulatory review process or require the Company to increase the number of patients at other sites to obtain approval (which cannot be assured on a timely basis or at all). The Company has adjusted certain of its procedures, but there can be no assurance that the FDA will find such adjustments to be in compliance with FDA requirements or that, even if it does find such adjustments to be in compliance, it will not seek to impose administrative, civil or other sanctions in connection with the earlier studies.
Such sanctions or other government regulation may delay or prevent the marketing of products being developed by the Company, impose costly procedures upon the Company's activities and confer a competitive advantage to larger companies or companies that are more experienced in regulatory affairs and that compete with the Company. There can be no assurance that FDA or other regulatory approval for any products developed by the Company will be granted on a timely basis, or at all. Delay in obtaining or failure to obtain such regulatory approvals will materially adversely affect the marketing of any products which may be developed by the Company, as well as the Company's results of operations. |
