Avanir (AVNR) Accelerates Development Path for AVP-786 After FDA Pre-IND Success

Expedited Development Path will Allow Seamless Integration of AVP-786 into ongoing Clinical Programs

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., June 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVNR) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to an expedited development pathway for their next-generation compound, AVP-786, requiring only a limited pre-clinical package as part of the Investigational New Drug (IND) application.  Upon completion of these preclinical studies the company intends to proceed directly into human clinical trials.

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“We are very pleased with the outcome of our recent meeting with the Division of Neurology of the FDA,” said Joao Siffert, MD, Avanir’s chief scientific officer.  “Avanir will be allowed to reference the extensive data generated during AVP-923 development programs in support of the AVP-786 IND and subsequent new drug application. This has the potential to substantially reduce the cost and time to market.  We anticipate that we will be able to seamlessly integrate AVP-786 into our ongoing development programs in neuropathic pain, agitation in Alzheimer’s disease and levodopa induced dyskinesia in Parkinson’s disease.”

About AVP-786
AVP-786 is a novel investigational drug product consisting of a combination of deuterium modified dextromethorphan (a new chemical entity or NCE) and ultra-low dose quinidine, used as a metabolic inhibitor. Incorporation of deuterium into specific positions of the dextromethorphan molecule strengthens the chemical bonds and reduces susceptibility to enzyme cleavage and first pass metabolism, but without altering its pharmacology. AVP-786 is an investigational drug not approved by the FDA.

About AVP-923
AVP-923 is a combination of two well-characterized compounds, the active CNS ingredient dextromethorphan hydrobromide (an uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist and sigma-1 receptor agonist) plus low-dose quinidine sulfate (a CYP2D6 enzyme inhibitor), which serves to increase the bioavailability of dextromethorphan. AVP-923 is being studied in several ongoing clinical trials including agitation in Alzheimer’s disease, neuropathic pain in Multiple Sclerosis, levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson’s disease, and behavioral symptoms of autism. AVP-923 for the above investigational uses has not been approved by the FDA.

About Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on bringing innovative medicines to patients with central nervous system disorders of high unmet medical need. As part of our commitment, we have extensively invested in our pipeline and are dedicated to advancing medicines that can substantially improve the lives of patients and their loved ones. For more information about Avanir, please visit www.avanir.com.

AVANIR^® is a trademark or registered trademark of Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

^©2013 Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Forward Looking Statements
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements regarding Avanir’s plans, potential opportunities, financial or other expectations, projections, goals objectives, milestones, strategies, market growth, timelines, legal matters, product pipeline, clinical studies, product development and the potential benefits of its commercialized products and products under development are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the risks and uncertainties associated with, the market demand for and acceptance of Avanir’s products domestically and internationally, research, development and commercialization of new products domestically and internationally, including the risks and uncertainties associated with meeting the objectives of the study of AVP-786, including, but not limited to, risks relating to the successful development of this investigational drug, delays or failures in enrollment, obtaining additional indications for commercially marketed products domestically and internationally, obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals domestically and internationally, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on current information that may change and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the issuance of this press release.

Avanir Investor & Media Contact
Ian Clements, PhD
ir@avanir.com
+1 (949) 389-6700