RedHill Biopharma and IntelGenx Announce Commencement of a Bioavailability Study With RHB-103 to Support European Marketing Application Planned for Q3

RedHill Biopharma Ltd. RDHL ("RedHill"), an emerging Israeli biopharmaceutical company focused primarily on the development and acquisition of late clinical-stage proprietary drugs, together with IntelGenx Corp. ("IntelGenx"), a Canadian drug delivery company focused on oral drug delivery, today announced the commencement of a comparative bioavailability clinical study comparing RHB-103 to the European reference drug. The study is intended to support the planned submission of a European Marketing Authorization Application ("MAA") for RHB-103, a proprietary oral thin film formulation of rizatriptan for the treatment of acute migraines. The comparative bioavailability study follows a positive scientific advice meeting with the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices ("BfArM") announced by RedHill in November 2013. This single-dose, crossover, comparative bioavailability study includes 26 healthy volunteers and is intended to evaluate and compare the relative bioavailability and to assess the bioequivalence of RHB-103 and the reference drug, Maxalt® lingua, marketed in Germany by MSD SHARP & DOHME GMBH. Results of the bioavailability study are anticipated by June 2014. Subject to the results of the study and to the required regulatory process, and in light of the data from prior successful studies conducted with RHB-103, RedHill and IntelGenx plan to submit a European MAA in the third quarter of 2014, with Germany as the reference member state, under the European Mutual Recognition Procedure ("MRP"). RedHill and IntelGenx previously conducted a successful bioavailability study which demonstrated the required U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") criteria for therapeutic bioequivalence between the RHB-103 soluble oral thin film and the U.S. reference drug, Maxalt-MLT®. Following the successful bioequivalence study, RedHill and IntelGenx announced in 2013 the submission to the FDA and acceptance for review of a New Drug Application ("NDA") seeking marketing approval of RHB-103. Following a Complete Response Letter ("CRL") received from the FDA in February 2014, which raised questions primarily related to Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls ("CMC"), RedHill and IntelGenx recently reported that they believe that FDA approval of the RHB-103 NDA is subject to the satisfactory resolution of the remaining CMC questions, as well as securing a compliant source of the raw material. Accordingly, the companies continue to work with the FDA in order to address and resolve all remaining CMC questions and to secure a compliant source of the raw material. About RHB-103: RHB-103 is a proprietary oral thin film formulation of rizatriptan benzoate, a 5-HT1 receptor agonist and the active drug in Merck & Co.'s Maxalt®. Rizatriptan is considered one of the most effective oral triptans, a class of molecules that constrict blood vessels in the brain to relieve swelling and other migraine symptoms. The worldwide annual sales of triptans were estimated to have exceeded $1 billion in 20131. RHB-103 is based on IntelGenx' proprietary "VersaFilm™" technology. It dissolves rapidly in the mouth, leading to the absorption of the drug through the gastro intestinal track and into the bloodstream. The administration method of the RHB-103 oral thin film does not require the patient to swallow a pill or consume water, and presents a potentially attractive therapeutic alternative for many migraine patients, including those who suffer from migraine-related nausea estimated at approximately 80% of the total migraine patient population2.