Zoliflodacin shows high cure rates for antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea

ATLANTA - Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Innoviva, Inc. (NASDAQ:INVA), presented new data on zoliflodacin, an investigational single-dose oral antibiotic for uncomplicated gonorrhea, at the Infectious Disease Society of America’s IDWeek 2025 annual meeting. The company, which boasts a robust 86% gross profit margin and 12% revenue growth over the last twelve months, continues to demonstrate strong operational execution. According to InvestingPro analysis, Innoviva maintains excellent financial health with a "GREAT" overall score.

The key findings, shared in an oral presentation on Wednesday, showed high microbiological cure rates across urogenital, rectal, and pharyngeal infection sites. For urogenital infections treated with zoliflodacin, ciprofloxacin-resistant strains had a 96.6% cure rate, while ciprofloxacin-susceptible strains showed a 97.4% cure rate.

A demographic analysis presented on Tuesday revealed that zoliflodacin maintained consistent effectiveness across diverse patient populations. While azithromycin resistance was higher in isolates from men who have sex with men, zoliflodacin’s minimum inhibitory concentration values remained comparable across all patient groups, including females and heterosexual men.

Additional in vitro testing of clinical isolates collected in the U.S. during 2022 confirmed that zoliflodacin’s potency remained consistent compared to prior surveillance years, including against antibiotic-resistant strains.

"Findings from our analyses reinforce our initial conclusions and support the development of zoliflodacin as a potentially transformative treatment for gonorrhea, including infections caused by resistant strains," said Dr. David Altarac, Chief Medical Officer of Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics, according to the company’s press release. InvestingPro data shows the company is well-positioned to support its drug development initiatives, with a healthy current ratio of 2.64 and moderate debt levels.

Zoliflodacin is a first-in-class oral antibiotic from the spiropyrimidinetrione class that inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase through a mechanism distinct from currently approved antibiotics. The U.S. FDA has granted zoliflodacin a Qualified Infectious Disease Product designation, allowing for Priority Review and Extended Market Exclusivity.

Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Innoviva, Inc. (NASDAQ:INVA), is developing zoliflodacin in collaboration with the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership. The drug is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Trading near its 52-week low, Innoviva appears undervalued based on InvestingPro’s Fair Value analysis, with analysts expecting net income growth this year. Get access to 8 more exclusive ProTips and comprehensive financial metrics with an InvestingPro subscription.

In other recent news, Inova Technology has been the subject of differing analyst opinions. Goldman Sachs has initiated coverage on Inova Technology with a Sell rating, setting a price target of $17.00. The investment bank recognizes the company’s positive execution, particularly its strategy of using cash flows from GSK’s respiratory product royalties to develop a commercial critical care and infectious disease platform. On the other hand, Oppenheimer has taken a more optimistic stance, initiating coverage with an Outperform rating and a price target of $35.00. Oppenheimer views Inova as a holding company with three distinct business segments, including royalty distributions and a commercial organization focused on acute critical care treatments. These recent developments highlight the varied perspectives among analysts regarding Inova Technology’s future prospects.

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