Tag: Biotechnology

Release – Tonix Pharmaceuticals Provides Update on the Development of Its Single Dose Live Attenuated Virus Vaccine Candidate for Mpox, TNX-801, as WHO Declares Mpox Outbreak a Global Health Emergency

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on TNXP

World Health Organization (WHO) has declared spread of mpox in multiple African countries a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) 1

Tonix’s live virus vaccine candidate, TNX-801, is designed to provide long-term protection from mpox and smallpox with one dose

TNX-801 vaccination demonstrated efficacy in protecting animals from lethal challenge with intratracheal monkeypox virus

Clade II mpox is now endemic in the U.S. with >30,000 cases reported since May 20222 and Clade I mpox is endemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo3

Tonix’s vaccine platform has been selected by NIH’s Project NextGen for clinical testing

CHATHAM, N.J., Aug. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP) (Tonix or the Company), a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company with marketed products and a pipeline of development candidates, has reiterated its commitment to advance development of its live attenuated virus vaccine, TNX-801 (recombinant horsepox virus), for preventing mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) and other infectious diseases. On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that the upsurge of mpox in a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, the second such declaration in the past two years called in response to an mpox outbreak. The current outbreak was caused by Clade 1 monkeypox virus, while the 2022 outbreak was Clade 2 monkeypox virus.

TNX-801 is a live replicating attenuated vaccine candidate based on horsepox that is believed to provide immune protection with better tolerability than 20th century vaccinia viruses. The same vaccine platform upon which TNX-801 is based was selected by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) for Project NextGen for an engineered version that expresses the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.

As previously disclosed, TNX-801 protected animals against lethal challenge with intratracheal Clade 1 monkeypox virus4. After a single-dose vaccination, TNX-801 prevented clinical disease and lesions and also decreased shedding in the mouth and lungs of non-human primates4. These findings are consistent with mucosal immunity and suggest the ability to block forward transmission, similar to Dr. Edward Jenner’s vaccinia vaccine, which eradicated smallpox and kept mpox out of the human population.

“The recent WHO declaration underscores the urgent need for additional treatments to stop these outbreaks and save lives,” said Seth Lederman, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Tonix. “We are motivated to advance development for our mpox vaccine with urgency given the global public health emergency. Preclinical trials demonstrate that TNX-801 combines immune protection with improved tolerability and safety compared to other vaccines based on orthopoxviruses, and is administered with a single dose which has advantages over two-dose regimens. The durability of protection from 19th century live virus vaccinia vaccines suggests that our attenuated TNX-801 will not require multiple repeated doses at six-month intervals like mRNA vaccines. Also, the stability of live virus vaccines eliminates the need for ultra-cold storage which complicates the widespread use of mRNA vaccines in Africa, where they are needed most right now.”

The global mpox outbreak, which commenced in 2022, has affected over 90,000 persons in countries where mpox had previously not been endemic, including Europe and the U.S. The spread of Clade IIb strain mpox in 2022 underscores the pandemic potential of mpox. Unlike Clade IIb mpox, the Clade I strain of mpox appears to be spreading to countries neighboring the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Clade I mpox is typically associated with approximately 20 times the case fatality rates than Clade IIb mpox in Africa. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other experts, there is a significant risk that the deadlier Clade I strain may appear in the U.S.2,8

Further, the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense recently highlighted the renewed dual threats of a more virulent mpox epidemic and a smallpox re-introduction from lab accidents or bad actors9. The National Academies of Science, in its review of smallpox preparedness, highlighted the need for new single dose vaccines, like TNX-801 against smallpox10.

About TNX-801* and Tonix’s RPV Platform

TNX-801 (recombinant horsepox virus) is a live virus vaccine for percutaneous administration that is being developed to target smallpox, and mpox (monkeypox). TNX-801 is also the basis of the RPV platform based on a horsepox vector, which is being adapted as a COVID-19 vaccine, term TNX-1800*. Horsepox is a live replicating, attenuated virus that has been shown to be >1,000-fold more attenuated than 20th century vaccinia (VACV) strains in immunocompromised mice. Horsepox and the vaccinia vaccine viruses are closely related orthopoxviruses that are believed to share a common ancestor. Molecular analysis shows that horsepox is closer than modern vaccinia vaccines in DNA sequence to the vaccine discovered and disseminated by Dr. Edward Jenner. Live replicating orthopoxviruses, like vaccinia or horsepox, can be engineered to express foreign genes and have been explored as platforms for vaccine development because they possess; (1) large packaging capacity for exogenous DNA inserts, (2) precise virus-specific control of exogenous gene insert expression, (3) lack of persistence or genomic integration in the host, (4) strong immunogenicity as a vaccine, (5) ability to rapidly generate vector/insert constructs, (6) readily manufacturable at scale, and (7) ability to provide direct antigen presentation. Relative to vaccinia, horsepox has substantially decreased virulence in mice. The current formulation is a frozen liquid, but we believe that future lyophilized versions can be stored and shipped at standard refrigeration. Horsepox-based vaccines are designed to be single dose, vial-sparing vaccines that can be administered without sterile injection, manufactured using conventional cell culture systems with the potential for mass scale production, and packaged in multi-dose vials.

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp.*

Tonix is a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on developing, licensing and commercializing therapeutics to treat and prevent human disease and alleviate suffering. Tonix recently announced the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) awarded it a contract for up to $34 million over five years in an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to develop TNX-4200 small molecule broad-spectrum antiviral agents targeting CD45 for the prevention or treatment of infections to improve the medical readiness of military personnel in biological threat environments. Tonix owns and operates a state-of-the art infectious disease research facility in Frederick, MD. The company’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-capable advanced manufacturing facility in Dartmouth, MA was purpose-built to manufacture TNX-801 and the GMP suites are ready to be reactivated in case of a national or international emergency. Tonix’s development portfolio is focused on central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Tonix’s priority is to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA in the second half of 2024 for TNX-102 SL, a product candidate for which two statistically significant Phase 3 studies have been completed for the management of fibromyalgia. The FDA has granted Fast Track designation to TNX-102 SL for the management of fibromyalgia. TNX-102 SL is also being developed to treat acute stress reaction. Tonix’s CNS portfolio includes TNX-1300 (cocaine esterase), a biologic designed to treat cocaine intoxication that has Breakthrough Therapy designation. Tonix’s immunology development portfolio consists of biologics to address organ transplant rejection, autoimmunity and cancer, including TNX-1500, which is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD40-ligand (CD40L or CD154) being developed for the prevention of allograft rejection and for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Tonix also has product candidates in development in the areas of rare disease and infectious disease. Tonix Medicines, our commercial subsidiary, markets Zembrace® SymTouch® (sumatriptan injection) 3 mg and Tosymra® (sumatriptan nasal spray) 10 mg for the treatment of acute migraine with or without aura in adults.

*Tonix’s product development candidates are investigational new drugs or biologics and have not been approved for any indication.

Zembrace SymTouch and Tosymra are registered trademarks of Tonix Medicines. All other marks are property of their respective owners.

This press release and further information about Tonix can be found at www.tonixpharma.com.

1WHO Press Release August 14, 2024. “WHO Director-General declares mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern”. URL: www.who.int/news/item/14-08-2024-who-director-general-declares-mpox-outbreak-a-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern (accessed 8-15-24)
2McQuiston JH, et al. U.S. Preparedness and Response to Increasing Clade I Mpox Cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 2024, MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep: United States. p. 435-440
3CDC. 2022-2023 Mpox: US Map and Case Count. https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/response/2022/us-map.html
4Noyce RS, et al. Viruses. 2023 Jan 26;15(2):356. doi: 10.3390/v15020356
5Trefry, SV et al. bioRxiv 2023.10.25.564033; https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.25.564033
6Awasthi M, et al. Viruses. 2023 Oct 21;15(10):2131. doi: 10.3390/v15102131.
7Awashti M et al Vaccines (Basel). 2023 Nov 2;11(11):1682. doi:10.3390/vaccines11111682.
8World Health Organization SAGE meeting highlights on updated mpox vaccine recommendations. 2024, March
9Bipartisan Commission on Biofense. Box the Pox: Reducing the risk of Smallpox and Other Orthopoxviruses, Washington: 2024
10U.S. National Academies of Science. Future State of Smallpox Medical Countermeasures. Washington: 2024

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “expect,” and “intend,” among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Tonix’s current expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks related to the failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and noncompliance with FDA regulations; risks related to the failure to successfully market any of our products; risks related to the timing and progress of clinical development of our product candidates; our need for additional financing; uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; uncertainties of government or third party payor reimbursement; limited research and development efforts and dependence upon third parties; and substantial competition. As with any pharmaceutical under development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of new products. Tonix does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Investors should read the risk factors set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 1, 2024, and periodic reports filed with the SEC on or after the date thereof. All of Tonix’s forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by all such risk factors and other cautionary statements. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date thereof.

Investor Contact

Jessica Morris
Tonix Pharmaceuticals
investor.relations@tonixpharma.com
(862) 904-8182

Peter Vozzo
ICR Westwicke
peter.vozzo@westwicke.com
(443) 213-0505

Media Contact

Lisa DeScenza
LaVoieHealthScience
ldescenza@lavoiehealthscience.com
(617) 351-0243

Source: Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp.

Released August 16, 2024

Traws Pharma (TRAW) – Traws Reports 2Q24 and Gives Post-Acquisition Update

Posted on by cpereira@noblefcm.com


Friday, August 16, 2024

Onconova Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel products for patients with cancer. The Company has proprietary targeted anti-cancer agents designed to disrupt specific cellular pathways that are important for cancer cell proliferation. Onconova’s novel, proprietary multi-kinase inhibitor narazaciclib (formerly ON 123300) is being evaluated in a combination trial with estrogen blockade in advanced endometrial cancer. Based on preclinical and clinical studies of CDK 4/6 inhibitors, Onconova is also evaluating opportunities for combination studies with narazaciclib in additional indications. Onconova’s product candidate rigosertib is being studied in multiple investigator-sponsored studies. These studies include a dose-escalation and expansion Phase 1/2a study of oral rigosertib in combination with nivolumab in patients with KRAS+ non-small cell lung cancer, a Phase 2 program evaluating rigosertib monotherapy in advanced squamous cell carcinoma complicating recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB-associated SCC), and a Phase 2 trial evaluating rigosertib in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Operations Were Integrated During The Second Quarter. Traws Reported a 2Q24 loss of $123.1 million or $(4.87) per share, including a $117.5 million charge for in-process research and development related to the acquisition of Transfynydd. Excluding the charge, net loss would have been around $5.7 million or about $(0.22) per share. The company ended the quarter with $16.4 million in cash, which we expect to fund operations and clinical milestone announcements through the end of 2024.

Influenza Program Is In Phase 1.TRX100 (tivoxavir marboxil) is a cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor for influenza. Inhibition of this enzyme in the influenza virus inhibits viral replication of both influenza A and B strains. Early dosing studies have shown safety and tolerability, with data to support a single oral dose for therapeutic or prophylactic use. A Phase 1 dose single-dose escalation study is currently in progress.


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Release – LakeShore Biopharma Announces Financial Results for Fiscal Year 2024

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on LSB

Gross margin increased to 79.5%; product pipeline continues to advance

Company anticipates double-digit year-over-year revenue growth and bottom line breakeven for Fiscal Year 2025

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Aug. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — LakeShore Biopharma Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: LSB) (“LakeShore Biopharma” or the “Company”), a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, manufacturing, and delivering new generations of vaccines and therapeutic biologics for infectious diseases and cancer, today announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 (“Fiscal Year 2024”).

   

Mr. Dave Chenn, Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, “In Fiscal Year 2024, our revenue was affected by a shortage of finished product inventory, resulting from earlier supply chain disruptions at our YSJA rabies vaccine production facilities. Despite these difficulties, we have successfully implemented operational improvements that have normalized production, and our inventory challenges are now resolved as we enter Fiscal Year 2025. We have maintained our position as a leading rabies vaccine producer in China, and continued to improve our gross margin by emphasizing operational efficiency. We also made significant advancements in our product pipeline during Fiscal Year 2024, progressing our next-generation PIKA rabies vaccine through its ongoing Phase III clinical trial and meeting significant developmental milestones for other pipeline products.”

Mr. Dave Chenn continued, “Looking ahead, our Fiscal Year 2025 strategy will focus on driving revenue growth, controlling expenses, and enhancing profit margins. We are implementing a comprehensive plan that includes cost reductions, organizational restructuring, strengthened internal controls, and strategic resource allocation to key growth areas. Our goal will be to foster innovation, efficiency, stability, and sustainable profitability as we work to build value for our shareholders.”

Ms. Rachel Yu, Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company, added, “For Fiscal Year 2024, we recorded revenues of RMB573.4 million (US$80.8 million), representing a decrease compared to Fiscal Year 2023 due to persistent supply chain issues affecting raw material availability, manufacturing processes, and overall output capacity which impacted our topline. We recorded a gross profit of RMB455.7 million (US$64.2 million), and our gross margin increased by 1.8 percentage points to 79.5% compared to Fiscal Year 2023. With cash and cash equivalents of RMB246.6 million (US$34.7 million), we will maintain our focus on maximizing long-term shareholder returns by refining our business strategies and leveraging new market opportunities. Looking ahead to Fiscal Year 2025, we anticipate double-digit year-over-year growth in revenues, and expect to achieve breakeven on our bottom line by the time our fiscal year concludes on March 31, 2025.”

Business Updates

YSJATM Rabies Vaccine

LakeShore Biopharma’s marketed vaccine product, YSJATM rabies vaccine, is the first aluminum-free lyophilized rabies vaccine launched in China. Since the Company commenced production at its current GMP-compliant facilities in February 2020, and commercialization of the product in late 2020, market intake of the Company’s YSJA rabies vaccine has been consistent and strong. As of March 31, 2024, LakeShore Biopharma maintained its leadership position as one of the top rabies vaccine producers in China and has sold more than 27.3 million doses of YSJATM rabies vaccines to approximately 1,767 Chinese Center(s) for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) customers, which represents 61.3% of CDC customers in China since October 2020.

Clinical Pipeline

LakeShore Biopharma continues to prioritize and advance its portfolio of innovative product candidates under various clinical development stages, including PIKA rabies vaccine, PIKA YS-ON-001, and PIKA YS-HBV-002.

PIKA Rabies Vaccine

  • In April 2024, the Company announced positive interim results from the ongoing Phase III clinical trial of its next-generation PIKA rabies vaccine in the Philippines and Pakistan. The interim results indicate that the PIKA rabies vaccine has successfully met the primary endpoints of the trial and has the potential to achieve best-in-class accelerated protection and meet the World Health Organization’s goal of a one-week rabies vaccine regimen to replace the conventional three- or four-week regimens. Subject to successful completion of the Phase III clinical trial, the Company plans to submit the New Drug Applications/Biologics License Applications to relevant regulatory authorities throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

PIKA YS-ON-001

  • PIKA YS-ON-001 is designed as an immunological therapeutical agent against cancers. In 2023, the Company completed the Phase I clinical trial of PIKA YS-ON-001 in China.

PIKA YS-HBV-002

  • In April 2024, the Company announced that its YS-HBV-002, the second generation of immunotherapeutic vaccine designed to treat patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B virus infection, had been granted clinical trial approval by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration. In light of the approval, the Company is preparing to initiate a Phase I clinical trial for YS-HBV-002 in the Philippines.

Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

Total Revenue

Total revenue was RMB573.4 million (US$80.8 million) in Fiscal Year 2024, compared to RMB687.2 million in the same period of 2023, representing a decrease of 16.6%. This was primarily due to COVID-related disruptions affecting the Company’s manufacturing operations and production, which reduced batch approvals and doses available for sale. This impact was partially offset by an increase in the product price of the YSJA rabies vaccine of approximately RMB2.9 per dose.

Gross Profit

Gross profit in Fiscal Year 2024 was RMB455.7 million (US$64.2 million), representing a 79.5% gross margin, compared to RMB533.8 million, or a 77.7% gross margin, in the same period of 2023. The improvement in gross margin was primarily due to the increase in unit price of the YSJA rabies vaccine, and a decrease in unit cost resulting from lowered delivery costs and an increase in production batches.

Selling and Marketing Expenses

Selling and marketing expenses in Fiscal Year 2024 were RMB301.3 million (US$42.5 million), compared to RMB272.9 million in the same period of 2023. This change was primarily due to an increase in promoting and marketing service fees to continuously promote the YSJA rabies vaccine.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses in Fiscal Year 2024 were RMB140.1 million (US$19.7 million), compared to RMB72.9 million in the same period of 2023. This change was primarily attributable to increases in legal fees, auditing fees, directors & officers liability insurance costs, and employee benefits.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses in Fiscal Year 2024 were RMB302.8 million (US$42.7 million), compared to RMB318.7 million in the same period of 2023. The change was primarily driven by decreases in testing fees, clinical trial fees, and consulting service fees related to the development of the Company’s COVID-19 vaccine, and decreases in employee benefits as a result of staffing optimizations.

Impairment Loss on Inventory, Property, Plant and Equipment, and Other Assets

Impairment loss on inventory, property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”), and other assets in Fiscal Year 2024 was RMB157.4 million (US$22.2 million), compared to RMB8.7 million in the same period of 2023. The change was primarily attributable to 1) impairment loss on inventory impacted by COVID-related disruptions affecting the Company’s manufacturing operations and production and raw materials used in the research and development of the Company’s COVID-19 vaccine, and 2) impairment loss on PP&E related to COVID-19 vaccine equipment.

Net Loss

Net loss for Fiscal Year 2024 was RMB433.5 million (US$61.1 million), compared with RMB145.5 million in the same period of 2023.

Balance Sheet

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB246.6 million (US$34.7 million), compared with RMB370.4 million as of March 31, 2023.

Business Outlook

The Company anticipates double-digit year-over-year revenue growth and expects to achieve breakeven in Fiscal Year 2025.

The above outlook is based on information available as of the date of this press release and reflects the Company’s current and preliminary expectations regarding its business situation and market conditions. The outlook is subject to changes, especially given uncertainties and situations related to market competitive dynamics and regulatory policies, etc.

About LakeShore Biopharma 

LakeShore Biopharma, previously known as YS Biopharma, is a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, manufacturing, and delivering new generations of vaccines and therapeutic biologics for infectious diseases and cancer. It has developed a proprietary PIKA® immunomodulating technology platform and a new generation of preventive and therapeutic biologics targeting Rabies, Coronavirus, Hepatitis B, Influenza, Shingles, and other virus infections. The Company operates in China, the United States, Singapore, and the Philippines, and is led by a management team that combines rich local expertise and global experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. For more information, please visit https://investor.lakeshorebio.com/.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB7.095 to US$1.00, the exchange rate set forth in the central parity rate release of the People’s Bank of China on March 31, 2024.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical or current fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding the expected growth of LakeShore Biopharma, the development progress of all product candidates, the progress and results of all clinical trials, LakeShore Biopharma’s ability to source and retain talent, and the cash position of LakeShore Biopharma. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “potential,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “goal,” “seek,” “target” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of LakeShore Biopharma’s management and are not predictions of actual performance.

LakeShore Biopharma cannot assure you the forward-looking statements in this press release will be accurate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those included under the heading “Risk Factors” in the company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and other risks described in documents subsequently filed by the company from time to time with the SEC. There may be additional risks that LakeShore Biopharma does not presently know or that LakeShore Biopharma currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent the views of LakeShore Biopharma as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events and developments may cause those views to change. However, while LakeShore Biopharma may update these forward-looking statements in the future, there is no current intention to do so, except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of LakeShore Biopharma as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Except as may be required by law, LakeShore Biopharma does not undertake any duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations Contact

Robin Yang
Partner, ICR, LLC
Tel: +1 (212) 537-4035
Email: LakeShoreBiopharma.IR@icrinc.com 

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Release – Traws Pharma Reports Q2 2024 Financial Results, Provides Recent Business Highlights

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on TRAW

Merger with Trawsfynydd Therapeutics, Inc (“Trawsfynydd”) and concurrent private placement of $14 million (cash runway to support planned operations through year end), with recently achieved clinical milestones, put Traws on track to achieve key readouts for the clinical pipeline in H2 2024 and beyond

  • Lead antiviral program, tivoxavir marboxil, for influenza, including avian flu, is dosing the first cohort in the Phase 1 dose extension study in Australia
  • COVID-19 program, ratutrelvir, completed the Phase 1 single-ascending dose (SAD) and multiple-ascending dose (MAD) study in Australia
  • Oncology strategy includes investigator-sponsored trials (ISTs), planned to begin in H2 2024, adding a new dimension to the narazaciclib program, with continued investigator support for rigosertib
  • Corporate update call planned for August 15, 2024 at 8:00 AM ET

NEWTOWN, Pa., Aug. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Traws Pharma, Inc. (“Traws” or “Traws Pharma”), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing oral small molecules for respiratory viral diseases and cancer, today outlined recent business highlights and reported unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024. The Company intends to host a conference call and live webcast on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 8:00 AM ET.

“The last several months have been transformational for Traws Pharma, with strategic and product development progress and an increase in capital,” said Werner Cautreels, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Traws Pharma. “Completion of the merger agreement that created Traws Pharma expanded our investor base to include recognized healthcare investors, Orbimed and Torrey Pines, while broadening our portfolio to include compounds that we believe have best-in-class potential for influenza (flu), including bird flu, and COVID-19. In addition, ISTs are enhancing our multi-kinase inhibitors for cancer, narazaciclib and rigosertib.”

“We expect the antiviral program to advance over the next 6+ months as we complete preparations to report Phase 1 results and initiate Phase 2 studies in flu and COVID-19. Preclinical data and topline data from SAD studies from our influenza candidate, tivoxavir marboxil, suggest that it has the potential to achieve our target product profile as a single dose treatment that is active against pandemic-potential viruses as well as oseltamivir and baloxavir resistant viruses,” continued Dr. Cautreels. “In addition, clinical-trial enabling studies for our COVID-19 candidate, ratutrelvir, suggest that it has the potential to be effective without the requirement for co-administration of a CYP-inhibitor, and active against virus strains that may be resistant to other approved agents such as nirmatrelvir. In the coming months, we look forward to completing the Phase 1 studies, finalizing the dosing plan and initiating the Phase 2 program for both tivoxavir marboxil and ratutrelvir. We believe these data could pave the way for key readouts in 2025.”

Upcoming Milestones

Tivoxavir marboxil — Targets the influenza cap-dependent endonuclease, which is highly conserved across flu strains, including avian flu. The compound is intended to be administered as a single dose per treatment

  • Q4 2024: Announcement of topline Phase 1 dose extension results from Australia
  • Q4 2024/Q1 2025: Initiation of Phase 2 efficacy study

Ratutrelvir – Targets Mpro (3CL protease). The compound does not require combination use of a CYP-inhibitor such as ritonavir

  • Q4 2024: Announcement of topline results from Phase 1 SAD and MAD studies
  • Q4 2024/Q1 2025: Initiation of Phase 2 efficacy study

Narazaciclib – our multi-kinase inhibitor, including CKD4+, with potential for use in multiple solid tumors

  • H2 2024: Release topline results from our Phase 1/2 study at an upcoming medical meeting. In addition, we plan to announce the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) and initiate ISTs in multiple myeloma, breast cancer and other indications

Rigosertib – our multi-kinase inhibitor targeting cell cycle proteins including PLK-1, with potential for use in the ultra-rare disease, advanced squamous cell carcinoma complicating recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB-associated SCC, RDEB)

  • Continue to support the IST-led program, including compassionate use for patients with RDEB

Recent Developments

  • Start of dosing in Phase 1 dose extension study for tivoaxavir marboxil, a placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate three doses, including two doses from the successful Phase 1 dose escalation study (80 and 120 mg) and one new, increased dose (240 mg) in healthy volunteers. The study was designed to assess pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety, to define the dosing plan for the upcoming Phase 2 efficacy study. The expected dosing schedule will be one single oral dose.
  • Completion of a Phase 1 dose escalation study for ratutrelvir in Australia, a SAD/MAD study conducted in healthy volunteers. The study was designed to assess SAD (5 doses ranging from 15 mg to 600 mg) and MAD (2 doses, 150 mg, and 600 mg, daily for 10 days) and provide pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety data to guide the dosing plan for the upcoming Phase 2 efficacy study. The expected dosing schedule will be one oral dose per day for 10 days.
  • Completion of Phase 1/2 dose escalation studies for narazaciclib, evaluated as a monotherapy and in combination with letrozole in patients with recurrent metastatic low-grade endometrioid endometrial cancer and other gynecologic malignancies. The studies were designed to define the dose limiting toxicity (DLT) and maximally tolerated dose (MTD) of the combination, and the RP2D for further clinical trials. Topline data are are being analyzed.
  • Presentation of further data from ongoing ISTs for rigosertib, shared at the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) held in July, 2024 which highlighted ongoing studies for RDEB-associated SCC, conducted at the University Hospital in Salzburg, Austria and Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Completion of the merger with Trawsfynydd and concurrent $14 million private placement in April expanded the clinical portfolio of the combined entity to include two potentially best-in-class oral small molecule programs, for influenza and COVID-19, as well as oral two agents for solid tumor cancers. The transaction also enhanced the Company’s investor base, with the addition of Orbimed and Torrey Pines.

Financial Results:

Traws financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 represent the first post-transaction quarterly report of the combined company. The financial results for the comparable period in 2023 represent a consolidated summary of the combined entity. For simplicity, the explanatory statements below provide a high-level summary of expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments: As of June 30, 2024, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of approximately $16.9 million, compared to cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of approximately $20.8 million at December 31, 2023. The company believes its cash balance is adequate to support planned operations through year end 2024.

Acquired in-process R&D related to our transaction early in the second quarter resulted in a non-cash charge of $117.5 million.

Research and development (R&D) expense for the three months ended June 30, 2024, totaled $4.0 million, compared to $2.5 million for the comparable period in 2023. Q2 2024 R&D expenses mainly reflect the cost of the Phase 1 SAD/MAD COVID-19 study, the Phase 1 extension study in flu, completion of the narazaciclib Phase 1/2 dose escalation study, regulatory expenses to support planned upcoming studies, and expenses related to stock-based compensation and restructuring costs related to the recent transaction.

General and administrative (G&A) expense for the three months ended June 30, 2024, totaled $2.0 million compared to $2.2 million for the comparable period in 2023. Q2 2024 G&A expenses include stock-based compensation and restructuring costs related to the merger.

Net loss: The net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was $123.1 million, or $4.87 per basic and diluted common share, which reflects a non-cash charge of $117.5 million related to in-process R&D from Onconova’s April 2024 acquisition of Trawsfynydd. This compares with a net loss of $4.3 million, or $0.20 per basic and diluted common share, for the same period in 2023.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Traws Pharma will host a conference call and webcast today, August 15, 2024, at 8:00 AM ET to discuss recent business progress and second quarter financial results. To access the call, please dial: 
1 (877) 407-0789 (United States) or 1 (201) 689-8562 (International) and reference the conference ID “13748066”. To access the webcast, please click: Traws Pharma Corporate Update Call. The live and archived webcast can also be accessed by visiting the “Corporate Events & Presentations” tab of the Events and Presentations section of the Investor Relations page. A replay of the webcast will be archived for 90 days.

About Traws Pharma, Inc.

Traws Pharma is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing oral small molecule therapies for the treatment of respiratory viral diseases and cancer. The viral respiratory disease program includes two potentially best-in-class oral small molecules in Phase 1 studies: tivoxavir marboxil, a novel oral antiviral drug candidate for influenza and avian flu, targeting the influenza cap-dependent endonuclease, and ratutrelvir, targeting Mpro (3CL protease).

In the cancer program, Traws is developing the novel, proprietary multi-kinase CDK4-plus inhibitor narazaciclib, with potential for refractory endometrial cancer and potentially other solid tumor cancers, and rigosertib, multi-kinase inhibitor targeting cell cycle proteins including PLK-1, with potential for use in advanced squamous cell carcinoma complicating recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB-associated SCC, RDEB).

Traws Pharma is committed to delivering novel compounds for unmet medical needs using state-of-the-art drug development technology. With a focus on product safety and a commitment to patients in need or that are specifically vulnerable, we aim to build solutions for important medical challenges and alleviate the burden of viral infections and cancer.

Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve risks and uncertainties including statements regarding Traws Pharma, its respective businesses, the merger agreement with Trawsfynydd Therapeutics, Inc. and concurrent private placement and the use of proceeds from such financing and the Company’s financing strategies, as well as statements regarding the milestones, preclinical studies and clinical studies for its four product candidates, tivoxavir marboxil for influenza including avian flu, ratutrelvir for COVID-19, and narazaciclib and rigosertib for cancer, related to the design, timing and potential results and the timing of next steps. Traws has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “believes”, “estimates”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “plans”, “intends”, “may”, “could”, “might”, “will”, “should”, “preliminary”, “encouraging”, “approximately” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Although Traws believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, expectations may prove to have been materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including the success and timing of Traws’ clinical trials, collaborations, merger integration, market conditions and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Traws’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of its date. Traws undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after its date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Traws Pharma Contact:
Mark Guerin
Traws Pharma, Inc.
267-759-3680
www.trawspharma.com

Investor Contact:
Bruce Mackle
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
646-889-1200
bmackle@lifesciadvisors.com

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Release – Eledon Pharmaceuticals Reports Preliminary Second Quarter 2024 Operating Results

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on ELDN

Presented updated data on 13 participants from ongoing Phase 1b trial evaluating tegoprubart for prevention of rejection in kidney transplantation

80 participants (two-thirds of projected recruitment) enrolled in Phase 2 BESTOW trial

Completed an oversubscribed $50 million private placement; Company expects sufficient liquidity through December 2025

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eledon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Eledon”) (Nasdaq: ELDN) today reported recent business highlights for its second quarter 2024.

“We have entered the second half of the year with a strong balance sheet following our oversubscribed $50 million private placement and we are highly encouraged by the progress and reception from the transplant community for our Phase 2 BESTOW trial, which remains on track to complete enrollment by the end of this year,” said David-Alexandre C. Gros, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Eledon. “Looking at this progress and the data we presented in June, we continue to believe that tegoprubart has the potential to displace calcineurin inhibitors, the current standard of care, as a first-line immunosuppression agent for patients undergoing kidney transplant.”

Second Quarter 2024 and Recent Corporate Developments

  • Enrolled the 80th participant in July 2024 in the ongoing Phase 2 BESTOW trial assessing tegoprubart head-to-head with tacrolimus for the prevention of organ rejection in kidney transplantation.
  • Presented updated data at the American Transplant Congress (ATC) in June 2024 from the ongoing Phase 1b open-label trial evaluating tegoprubart for the prevention of organ rejection in kidney transplant patients. Updated data from 13 participants demonstrated that tegoprubart was generally safe and well tolerated, with an overall mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of all reported time points after day 30 post-transplant of 70.5 mL/min/1.73m2. Two participants completed over 12 months on therapy post-transplant, and both demonstrated mean eGFRs above 90 mL/min/1.73m2 at one-year post-transplant.
  • Completed an oversubscribed private placement financing for total gross proceeds of $50.0 million, before deducting any offering related expenses.

Anticipated Upcoming Milestones

  • End of 2024: Complete enrollment in the Phase 2 BESTOW trial of tegoprubart in kidney transplantation.
  • Mid-2025: Report updated interim clinical data from the ongoing Phase 1b and long-term safety and efficacy extension studies of tegoprubart in kidney transplantation.

Financial Results

In the course of preparing the Company’s financial statements as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company, in consultation with Crowe LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, determined that a reclassification was necessary with respect to the Company’s reporting and recording of the fair value of certain common stock warrants and pre-funded warrants associated with the Company’s Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of April 28, 2023 (and the potential second and third closings thereof), resulting in a reclassification of these warrants as liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet, on a mark-to-market basis.

The Company expects to restate its audited consolidated financial statements that appeared in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 28, 2024, as amended on April 26, 2024, and its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements that appeared in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 15, 2024 (together, the “Impacted Reports”). As previously disclosed on the Company’s Form 12b-25 Notification of Late Filing filed with the SEC today, the Company also expects to delay the filing of its Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 in light of the time and resources needed to prepare a complete and accurate Form 10-Q in light of the restatement process . See also the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed today for additional information.

This accounting reclassification is non-cash and is not expected to have an economic impact on the Company’s operations or on the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, or cash runway.

Eledon ended the second quarter with approximately $83.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, which includes the $50.0 million received in the private placement financing transaction during the second quarter.

About Eledon Pharmaceuticals and tegoprubart

Eledon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company that is developing immune-modulating therapies for the management and treatment of life-threatening conditions. The Company’s lead investigational product is tegoprubart, an anti-CD40L antibody with high affinity for CD40 Ligand (CD40L), a well-validated biological target within the costimulatory CD40/CD40L cellular pathway. The central role of CD40L signaling in both adaptive and innate immune cell activation and function positions it as an attractive target for non-lymphocyte depleting, immunomodulatory therapeutic intervention. The Company is building upon a deep historical knowledge of anti-CD40L biology to conduct preclinical and clinical studies in allogeneic kidney transplantation, xenotransplantation, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Eledon is headquartered in Irvine, California. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.eledon.com.

Follow Eledon Pharmaceuticals on social media: LinkedIn; Twitter

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Any statements about the company’s future expectations, plans and prospects, including statements about enrollment in our clinical trials, the development and future success of product candidates, the company’s capital resources and ability to finance operations through December 2025, our filing of amendments to the Impacted Reports and our Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, as well as other statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “estimates,” “intends,” “predicts,” “projects,” “targets,” “looks forward,” “could,” “may,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including: risks relating to the completion of our financial closing procedures; final adjustments; completion of the review by our independent registered public accounting firm; the safety and efficacy of our drug candidates; risks relating to clinical development timelines, including interactions with regulators and clinical sites, as well as patient enrollment; risks relating to costs of clinical trials and the sufficiency of the company’s capital resources to fund planned clinical trials; and risks associated with the impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. These risks and uncertainties, as well as other risks and uncertainties that could cause the company’s actual results to differ significantly from the forward-looking statements contained herein, are discussed in our quarterly 10-Qs, annual 10-K, and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which can be found at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and not of any future date, and the company expressly disclaims any intent to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contact:

Stephen Jasper
Gilmartin Group
(858) 525 2047
stephen@gilmartinir.com

Media Contact:

Jenna Urban
Berry & Company Public Relations
(212) 253 8881
jurban@berrypr.com

Source: Eledon Pharmaceuticals

Unicycive Therapeutics (UNCY) – 2Q24 Reported With Guidance For NDA Submission By End Of August

Posted on by cpereira@noblefcm.com


Thursday, August 15, 2024

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

OLC Data and NDA Dominated 2Q24. Unicycive reported 2Q24 income of $3.0 million or $0.08 per share and a loss of $(0.15) on a fully diluted basis. Loss from operations for 2Q24 was $7.4 million, with a gain of $16.8 million from the change in fair value of warrant conversion. This offsets a charge of $11.8 million in 1Q24, bringing the six-month total for fair value of warrant conversion to $5.0 million. Cash on June 30 was $41.8 million, which we expect to fund operations into 2H25.

Pivotal Study Met Its Endpoints and Showed Patients Reaching Target Levels. As discussed in our Research Note on June 26, Unicycive reported results from its OLC pivotal study met its tolerability and safety endpoints with data that compares favorably with Fosrenol (lanthanum carbonate). Over 90% of the patients were able to lower their serum phosphate to target levels, with 70% reaching target at the lowest dose tested. We believe these results could make OLC highly competitive in the marketplace.


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Release – Cocrystal Pharma Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides Updates on its Antiviral Drug-Development Programs

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on COCP

  • Expects to report topline results in 2025 from Phase 2a influenza A human challenge study with oral CC-42344, including initial indication of virology
  • In vitro testing shows CC-42344 inhibits the avian influenza A (H5N1) PB2 protein recently identified in U.S. dairy cows
  • Expects to report topline results in late 2024 or early 2025 from Phase 1 study with oral CDI-988, the first potential pan-coronavirus/pan-norovirus oral antiviral
  • Plans to initiate Phase 1 study in 2025 with inhaled CC-42344, a potential influenza treatment and post-exposure prophylactic

BOTHELL, Wash., Aug. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: COCP) (“Cocrystal” or the “Company”) reports financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, and provides updates on its antiviral product pipeline, upcoming milestones and business activities.

“We are rapidly approaching major inflection points in our clinical programs,” said Sam Lee, Ph.D., President and co-CEO of Cocrystal. “In the coming months we expect to report topline results from our Phase 2a study with PB2 inhibitor CC-42344 including an initial indication of virology in humans infected with the influenza A virus. Our plan is to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in 2025 to conduct our next study in the U.S. We further validated CC-42344’s broad-spectrum activity through in vitro testing demonstrating it inhibits the new, highly pathogenic avian flu PB2 protein identified as infecting U.S. dairy cows. We also are preparing to initiate a Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers as the first clinical step in evaluating inhaled CC-42344 as a potential prophylactic and therapeutic for influenza A.

“Preparations are underway to begin the multiple-ascending dose portion of the first-in-human study with our pan-norovirus/pan-coronavirus oral protease inhibitor CDI-988, following favorable safety and tolerability data from the single-ascending dose (SAD) portion of this study,” said Dr. Lee. “We expect to report topline results from the full study in late 2024 or early 2025.”

“I’m pleased to report that through our cost-efficient business model, we expect our cash to be sufficient to advance our planned development programs through the coming 12 months,” said James Martin, CFO and co-CEO of Cocrystal.

Antiviral Product Pipeline Overview

We apply our proprietary structure-based drug discovery platform technology for developing broad-spectrum antivirals that inhibit viral replication. By designing and selecting antiviral drug candidates that target the highly conserved regions of the viral enzymes, we seek to develop drugs that are effective against the virus and mutations of the virus, and also have reduced off-target interactions that may cause undesirable side effects. Our drug discovery process differs from traditional, empirical medicinal chemistry approaches that often require iterative high-throughput compound screening and lengthy hit-to-lead processes.

Influenza Programs
Influenza is a major global health threat that may become more challenging to treat due to the emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses and resistance to approved influenza antivirals. Each year there are approximately 1 billion cases of seasonal influenza worldwide, 3-5 million severe illnesses and up to 650,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. On average, about 8% of the U.S. population contracts influenza each season. In addition to the health risk, influenza is responsible for approximately $10.4 billion in direct costs for hospitalizations and outpatient visits for adults in the U.S. annually.

  • Oral CC-42344 for the treatment of pandemic and seasonal Influenza A infections
    • Our novel PB2 inhibitor CC-42344 showed excellent in vitro antiviral activity against pandemic and seasonal influenza A strains, as well as strains that are resistant to Tamiflu® and Xofluza®.
    • In March 2022 we initiated enrollment in a randomized, double-blind, dose-escalating Phase 1 study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics (PK) of oral CC-42344 in healthy adults.
    • In July 2022 we reported PK results from the SAD portion of the study that support once-daily dosing.
    • In December 2022 we reported favorable safety and tolerability results from the oral CC-42344 Phase 1 study.
    • In April 2023 we received authorization from United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for an oral CC-42344 Phase 2a human challenge study.
    • In December 2023 we began a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2a study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, viral and clinical measurements of CC-42344 in influenza A-infected subjects.
    • In March 2024 we received feedback from the FDA on a Pre-IND package improving clarity on clinical study design, drug manufacturing and nonclinical studies necessary to file a Phase 2b study design.
    • In May 2024 we completed enrollment in the Phase 2a human challenge study.
    • In June 2024 we reported that in vitro testing showed CC-42344 inhibited the activity of the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) PB2 protein that was identified as infecting U.S. dairy cows.
    • We expect to report topline results from the Phase 2a human challenge study in 2024 and to plan to file an IND application in 2025 to conduct a late-stage study in the U.S.
  • Inhaled CC-42344 for the treatment of pandemic and seasonal Influenza A infections
    • GLP toxicology study is underway with inhaled CC-42344 as a potential therapeutic and post-exposure prophylaxis for influenza A. CC-42344 has exhibited superior pulmonary exposure in preclinical studies.
    • We expect to begin a Phase 1 study with inhaled CC-42344 in Australia in 2025.
  • Influenza A/B Program
    • Preclinical lead development of novel influenza replication inhibitors is underway.

Norovirus Program
Norovirus is a highly contagious infection and is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis, accounting for nearly one in five cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 685 million cases and an estimated 50,000 child deaths are attributed to norovirus each year worldwide, with an estimated societal cost of $60 billion. By targeting viral replication, we believe it is possible to develop an effective treatment and/or short-term prophylactic for closed environments for all genogroups of norovirus.

  • Oral pan-viral protease inhibitor CDI-988 for the treatment of norovirus and coronavirus infections
    • Our novel broad-spectrum protease inhibitor CDI-988 is being evaluated as a potential oral treatment for noroviruses and coronaviruses.
    • CDI-988 has shown pan-viral activity against multiple norovirus strains, including the genogroup II, genotype 4 (GII.4) norovirus strain that is responsible for major norovirus outbreaks.
    • In May 2023 we announced approval of our application to the Australian regulatory agency for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and PK of oral CDI-988 in healthy volunteers.
    • In August 2023 we announced our selection of CDI-988 as our lead for the oral treatment for norovirus, in addition to coronavirus.
    • In September 2023 we began dosing subjects in a first-in-human study in healthy volunteers in Australia with oral CDI-988.
    • In July 2024 we reported favorable safety and tolerability results from the SAD cohorts in the Phase 1 study.
    • We expect to report topline results from the CDI-988 Phase 1 study in late 2024 or early 2025.

COVID-19 and Other Coronavirus Programs
By targeting viral replication enzymes and protease, we believe it is possible to develop effective treatments for all diseases caused by coronaviruses including COVID-19, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). CDI-988 showed potent in vitro pan-viral activity against common human coronaviruses, rhinoviruses and respiratory enteroviruses, as well as against noroviruses. The global COVID-19 therapeutics market is estimated to exceed $16 billion by the end of 2031.

  • Oral pan-viral protease inhibitor CDI-988 for the treatment of coronaviruses and noroviruses
    • CDI-988 exhibited superior in vitro potency against SARS-CoV-2 and demonstrated a favorable safety profile and PK properties.
    • In September 2023 we dosed the first subject in our dual norovirus/coronavirus oral CDI-988 study, which is expected to serve as a Phase 1 study for both indications.
    • In July 2024 we reported favorable safety and tolerability results from the SAD cohorts in the Phase 1 study.
    • We expect to report topline results from the CDI-988 Phase 1 study in late 2024 or early 2025.

Second Quarter Financial Results

Research and development (R&D) expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were $4.3 million, compared with $2.8 million for the second quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily due to CC-42344 entering into a Phase 2a clinical study and norovirus and coronavirus candidate CDI-988 entering into a Phase 1 clinical study. General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were $1.1 million, compared with $1.5 million for the second quarter of 2023, with the decrease mainly due to lower legal expenses.

The net loss for the second quarter of 2024 was $5.3 million, or $0.54 per share, compared with a net loss for the second quarter of 2023 of $4.2 million, or $0.41 per share.

Six Month Financial Results

R&D expenses for the first six months of 2024 were $7.3 million, compared with $6.7 million for the first six months of 2023. G&A expenses for the first six months of 2024 were $2.3 million, compared with $2.7 million for the first six months of 2023.

The net loss for the first six months of 2024 was $9.3 million, or $0.91, per share, compared with a net loss for the first six months of 2023 of $9.4 million, or $1.03 per share.

Cocrystal reported unrestricted cash as of June 30, 2024 of $18.1 million, compared with $26.4 million as of December 31, 2023. Net cash used in operating activities for the first six months of 2024 was $8.2 million, compared with $8.7 million for the first six months of 2023. The Company had working capital of $17.0 million and 10.2 million common shares outstanding as of June 30, 2024.

About Cocrystal Pharma, Inc.

Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics that target the replication process of influenza viruses, coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2), noroviruses and hepatitis C viruses. Cocrystal employs unique structure-based technologies and Nobel Prize-winning expertise to create first- and best-in-class antiviral drugs. For further information about Cocrystal, please visit www.cocrystalpharma.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our plans for the future development of preclinical and clinical drug candidates, our expectations regarding future characteristics of the product candidates we develop, the expected time of achieving certain value-driving milestones in our programs, including preparation, commencement and advancement of clinical studies for certain product candidates in 2024 and 2025, the viability and efficacy of potential treatments for diseases our product candidates are designed to treat, expectations for the markets for certain therapeutics, our ability to execute our clinical and regulatory goals and deploy regulatory guidance towards future studies, and the expected sufficiency of our cash balance to advance our programs and fund our planned operations. The words “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events. Some or all of the events anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties arising from the high interest rates in response to inflation, uncertainty in the financial markets, the possibility of a recession, and geopolitical conflict in Ukraine and Israel on our Company, our collaboration partners, and on the U.S., UK, Australia and global economies, including manufacturing and research delays arising from raw materials and labor shortages, supply chain disruptions and other business interruptions on our ability to proceed with studies as well as similar problems with our vendors and our current and any future clinical research organization (CROs) and contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), the ability of our CROs to recruit volunteers for, and to proceed with, clinical studies, our and our collaboration partners’ technology and software performing as expected, financial difficulties experienced by certain partners, the results of any current and future preclinical and clinical studies, general risks arising from clinical studies, receipt of regulatory approvals, regulatory changes, and potential development of effective treatments and/or vaccines by competitors, including as part of the programs financed by the U.S. government, potential mutations in a virus we are targeting that may result in variants that are resistant to a product candidate we develop. Further information on our risk factors is contained in our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Investor Contact:
LHA Investor Relations
Jody Cain
310-691-7100
jcain@lhai.com

Media Contact:
JQA Partners
Jules Abraham
917-885-7378
Jabraham@jqapartners.com

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Release – Unicycive Announces Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on UNCY

– On Track to Submit OLC New Drug Application (NDA) by End of August 2024 –

LOS ALTOS, Calif., Aug. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: UNCY) (the “Company” or “Unicycive”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapies for patients with kidney disease, today announced its financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2024, and provided a business update.

“Achieving successful results from our oxylanthanum carbonate (OLC) pivotal trial was a significant milestone for the company and brings us one step closer to becoming a commercial organization,” said Shalabh Gupta, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Unicycive. “Importantly, the trial confirmed tolerability of OLC in patients with hyperphosphatemia on dialysis which is the final data component needed to support submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA utilizing the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway. In addition, we were able to achieve phosphate control in 90% of patients at the end of their titration. Our recent pharmacokinetic analysis of samples from the pivotal study revealed that the systemic exposure of our drug is minimal and, as expected, the serum lanthanum levels are similar to that seen with Fosrenol®. With this data, we believe that we have completed all the necessary requirements from this pivotal clinical trial to fulfill the FDA’s requests. We remain on track to submit our NDA by the end of this month, and we maintain a high degree of confidence in the potential for OLC to be a best-in-class commercial product, if approved.”

“In July 2024 we were granted a new patent for UNI-494 by the USPTO which is an important component of our development strategy to target patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), a serious condition resulting from a sudden loss of kidney function. We have completed enrollment in the UNI-494 Phase 1 dose-ranging study and expect to report results in the third quarter of this year. With assets targeting both chronic and acute kidney conditions, we remain steadfastly focused on improving treatment options and overall quality of life for patients living with renal diseases,” concluded Dr. Gupta.

Key Highlights

  • Reported positive topline data from the pivotal clinical trial of OLC with regard to both safety and tolerability endpoints. The study established promising tolerability of OLC at clinically effective doses in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on hemodialysis. In terms of tolerability, OLC had a low rate of discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs) with only 5/86 patients (6%) discontinuing from the Study. The primary endpoint was defined as the rate of discontinuations due to treatment-related AEs leading to discontinuation in the maintenance period. In the UNI-OLC-201 trial, the discontinuation rate was 1.4%, as there was only 1 discontinuation due to a treatment-related AE in the Evaluable Population (n=71). In the full Safety Population (n=86), a total of 3 patients discontinued due to treatment-related AEs, a rate of 3.5%. There were no treatment-related serious adverse events (SAEs).
  • Announced initial results from the patient reported outcome survey conducted during the UNI-OLC-201 pivotal clinical trial. In the survey, OLC consistently outperformed the other phosphate binders in all categories: 79% of patients preferred OLC while 18% preferred their prior therapy, 98% of patients said that OLC was easy to take compared to 55% for their prior therapy, 89% of patients said they were satisfied with OLC while 49% were satisfied with their prior therapy.
  • Enrollment in the UNI-494 Phase 1 study is complete, and the Company expects to present the data in Q3 2024.
  • Granted a patent on UNI-494 to treat AKI by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent, valid until 2040, secures protection of a method of treating a disease or a condition selected from AKI or contrast induced nephropathy by administering the UNI-494 compound.
  • Included in the Russell Microcap® Index effective July 1, 2024. Membership in the Russell Microcap® Index, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the appropriate growth and value style indexes.
  • Delivered multiple presentations on OLC and UNI-494 at the 61st European Renal Association (ERA) Congress including two oral presentations and trial-in-progress posters on OLC and UNI-494. An oral presentation demonstrated a significant reduction in urinary phosphate excretion for OLC compared to vehicle treated animals. A second oral presentation evaluated the in vivo efficacy of UNI-494 and showed that a single oral dose of UNI-494 significantly reduced important kidney functional markers.
  • Presented two posters related to OLC at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Spring Clinical Meeting. Importantly, it was demonstrated that OLC is bioequivalent to lanthanum carbonate from the Phase 1, single-center, randomized 1:1, open-label, controlled, 2-way crossover study. In addition, a poster presentation on the findings of a survey of 100 renal dieticians concluded that strategies that reduce pill burden and increase ease of use for patients are needed. This poster was among the top-rated submissions to the Meeting.

Financial Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2024

Research and Development (R&D) expenses were $4.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $2.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase in research and development expenses was primarily due to increased drug development costs.

General and Administrative (G&A) expenses were $2.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $2.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase was primarily due to increased non-cash stock compensation costs.

Other Income (Expense) was $17.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $0.5 million in the three months ended June 30, 2023, due primarily to a decrease in the fair value of our warrant liability.

Net income attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was $3.0 million, and basic earnings per share was $0.08. On a diluted basis, we reported a loss per share for the same period of $0.15. The net income for the three-month period ended June 30, 2024 was attributable to a decrease in the fair value of our warrant liability. For the three months ended June 30, 2023, we reported a net loss of $4.4 million, and basic loss per share of $0.29. On a diluted basis, we reported a loss per share for the same period of $0.29.

As of June 30, 2024, cash and cash equivalents totaled $41.8 million. The Company believes that it has sufficient resources to fund planned operations into 2026.

About Unicycive Therapeutics

Unicycive Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing novel treatments for kidney diseases. Unicycive’s lead drug candidate, oxylanthanum carbonate (OLC), is a novel investigational phosphate binding agent being developed for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis. UNI-494 is a patent-protected new chemical entity in clinical development for the treatment of conditions related to acute kidney injury. For more information, please visit Unicycive.com and follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “estimated” and “intend” or other similar terms or expressions that concern Unicycive’s expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on Unicycive’s current expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are several factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, clinical trials involve a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome, and results of earlier studies and trials may not be predictive of future trial results; our clinical trials may be suspended or discontinued due to unexpected side effects or other safety risks that could preclude approval of our product candidates; risks related to business interruptions which could seriously harm our financial condition and increase our costs and expenses; dependence on key personnel; substantial competition; uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; dependence upon third parties; and risks related to failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and noncompliance with FDA regulations. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties related to market conditions and other factors described more fully in the section entitled ‘Risk Factors’ in Unicycive’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Unicycive specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Fosrenol® is a registered trademark of Shire International Licensing BV.

Investor Contact:

ir@unicycive.com
(650) 900-5470

SOURCE: Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc.

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Release – PDS Biotech Provides Business Update and Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Posted on by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on PDSB

PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB) (“PDS Biotech” or the “Company”), a late-stage immunotherapy company focused on transforming how the immune system targets and kills cancers and the development of infectious disease vaccines, today provided a business update and reported financial results for the second quarter of 2024.

“We are exiting the second quarter with momentum. We have aligned with the FDA on the design of the Phase 3 registrational trial of Versamune® HPV + pembrolizumab compared to pembrolizumab as a potential treatment for first-line recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (“HNSCC”),” said Frank Bedu-Addo, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of PDS Biotech. “This clinical trial is supported by the maturing data from our VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 trial, including encouraging survival, disease control response rates and safety data. We look forward to the presentation of updated data from the VERSATILE-002 trial at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2024 Congress in September.”

Kirk Shepard, M.D., Chief Medical Officer stated, “As a result of the recent VERSATILE-002 trial results, we have revised the statistical endpoints of the VERSATILE-003 Phase 3 trial to provide additional robustness to our trial design. Our goal now is to work with our clinical research organization to initiate the trial of the combination, which we believe has potential as the first targeted immunotherapy for HPV16-positive HNSCC. We anticipate that future studies of PDS01ADC have the potential to provide additional clinical benefit to an effective targeted immunotherapy.”

Recent Developments

  • Announced alignment with FDA to initiate Phase 3 VERSATILE-003 trial in HPV16-positive first-line recurrent or metastatic HNSCC.
    • This trial will be designed to investigate the combination of Versamune® HPV + pembrolizumab compared to pembrolizumab, and this design reflects updated statistical endpoints based on recent and more mature survival data from the VERSATILE-002 trial.
    • PDS Biotech has initiated preparatory activities in connection with the planned start of the Phase 3 VERSATILE-003 trial in Q4 2024.
  • Abstract by Jared Weiss, M.D., UNC Lineberger Cancer Center (Lead Investigator), presenting updated data from the VERSATILE-002 trial evaluating first-line treatment with Versamune® HPV in combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in patients with HPV16-positive recurrent/metastatic HNSCC accepted for presentation at the ESMO Congress 2024.
  • Provided a survival data update from the ongoing VERSATILE-002 trial in HPV16-positive HNSCC based on data cut from May 17, 2024.
    • Median overall survival is 30 months, consistent with data cut as of November 30, 2023.
  • Abstract by Adam Grippin, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center presenting updated results from the IMMUNOCERV trial evaluating treatment of high-risk locally advanced cervical cancer with Versamune® HPV in combination with chemoradiotherapy accepted for oral presentation at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting 2024.
  • Abstract by Renee Donahue, Ph.D., of the National Cancer Institute presenting preliminary biomarker results from a Phase 2 trial evaluating treatment of biochemically recurrent prostate cancer with PDS01ADC in combination with enzalutamide accepted for oral presentation at the 12th Annual Meeting of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Reported net loss was approximately $8.3 million, or $0.23 per basic share and diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to a net loss of $11.5 million, or $0.37 per basic share and diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease was due to lower operating expenses.

Research and development expenses decreased to approximately $4.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, from $8.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease of $3.5 million was primarily attributable to lower clinical trial and manufacturing costs.

General and administrative expenses decreased to approximately $4.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, from approximately $4.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease of $0.5 million was primarily attributable to lower personnel costs and professional fees.

Total operating expenses decreased to approximately $8.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, from $12.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023.

Net interest expenses increased to approximately $0.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, from $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023.

Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2024, totaled approximately $57.7 million.

About PDS Biotechnology
PDS Biotechnology is a late-stage immunotherapy company focused on transforming how the immune system targets and kills cancers and the development of infectious disease vaccines. The Company plans to initiate a pivotal clinical trial in 2024 to advance its lead program in advanced HPV16-positive head and neck squamous cell cancers. PDS Biotech’s lead investigational targeted immunotherapy Versamune® HPV is being developed in combination with a standard-of-care immune checkpoint inhibitor, and also in a triple combination including PDS01ADC, an IL-12 fused antibody drug conjugate (ADC), and a standard-of-care immune checkpoint inhibitor.

For more information, please visit: www.pdsbiotech.com

Forward Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the “Company”) and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “forecast,” “guidance”, “outlook” and other similar expressions among others. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the Company’s anticipated cash runway and the Company’s current expectations regarding its plans for future equity financings; the Company’s dependence on additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates, and the risks that raising such additional capital may restrict the Company’s operations or require the Company to relinquish rights to the Company’s technologies or product candidates; the Company’s limited operating history in the Company’s current line of business, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s prospects, the Company’s business plan or the likelihood of the Company’s successful implementation of such business plan; the timing for the Company or its partners to initiate the planned clinical trials for PDS01ADC, PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune® based product candidates; the future success of such trials; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations, including any collaboration studies concerning PDS01ADC, PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune® based product candidates and the Company’s interpretation of the results and findings of such programs and collaborations and whether such results are sufficient to support the future success of the Company’s product candidates; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including the Company’s ability to fully fund its disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to the Company’s currently projected expenses), futility analyses, presentations at conferences and data reported in an abstract, and receipt of interim or preliminary results (including, without limitation, any preclinical results or data), which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials; any Company statements about its understanding of product candidates mechanisms of action and interpretation of preclinical and early clinical results from its clinical development programs and any collaboration studies; the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; and other factors, including legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments not within the Company’s control. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the other risks, uncertainties, and other factors described under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in the documents we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Versamune® and Infectimune® are registered trademarks of PDS Biotechnology Corporation.

Keytruda® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA.

Investor Contact:
Mike Moyer
LifeSci Advisors
Phone +1 (617) 308-4306
Email: mmoyer@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Contact:
Gina Mangiaracina
6 Degrees
Phone +1 (917) 797-7904
Email: gmangiaracina@6degreespr.com

View the full release HERE.

Ocugen (OCGN) – 2Q24 Reported With Summary Of Progress In Clinical Trials

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com


Friday, August 09, 2024

Ocugen, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing novel gene therapies, biologicals, and vaccines. The lead product in its gene therapy program, OCU400, is in Phase 1/2 clinical trials for retinitis pigmentosa.

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Ocugen reported a 2Q24 loss of $10.3 million or $(0.04) per share. During the quarter, the first patient was treated in the Phase 3 liMeliGhT (pronounced “limelight”) trial for OCU400 in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Separately, the Phase 1/2 OCU410 trial for geographic atrophy in dry AMD completed dosing of its third cohort and began Phase 2. Cash on June 30 was $15.7 million, excluding $32.6 million raised in a public offering on August 2. Based on our quarterly estimates, we project cash to last until 2H25 with about $40 million in cash at the end of 3Q24.

OCU400 Began The Phase 3 liMeliGht Trial and Expanded Access. During the quarter, the first patient in the Phase 3 liMeliGhT trial testing OCU400 in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) was treated. The trial has one arm testing OCU400 in patients that have the RHO mutation and another arm with any of several gene mutations associated with RP. Each arm will have 75 patients for a total target enrollment of 150 patients.


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Release – PDS Biotech Announces Abstract Accepted for Oral Presentation at 2024 ASTRO Annual Meeting

Posted on by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on PDSB

PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB) (“PDS Biotech” or the “Company”), a late-stage immunotherapy company focused on transforming how the immune system targets and kills cancers and the development of infectious disease vaccines, today announced that updated data from the IMMUNOCERV Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating Versamune® HPV (formerly PDS0101) with chemoradiation to treat locally advanced cervical cancer will be presented during an oral presentation at the 2024 ASTRO Annual Meeting being held in Washington, DC, and virtually September 29 through October 2, 2024.

Details of the presentation are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 2:50-3:00 p.m. ET
Session title: SS 34 – GYN 2: Strategies and Innovations of Clinical Trials in Gynecologic Cancers
Presentation title: 298 – IMMUNOCERV Phase II Trial Combining the HPV-Specific T Cell Immunotherapy PDS0101 with Chemoradiation for Treatment of Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer
Presenting author: Adam Grippin, M.D., Ph.D., The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

About PDS Biotechnology
PDS Biotechnology is a late-stage immunotherapy company focused on transforming how the immune system targets and kills cancers and the development of infectious disease vaccines. The Company plans to initiate a pivotal clinical trial in 2024 to advance its lead program in advanced HPV16-positive head and neck squamous cell cancers. PDS Biotech’s lead investigational targeted immunotherapy Versamune® HPV is being developed in combination with a standard-of-care immune checkpoint inhibitor, and also in a triple combination including PDS01ADC, an IL-12 fused antibody drug conjugate (ADC), and a standard-of-care immune checkpoint inhibitor.

For more information, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the “Company”) and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “forecast,” “guidance”, “outlook” and other similar expressions among others. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the Company’s anticipated cash runway and the Company’s current expectations regarding its plans for future equity financings; the Company’s dependence on additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates, and the risks that raising such additional capital may restrict the Company’s operations or require the Company to relinquish rights to the Company’s technologies or product candidates; the Company’s limited operating history in the Company’s current line of business, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s prospects, the Company’s business plan or the likelihood of the Company’s successful implementation of such business plan; the timing for the Company or its partners to initiate the planned clinical trials for PDS01ADC, PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune® based product candidates; the future success of such trials; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations, including any collaboration studies concerning PDS01ADC, PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune® based product candidates and the Company’s interpretation of the results and findings of such programs and collaborations and whether such results are sufficient to support the future success of the Company’s product candidates; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including the Company’s ability to fully fund its disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to the Company’s currently projected expenses), futility analyses, presentations at conferences and data reported in an abstract, and receipt of interim or preliminary results (including, without limitation, any preclinical results or data), which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials; any Company statements about its understanding of product candidates mechanisms of action and interpretation of preclinical and early clinical results from its clinical development programs and any collaboration studies; the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; and other factors, including legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments not within the Company’s control. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the other risks, uncertainties, and other factors described under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in the documents we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  

Versamune® and Infectimune® are registered trademarks of PDS Biotechnology Corporation.

Investor Contact:
Mike Moyer
LifeSci Advisors
Phone +1 (617) 308-4306
Email: mmoyer@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Contact:
Gina Mangiaracina
6 Degrees
Phone +1 (917) 797-7904
Email: gmangiaracina@6degreespr.com

Release – Ocugen Provides Business Update with Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Posted on by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

News Research and Market Data on OCGN

August 8, 2024

PDF Version

Conference Call and Webcast Today at 8:30 a.m. ET

  • Actively dosing patients in OCU400 Phase 3 liMeliGhT clinical trial
  • OCU410 preliminary safety and efficacy data expected later this year
  • Expanded access program approved for OCU400
  • $32.6 million net cash from underwritten public offering of common stock

MALVERN, Pa., Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ocugen, Inc. (Ocugen or the Company) (NASDAQ: OCGN), a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel gene and cell therapies, biologics, and vaccines, today reported second quarter 2024 financial results along with a business update.

“The first half of 2024 has been marked with significant accomplishments for our modifier gene therapy platform—including dosing patients in the OCU400 Phase 3 clinical trial for retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and progressing into Phase 2 of the OCU410 ArMaDa clinical trial for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA),” said Dr. Shankar Musunuri, Chairman, CEO, and Co-founder of Ocugen. “These meaningful milestones bring us closer to providing a potential one-time therapy for life for patients living with RP (300,000 in the U.S. and Europe) and GA (2-3 million in the U.S. and Europe) who desperately need effective treatment options. Thanks to our Ocugen team for their tireless efforts to keep these and all our clinical trials on track.”

The OCU400 Phase 3 trial has a sample size of 150 participants: one arm has 75 participants with RHO gene mutations, and the other arm has 75 participants with mutations in any of several other genes associated with RP. The Luminance Dependent Navigation Assessment (LDNA) is the primary endpoint for the study. In this assessment, a participant navigates an obstacle course that constitutes a more sensitive and specific measurement of visual function than the mobility measurement used in previous Phase 3 clinical trials. The Phase 3 liMeliGhT trial will focus on the proportion of responders, in treated and untreated groups, who achieve an improvement of at least 2 Lux (light) levels from baseline in the study eyes. More than 60% of the intent-to-treat patients from the Phase 1/2 clinical trial, including patients with the RHO mutation, meet the responder criteria established for Phase 3. The Phase 3 mobility test responder rate for the only FDA-approved product to treat one mutation in RP was 52%. The Phase 3 trial is powered greater than 95% assuming a 50% responder rate.  

Recently, the FDA approved the OCU400 expanded access program (EAP) for the treatment of adult patients, aged 18 and older, with RP. This is the first ever gene therapy candidate to treat patients with RP, regardless of mutation, approved for an EAP and the EAP further supports the gene-agnostic mechanism of action for this novel modifier gene therapy.

Novel modifier gene therapy has the potential to address multiple inherited retinal diseases as well as multifactorial causes of blindness that affect millions of patients, like dry age-related macular degeneration (dAMD). OCU410 and OCU410ST aim to treat geographic atrophy secondary to dAMD and Stargardt disease, respectively. These modifier gene therapies leverage a nuclear hormone receptor gene called RORA (RAR-related orphan receptor A) as a potential one-time therapy for life with a single sub-retinal injection.

OCU410 is specifically designed to address multiple pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of dAMD and offers a distinct advantage over current treatment options that target only one pathway—the complement system—and require frequent intravitreal injections (about 6-12 doses per year), accompanied by various safety concerns, such as roughly 12% of patients progressing to wet AMD. OCU410 has the potential to regulate all four pathways related to disease progression—lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and the complement system—with a one-time sub-retinal injection.

OCU410ST has received an Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for the treatment of Stargardt disease, which has no approved treatment and affects approximately 100,000 people in the U.S. and Europe combined. The third cohort of the clinical trial is currently receiving the high dose. OCU410ST has the potential to be the first one-time gene therapy for Stargardt disease.

Ocugen continues to pursue strategic partnerships that will drive long-term strategy, and most importantly, will help patients access these novel modifier gene therapies globally. During the 2024 BIO International Convention, Ocugen engaged with potential partners and pharmaceutical executives to explore opportunities for the Company’s dynamic pipeline.

“Ocugen’s inclusion in the Russell Index in June further bolsters the value of our pipeline and recognizes the Company’s robust growth strategy,” said Dr. Musunuri. “This ranking supports our efforts to enable long-term shareholder value, garner significant visibility for Ocugen within the investment community, and broaden our shareholder base. I look forward to the second half of 2024 as we continue to solidify Ocugen’s position as a biotechnology leader.”

Subsequent to June 30, 2024, the Company closed a public offering of common stock with net proceeds of $32.6 million—extending its expected cash runway into the third quarter of 2025. The offering was led by a large premier mutual fund, along with participation from leading life sciences investors.

Ophthalmic Gene Therapies—First-in-Class

OCU400 – Ocugen is actively dosing subjects in the OCU400 Phase 3 liMeliGhT trial for the treatment of RP. With dosing of the Phase 3 trial underway, OCU400 remains on track for the 2026 BLA and MAA approval targets.

OCU410 – In July 2024, Ocugen announced the completion of dosing in the third cohort of the OCU410 Phase 1/2 ArMaDa clinical trial for the treatment of GA. To date, nine patients with GA have been dosed in the Phase 1/2 clinical trial (with low, medium, and high doses). Phase 2 of the clinical trial has been initiated and will assess the safety and efficacy of OCU410 in a larger group of patients who will be randomized into either of two treatment groups (medium or high dose) or a control group.

OCU410ST – Currently dosing the high dose of OCU410ST in the dose-escalation phase of the study.

Regenerative Cell Therapies—First-in-class

NeoCart® – Ocugen intends to initiate the Phase 3 trial contingent on the availability of adequate funding.
Vaccines Portfolio—First-in-class

Inhaled Mucosal Vaccine Platform – NIAID plans to submit an IND to initiate the OCU500 (COVID-19) Phase 1 clinical trial this year. Ocugen is continuing discussions with relevant government agencies as well as strategic partners regarding funding for the development of the OCU510 and OCU520 platforms.

Ophthalmic Biologic Product

OCU200 – Ocugen continues to work with the FDA to lift the clinical hold.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

  • Received $32.6 million net cash from underwritten public offering of common stock that closed on August 2, 2024.
  • The Company’s cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash totaled $16.0 million as of June 30, 2024, compared to $39.5 million as of December 31, 2023. The Company had 257.4 million shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2024.
  • Total operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2024 were $16.6 million and included research and development expenses of $8.9 million and general and administrative expenses of $7.7 million. This compares to total operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2023 of $24.0 million that included research and development expenses of $14.5 million and general and administrative expenses of $9.5 million.
  • Ocugen reported a $0.04 net loss per common share for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to a $0.10 net loss per common share for the three months ended June 30, 2023.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

Ocugen has scheduled a conference call and webcast for 8:30 a.m. ET today to discuss the financial results and recent business highlights. Ocugen’s senior management team will host the call, which will be open to all listeners. There also will be a question-and-answer session following the prepared remarks.

Attendees are invited to participate on the call or webcast:

Dial-in Numbers: (800) 715-9871 for U.S. callers and (646) 307-1963 for international callers
Conference ID: 7453742
Webcast: Available on the events section of the Ocugen investor site

A replay of the call and archived webcast will be available for approximately 45 days following the event on the Ocugen investor site.

About Ocugen, Inc.
Ocugen, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel gene and cell therapies, biologics, and vaccines that improve health and offer hope for patients across the globe. We are making an impact on patients’ lives through courageous innovation—forging new scientific paths that harness our unique intellectual and human capital. Our breakthrough modifier gene therapy platform has the potential to treat multiple retinal diseases with a single product, and we are advancing research in infectious diseases to support public health and orthopedic diseases to address unmet medical needs. Discover more at www.ocugen.com and follow us on X and LinkedIn.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, strategy, business plans and objectives for Ocugen’s clinical programs, plans and timelines for the preclinical and clinical development of Ocugen’s product candidates, including the therapeutic potential, clinical benefits and safety thereof, expectations regarding timing, success and data announcements of current ongoing preclinical and clinical trials, the ability to initiate new clinical programs; Ocugen’s financial condition and expected cash runway into the third quarter of 2025, statements regarding qualitative assessments of available data, potential benefits, expectations for ongoing clinical trials, anticipated regulatory filings and anticipated development timelines, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. We may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “proposed,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should,” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks, and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from our current expectations, including, but not limited to, the risks that preliminary, interim and top-line clinical trial results may not be indicative of, and may differ from, final clinical data; that unfavorable new clinical trial data may emerge in ongoing clinical trials or through further analyses of existing clinical trial data; that earlier non-clinical and clinical data and testing of may not be predictive of the results or success of later clinical trials; and that that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments, including by regulatory authorities. These and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our annual and periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the risk factors described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the quarterly and annual reports that we file with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this press release whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

Contact:
Tiffany Hamilton
AVP, Head of Communications
Tiffany.Hamilton@ocugen.com 

View full release HERE.

Release – PDS Biotech to Announce Second Quarter Financial Results on August 13, 2024

Posted on by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on PDSB

PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB) (“PDS Biotech” or the “Company”), a late-stage immunotherapy company focused on transforming how the immune system targets and kills cancers and the development of infectious disease vaccines, today announced that the Company will report financial results for the second quarter of 2024 and provide a business update on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, before the market opens. The press release will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.pdsbiotech.com.

About PDS Biotechnology
PDS Biotechnology is a late-stage immunotherapy company focused on transforming how the immune system targets and kills cancers and the development of infectious disease vaccines. The Company plans to initiate a pivotal clinical trial in 2024 to advance its lead program in advanced HPV16-positive head and neck squamous cell cancers. PDS Biotech’s lead investigational targeted immunotherapy Versamune® HPV is being developed in combination with a standard-of-care immune checkpoint inhibitor, and also in a triple combination including PDS01ADC, an IL-12 fused antibody drug conjugate (ADC), and a standard-of-care immune checkpoint inhibitor.

For more information, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the “Company”) and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “forecast,” “guidance”, “outlook” and other similar expressions among others. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the Company’s anticipated cash runway and the Company’s current expectations regarding its plans for future equity financings; the Company’s dependence on additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates, and the risks that raising such additional capital may restrict the Company’s operations or require the Company to relinquish rights to the Company’s technologies or product candidates; the Company’s limited operating history in the Company’s current line of business, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s prospects, the Company’s business plan or the likelihood of the Company’s successful implementation of such business plan; the timing for the Company or its partners to initiate the planned clinical trials for PDS01ADC, PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune® based product candidates; the future success of such trials; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations, including any collaboration studies concerning PDS01ADC, PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® and Infectimune® based product candidates and the Company’s interpretation of the results and findings of such programs and collaborations and whether such results are sufficient to support the future success of the Company’s product candidates; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including the Company’s ability to fully fund its disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to the Company’s currently projected expenses), futility analyses, presentations at conferences and data reported in an abstract, and receipt of interim or preliminary results (including, without limitation, any preclinical results or data), which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials; any Company statements about its understanding of product candidates mechanisms of action and interpretation of preclinical and early clinical results from its clinical development programs and any collaboration studies; the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; and other factors, including legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments not within the Company’s control. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the other risks, uncertainties, and other factors described under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in the documents we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  

Versamune® and Infectimune® are registered trademarks of PDS Biotechnology Corporation.

Investor Contact:
Mike Moyer
LifeSci Advisors
Phone +1 (617) 308-4306
Email: mmoyer@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Contact:
Gina Mangiaracina
6 Degrees
Phone +1 (917) 797-7904
Email: gmangiaracina@6degreespr.com