Oragenics Inc. Announces Concussion Drug, ONP-002, Successfully Clears FDA-Required Cardiotoxicity Testing
August 08 2024 - 8:45AM
Oragenics, Inc. (NYSE American: OGEN), a company focused on
developing unique, intranasal pharmaceuticals for the treatment of
neurological disorders, today announced its lead candidate for
treating concussion successfully completed a study that indicates
ONP-002 does not cause cardiotoxicity. ONP-002 is a new chemical
entity (NCE) designed to target the brain through delivery into the
nasal cavity and onward to the brain. Prior to conducting a
clinical trial, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
requires pharmaceuticals to be tested on cardiac receptors to
ensure that they do not show any causes of electrical
malformations.
Oragenics conducted hERG (human
Ether-à-go-go-Related Gene) ion channel studies on ONP-002 under
Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) with Charles River Laboratories.
Like previous non-GLP hERG studies, inhibitory concentrations were
greater than 10 micromolar. Based on Phase I ONP-002 clinical trial
dosing and subsequent blood plasma concentrations, ONP-002 is
expected to have a large cardiac safety margin, suggesting that
ONP-002 treatment for concussion will not cause cardiac
arrhythmia.
“We are pleased that ONP-002 has demonstrated a
strong safety margin for the heart, enabling us to continue
planning the Phase II trials. Safety remains our top priority, and
we will continuously monitor all safety parameters throughout the
trials,” stated Michael Redmond, President of Oragenics.
“Furthermore, a Phase II study is being planned to further evaluate
the drug in concussed patients.”
Concussion is a significant unmet medical need,
with an estimated 69 million cases reported annually worldwide.
Common causes of concussions include falls, motor vehicle
accidents, and contact sports. According to the CDC, the total
annual healthcare cost for nonfatal traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
exceeds $40.6 billion. This includes $10.1 billion covered by
private insurance, $22.5 billion by Medicare, and $8 billion by
Medicaid. Concussions have been associated with other neurological
disorders, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Additionally,
post-concussion symptoms, which can occur in up to 20% of affected
individuals, are linked to long-term disability.
About OragenicsOragenics is a
development-stage biotechnology company focused on nasal delivery
of pharmaceutical medications in neurology and fighting infectious
diseases, including drug candidates for treating mild traumatic
brain injury (mTBI), also known as concussion, and for treating
Niemann Pick Disease Type C (NPC), as well as proprietary powder
formulation and an intranasal delivery device. For more
information, please visit www.oragenics.com.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis
communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without
limitation statements regarding the ability of the Company to
timely and successfully undertake Phase II clinical trial using its
novel drug-device combination for the treatment of mild Traumatic
Brain Injury. These forward-looking statements are based on
management’s beliefs and assumptions and information currently
available. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend,"
"estimate," "project" and similar expressions that do not relate
solely to historical matters identify forward-looking statements.
Investors should be cautious in relying on forward-looking
statements because they are subject to a variety of risks,
uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking
statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the
Company’s ability to advance the development of its product
candidates, including the neurology assets, under the timelines and
in accord with the milestones it projects; the Company’s ability to
raise capital and obtain funding, non-dilutive or otherwise, for
the development of its product candidates; the regulatory
application process, research and development stages, and future
clinical data and analysis relating to its product candidates,
including any meetings, decisions by regulatory authorities, such
as the FDA and investigational review boards, whether favorable or
unfavorable; the Company’s ability to obtain, maintain and enforce
necessary patent and other intellectual property protection; the
nature of competition and development relating to concussion
treatments; the Company’s expectations as to the outcome of
preclinical studies and clinical trials and the potential benefits,
activity, effectiveness and safety of its product candidates
including as to administration, transmission, manufacturing,
storage and distribution; and general economic and market
conditions and risks, as well as other uncertainties described in
our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All
information set forth is as of the date hereof unless otherwise
indicated. You should consider these factors in evaluating the
forward-looking statements included and not place undue reliance on
such statements. We do not assume any obligation to publicly
provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future developments or
otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise
required by law.
Oragenics, Inc.Janet Huffman, Chief Financial
Officer813-286-7900jhuffman@oragenics.com
Investor Relations:Rich CockrellCG
Capital404-736-3838ogen@cg.capital
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