HOUSTON, Sept. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Moleculin Biotech,
Inc., (Nasdaq: MBRX) ("Moleculin" or the "Company"), a clinical
stage pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of drug
candidates targeting highly resistant tumors and viruses, today
announced that it has contracted with an independent laboratory to
test the antiviral activity of its WP1122 portfolio in a COVID-19
animal model.
Moleculin contracted with an independent laboratory for in vivo
testing of its drug candidate, WP1122 and another candidate from
the same portfolio in development as a possible treatment for
COVID-19. The testing will involve that laboratory's hamster
model and SARS-CoV-2. Based on the estimated start date of
the study, final data may be available in December.
"With in vivo studies for the treatment of COVID-19 in such high
demand, we are excited to begin an in vivo study involving our
WP1122 portfolio," commented Walter
Klemp, Chairman and CEO of Moleculin. "Even though we may
have initial observations earlier, having the final data readout in
December will push the estimated window for filing an
Investigational New Drug application ("IND") into 2021. We are also
planning to conduct other in vivo studies, intended to enable us to
file a complete IND with the US Food and Drug Administration
("FDA")."
Based on feedback from FDA, the Company believes it may need to
demonstrate activity in a COVID-19 animal model to successfully
submit a request for IND status for WP1122. In addition, the
Company also continues to contract with independent labs to conduct
additional in vitro studies, which are currently under way. "We are
excited about the additional in vitro testing as this will involve
more than one molecule from our WP1122 anitmetabolite portfolio
against SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses," concluded Mr. Klemp.
About Moleculin Biotech, Inc.
Moleculin Biotech, Inc. is a clinical stage pharmaceutical
company focused on the development of a broad portfolio of oncology
drug candidates for the treatment of highly resistant tumors and
viruses. The Company's clinical stage drugs are: Annamycin, a Next
Generation Anthracycline, designed to avoid multidrug resistance
mechanisms with little to no cardiotoxicity, being studied for the
treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia, more
commonly referred to as AML; WP1066, an Immune/Transcription
Modulator capable of inhibiting p-STAT3 and other oncogenic
transcription factors while also stimulating a natural immune
response, being studied for brain tumors, pancreatic cancer and
hematologic malignancies; and WP1220, an analog to WP1066, being
studied for the topical treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Moleculin is also engaged in preclinical development of additional
drug candidates, including additional Immune/Transcription
Modulators, as well as compounds capable of
Metabolism/Glycosylation Inhibition, such as WP1122. Moleculin has
the exclusive worldwide rights (subject to certain territories for
which it has issued sublicenses) to all of the above
technologies.
For more information about the Company, please visit
http://www.moleculin.com.
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, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve
risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press
release include, without limitation, the ability of WP1122 to show
sufficient antiviral potential in vitro and in vivo models, the
ability of Moleculin to file an IND submission and the ability of
WP1122 to be shown safe and effective for the treatment of
COVID-19, other viral diseases. Although Moleculin 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. Moleculin Biotech has attempted to
identify forward-looking statements by terminology including
''believes,'' ''estimates,'' ''anticipates,'' ''expects,''
''plans,'' ''projects,'' ''intends,'' ''potential,'' ''may,''
''could,'' ''might,'' ''will,'' ''should,'' ''approximately'' or
other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to
identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are
only predictions and involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties, and other factors, including those discussed under
Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our most recently filed Form 10-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and updated
from time to time in our Form 10-Q filings and in our other public
filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements
contained in this release speak only as of its date. We undertake
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.
Contacts
James Salierno
/ Carol Ruth
The Ruth Group
646-536-7028 /
7000
jsalierno@theruthgroup.com
cruth@theruthgroup.com
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SOURCE Moleculin Biotech, Inc.