NEW YORK, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Scopus
BioPharma Inc. (Nasdaq: SCPS) today announced the
completion of clinical lot manufacturing fulfilling the
requirements for the planned Phase 1 clinical trial for
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This is a key milestone to enable
finalization of the investigational new drug ("IND") package for
submission to the United States Food and Drug Administration
("FDA").
Scopus is a biopharmaceutical company developing
transformational therapeutics based on groundbreaking scientific
and medical discoveries. The company's lead drug candidate is
a novel, targeted immuno-oncology gene therapy for the treatment of
multiple cancers.
Joshua R. Lamstein, Chairman of
Scopus BioPharma, stated, "The clinical lot completion is a very
important step. In connection with our recent IPO, we
informed investors that this would be a near-term value-building
milestone. This is the first of several important milestones
anticipated for H1 2021. We look forward to providing further
updates to shareholders on near-term clinical and operational
milestones in the weeks and months ahead."
The company's lead drug candidate is highly distinctive,
encompassing both gene therapy and immunotherapy by synthetically
linking siRNA to an oligonucleotide TLR9 agonist, creating the
potential for targeted gene silencing with simultaneous TLR
stimulation and immune activation in the tumor
microenvironment.
An additional near-term milestone is a status report under the
company's sponsored research agreement relating to its lead drug
candidate in combination with checkpoint inhibitors.
Robert J. Gibson, Vice Chairman
of Scopus BioPharma, stated, "We greatly look forward to the
research updates relating to our lead drug candidate in combination
with checkpoint inhibitors. The promise of combination
therapies continues to drive heightened pharma interest in this
approach."
The leading checkpoint inhibitor on the market is Keytruda, a
PD-1 inhibitor. An April 2020
report from Fierce Pharma, entitled The Top 10 Drugs by Sales
Increase in 2020, sets forth that at the top of the list as
"those who have monitored the red-hot immuno-oncology field would
expect, is Merck & Co.'s Keytruda." According to the same
Fierce Pharma publication, 2019 sales of Keytruda were $11.9 billion.
Mr. Gibson added, "We are excited about the potential
opportunities for the combination of our lead drug candidate with a
checkpoint inhibitor for the treatment of multiple types of
cancer."
About Scopus BioPharma
Scopus BioPharma Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing
transformational therapeutics capitalizing on groundbreaking
scientific and medical discoveries from leading research and
academic institutions. The company's lead drug candidate is a
novel, targeted immuno-oncology gene therapy for the treatment of
multiple cancers. The company is also developing additional
new chemical entities to treat other serious diseases with
significant unmet medical needs, including systemic sclerosis.
Receive updates by following Scopus BioPharma on Twitter here.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may include forward-looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are
statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking
statements are subject to risks (including those set forth in the
company's offering circular filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission) and uncertainties which could cause actual
results to differ from the forward-looking statements. The company
expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release
publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements
contained herein to reflect any change in the company's
expectations with respect thereto or any change in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
Investors should realize that if our underlying assumptions for the
projections contained herein prove inaccurate or that known or
unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could
vary materially from our expectations and projections.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of
these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer,
solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or
qualification of these securities under the securities laws of any
such state or jurisdiction.
Contact
Rodd Leeds/David Waldman
Crescendo Communications, LLC
Tel: (212) 671-1020
Email: SCPS@crescendo-ir.com
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scopus-biopharma-announces-completion-of-clinical-lot-manufacture-301210492.html
SOURCE Scopus BioPharma Inc.