Tonix Pharmaceuticals Announces Appointment of Sina Bavari, Ph.D. as Executive Vice President, Infectious Disease Research and Development
July 25 2022 - 7:00AM
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP) (Tonix or the
Company), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today
announced the appointment of Sina Bavari, Ph.D. as its new
Executive Vice President, Infectious Disease Research and
Development. In this role, Dr. Bavari will be responsible for
leading Tonix’s development of its growing infectious disease
pipeline and will serve as a key member of the Company’s executive
leadership team. Dr. Bavari will be based in Frederick, Md. and, as
part of his role, will oversee scientific development at Tonix’s
Infectious Disease R&D Center located there.
“We are delighted that Dr. Bavari has joined our
team to lead our infectious disease research and development
efforts,” said Seth Lederman, M.D., President and Chief Executive
Officer of Tonix Pharmaceuticals. “Dr. Bavari has a proven track
record of innovation and of developing scientific strategies as
well as leading programs at all stages of discovery and
development.”
“I am excited to join Tonix and to lead the
Company's efforts in infectious disease research and development
programs, including vaccines in development for monkeypox, smallpox
and COVID-19,” said Dr. Bavari. “The Frederick, Md. Research and
Development Center, or RDC, is a state-of-the-art facility with
exceptional capabilities. The facility is up and running and is
staffed by an outstanding team of scientists. I look forward to
leveraging my years of experience in industry and government to
expedite this important work with the goal of ultimately solving
health problems on a global basis.”
Dr. Bavari has a record of achievement utilizing
new and complex technologies and in guiding programs through
clinical decision points into advanced development. He is an
inventor of approximately 30 patents, published over 300
peer-reviewed manuscripts and contributed to 15 development
candidates, as well as numerous Investigational New Drug candidate
filings. Most recently, he served as Chief Scientific Officer /
Scientific Director at the U.S. Army Research Institute of
Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and has held numerous leadership
roles at USAMRIID, including Chief, Molecular and Translational
Sciences Division and Therapeutic Discovery Center; Chief, Target
Discovery & Experimental Microbiology, Integrated Toxicology
Division; and Chief, Immunology, Target Identification, and
Translational Research, Bacteriology Division. Dr. Bavari earned
his Ph.D. in Immunotoxicology and Pharmaceutical Science at the
University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb., and his M.S.
in Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Pharmacy at the University of
Southern California, Los Angeles.
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding
Corp.*
Tonix is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical
company focused on discovering, licensing, acquiring and developing
therapeutics to treat and prevent human disease and alleviate
suffering. Tonix’s portfolio is composed of central nervous system
(CNS), rare disease, immunology and infectious disease product
candidates. Tonix’s CNS portfolio includes both small molecules and
biologics to treat pain, neurologic, psychiatric and addiction
conditions. Tonix’s lead CNS candidate, TNX-102 SL (cyclobenzaprine
HCl sublingual tablet), is in mid-Phase 3 development for the
management of fibromyalgia with a new Phase 3 study launched in the
second quarter of 2022 and interim data expected in the first
quarter of 2023. TNX-102 SL is also being developed to treat Long
COVID, a chronic post-acute COVID-19 condition. Tonix expects to
initiate a Phase 2 study in Long COVID in the third quarter of
2022. TNX-1300 (cocaine esterase) is a biologic designed to
treat cocaine intoxication that is mid-Phase 2 and has been granted
Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA. TNX-1900 (intranasal
potentiated oxytocin), a small molecule in development for chronic
migraine, is expected to enter the clinic with a Phase 2 study in
the second half of 2022. Tonix’s rare disease portfolio includes
TNX-2900 (intranasal potentiated oxytocin) for the treatment
of Prader-Willi syndrome. TNX-2900 has been granted Orphan-Drug
Designation by the FDA. TNX-601 ER (tianeptine hemioxalate
extended-release tablet) is being developed as an antidepressant in
the U.S., with a Phase 2 study expected to be initiated in first
quarter of 2023 pending IND clearance. Tonix’s immunology portfolio
includes biologics to address organ transplant rejection,
autoimmunity and cancer, including TNX-1500, which is a humanized
monoclonal antibody targeting CD40-ligand being developed for the
prevention of allograft and xenograft rejection and for the
treatment of autoimmune diseases. A Phase 1 study of TNX-1500 is
expected to be initiated in the first half of 2023. Tonix’s
infectious disease pipeline consists of a vaccine in development to
prevent smallpox and monkeypox called TNX-801, next-generation
vaccines to prevent COVID-19, and a platform to make fully human
monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID-19. Tonix’s lead vaccine
candidate for COVID-19 is TNX-1850, a live virus vaccines based on
Tonix’s recombinant pox live virus vector vaccine platform.
*All of Tonix’s product candidates are
investigational new drugs or biologics and have not been approved
for any indication.
This press release and further information about
Tonix can be found at www.tonixpharma.com.
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; delays and uncertainties caused
by the global COVID-19 pandemic; 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, 2021, as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 14, 2022, 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.
Contacts
Jessica Morris (corporate)Tonix
Pharmaceuticalsinvestor.relations@tonixpharma.com (862)
904-8182
Olipriya Das, Ph.D. (media)Russo
PartnersOlipriya.Das@russopartnersllc.com (646) 942-5588
Peter Vozzo
(investors)Westwicke/ICRpeter.vozzo@westwicke.com (443)
213-0505
Tonix Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:TNXP)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Tonix Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:TNXP)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024