Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP) (Tonix or the
Company), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with marketed
products and a pipeline of development candidates, presented data
in an oral presentation at the World Vaccine Congress-Europe 2024,
held October 28-31, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. A copy of the
Company’s presentation is available under the Scientific
Presentations tab of the Tonix website at www.tonixpharma.com
following the conference.
The presentation titled, “A Novel, Single-dose,
Live, Attenuated, Minimally Replicating Mpox Vaccine”, highlighted
positive preclinical efficacy data, demonstrating tolerability in
immunocompromised animals and showed that TNX-801 is unable to
spread in blood or tissues in these animals, even at an
approximately 100-fold higher dose than 20th century vaccinia
vaccines.
TNX-801 is an attenuated live-virus vaccine
based on synthesized horsepox that has been shown to provide
single-dose immune protection against a monkeypox challenge with
better tolerability than 20th century vaccinia live-virus vaccines
in animals. TNX-801 has previously been shown to protect animals
against lethal challenge with intratracheal clade I monkeypox
virus.1 After a single dose vaccination, TNX-801 prevented clinical
disease and lesions and also decreased shedding in the mouth and
lungs of animals challenged with clade I monkeypox.1 These findings
are consistent with TNX-801 inducing mucosal immunity and suggest
TNX-801 has the ability to block forward transmission. An outbreak
of clade I mpox has recently been declared a Public Health
Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health
Organization (WHO).2,3 Starting from an outbreak in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, clade I mpox has spread to sixteen Central
African Countries and cases have been reported in Sweden, Thailand,
Singapore, India, Germany and England. According to the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other
experts, there is a significant risk that clade I strain may appear
in the U.S.4
“Data continue to support TNX-801’s strong
tolerability and efficacy profiles by continually displaying
protective immunity to animals with single-dose administration,”
said Seth Lederman, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Tonix.
“Synthetic biology is an important technology for vaccine
development as viral diseases continue to rapidly evolve. The new
data demonstrate that TNX-801 is highly attenuated relative to 20th
century vaccinia vaccines in immunocompromised animals.5 With
TNX-801’s target profile, favorable shipping and storing
requirements and our manufacturing collaboration agreements, we
believe TNX-801 is in a strong position to make an impact towards
preventing mpox and control mpox epidemics.”
In September 2024, Tonix announced that the
World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) preferred target product
profile (TPP), released at the WHO sponsored Mpox Research and
Innovation Scientific Conference, aligns with the characteristics
of TNX-801. Key elements of the WHO draft TPP include single-dose,
durable protection, administration without special equipment, and
stability at ambient temperature. Other potential beneficial
characteristics include the ability to limit forward transmission,
use in case-contact vaccination strategies and suitability for use
in immunocompromised individuals.
In August 2024, Tonix announced a collaboration
with Bilthoven Biologics (Bbio) to develop GMP manufacturing
processes for its mpox vaccine. Bbio is part of the world’s largest
vaccine manufacturer, the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, which also
includes the Serum Institute of India.
About
TNX-801*TNX-801 is a live replicating
attenuated vaccine based on horsepox that is believed to provide
immune protection with better tolerability than 20th century
vaccinia viruses. As previously disclosed, TNX-801 protected
animals against lethal challenge with intratracheal clade I
monkeypox virus.1 After a single dose vaccination, TNX-801
prevented clinical disease and lesions and also decreased shedding
in the mouth and lungs of non-human primates.1 The 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. On August 26, 2024, Tonix announced a collaboration to
develop GMP manufacturing processes for its mpox vaccine with
Bilthoven Biologics (Bbio), part of the world’s largest vaccine
manufacturer, the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, which also includes the
Serum Institute of India.
On the horsepox platform, Tonix is developing
TNX-1800 (horsepox expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein) for
protecting against COVID-19. TNX-1800 is an engineered version of
horsepox that expresses the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. In
preclinical studies of TNX-1800 highlighted in the presentation,
TNX-1800 was tested for immunogenicity and efficacy of TNX-1800 in
nonhuman primates following a SARS CoV-2 challenge. 6,7 TNX-1800
vaccination results in a neutralizing antibody response that was
associated with significant reduction in virus replication/shedding
in the respiratory tract and tolerability. 2,3 TNX-1800 was
selected by the NIH’s, Project NextGen for inclusion in clinical
trials as part of a select group of next generation COVID-19
vaccine candidates with the intent to identify promising vaccine
platforms. NIH plans to conduct a Phase 1 trial of TNX-1800 and
cover the full cost of the study, while Tonix provides the vaccine
candidate.
About Mpox*On
August 14, 2024, the 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 I monkeypox virus, while the
2022 outbreak was clade II monkeypox virus. 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 US. 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. 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.4
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding
Corp.*Tonix is a fully integrated
biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming therapies for
pain management and modernizing solutions for public health
challenges. Tonix’s development portfolio is focused on central
nervous system (CNS) disorders, and its priority is to progress
TNX-102 SL, a product candidate for which an NDA was submitted
based on two statistically significant Phase 3 studies 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
and acute stress disorder under a Physician-Initiated IND at the
University of North Carolina in the OASIS study funded by the U.S.
Department of Defense (DoD). Tonix’s CNS portfolio includes
TNX-1300 (cocaine esterase), a biologic in Phase 2 development
designed to treat cocaine intoxication that has FDA Breakthrough
Therapy designation and its development is supported by a grant
from the U.S. National Institude of Drug Abuse and Addiction.
Tonix’s immunology development portfolio consists of biologics to
address organ transplant rejection, autoimmunity and cancer,
including TNX-1500, which is an Fc-modified 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, including TNX-2900 for
Prader-Willi syndrome, and infectious disease, including a vaccine
for mpox, TNX-801. Tonix recently announced a contract with the
U.S. DoD’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) for up to $34
million over five years 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. 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.
1Noyce RS, et al. Viruses. 2023 Jan
26;15(2):356. Doi: 10.3390/v15020356. PMID: 36851570; PMCID:
PMC99652342WHO Press Release August 14, 2024. “WHO Director-General
declares mpox outbrfeak 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)3McQuiston JH, et al. U.S. Preparedness and
Response to Increasing Clade I Mpox Cases in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo. 2024, MMWR Morbi Mortal Wkly Rep: United
States. p. 435-4404CDC. 2022-2023 Mpox: US Map and Case
Count.5Trefry, SV et al.
bioRxiv 2023.10.25.564033; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.25.5640336Awasthi
M et al Vaccines (Basel). 2023 11(11):1682. doi:
10.3390/vaccines11111682.PMID: 380060147Awasthi M, et al.
Viruses. 2023 15(10):2131. doi: 10.3390/v15102131. PMID: 37896908;
PMCID: PMC10612059.
Forward Looking
StatementsCertain 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 MorrisTonix
Pharmaceuticalsinvestor.relations@tonixpharma.com (862)
904-8182
Peter VozzoICR Healthcarepeter.vozzo@westwicke.com (443)
213-0505
Media Contact
Ray JordanPutnam Insightsray@putnaminsights.com(949)
245-5432
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