Moleculin Announces COVID-19 In Vivo Testing Contracted for WP1122
Moleculin Biotech, Inc. (Nasdaq: MBRX) announced a contract with an independent laboratory to test its antiviral drug candidate WP1122 in a COVID-19 animal model using hamsters. Initial data may be available in December 2020, and this study aims to support an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the FDA in 2021. Moleculin is also conducting additional in vitro studies of its WP1122 portfolio against SARS-CoV-2. The company remains focused on developing treatments for highly resistant tumors and viruses.
- Contract with an independent lab for COVID-19 in vivo testing of WP1122.
- Potential data readout in December 2020 may expedite IND filing in 2021.
- Additional in vitro studies are ongoing to explore WP1122's antiviral properties.
- Dependence on successful outcomes from in vivo testing to file IND.
- Uncertainties surrounding the effectiveness and safety of WP1122 against COVID-19.
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.
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