PharmaTher’s Sairiyo Therapeutics Submits Clinical Trial Application for Phase 1 Study of Patented Reformulated Cepharanthine

Rhea-AI Summary

PharmaTher, a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that Sairiyo Therapeutics, a company partly owned by PharmaTher, has submitted a Clinical Trial Application for a Phase 1 study of its reformulated cepharanthine (PD-001). The study will assess the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of PD-001 in healthy volunteers, comparing different dosages. Set to begin in June 2024 upon approval from Australian regulators, this will be the first human trial of PD-001. Sairiyo aims to take advantage of Australia's 43.5% R&D tax incentive and plans to pursue further trials in the U.S. upon successful completion.

Positive

• Submission of Clinical Trial Application for Phase 1 study of PD-001.
• Potential 43.5% rebate from Australia's R&D tax incentive program.
• Plans to submit Investigational New Drug application to the FDA for subsequent trials.

Negative

• The study is pending approval from Australian regulators.
• Initial trials are to healthy volunteers, which may delay real-world application.
• No immediate revenue generation from the Phase 1 study.

TORONTO, May 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PharmaTher Holdings Ltd. (the “Company” or “PharmaTher”) (OTCQB: PHRRF) (CSE: PHRM), a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced today Sairiyo Therapeutics Inc. (“Sairiyo”), a company that is forty-nine percent (49%) owned by PharmaTher and fifty-one percent (51%) owned by PharmaDrug Inc. (CSE: PHRX) (OTC Pink: LMLLF) ("PharmaDrug"), has submitted to the Australian Human Research Ethics Committee for review and potential approval to initiate a Phase 1 clinical study (the “Study”) of Sairiyo’s patented reformulated enteric coated version of orally bioavailable cepharanthine (“PD-001”) as a potential treatment for infectious diseases and oncology.

The Phase 1 study entitled “Phase 1 Open-label, Single Dose, 3-Way Cross-Over Trial to Assess in Healthy Volunteers the Bioavailability and Pharmacokinetics Of 30 mg and 60 mg Oral Enteric Coated Capsules of Cepharanthine Dihydrochloride in Comparison to 6 mg Oral Cepharanthine Dihydrochloride Tablets”, if approved by the Australian regulators in June 2024, will be a first-in-human study of PD-001. Sairiyo’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Australia, Sairiyo Therapeutics Australia Pty Ltd., is the sponsor of the Study.

In pursuit of its clinical strategy for PD-001, Sairiyo aims to conduct its first-in-human clinical study of PD-001 in Australia to capitalize on drug development incentives in Australia, which could earn a 43.5 percent rebate from the Australian Federal Government’s Research and Development tax incentive program. Upon completion of the clinical study, Sairiyo intends to submit an Investigational New Drug application for PD-001 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials in the United States.

About PD-001 (Enteric-coated Oral Cepharanthine)

Cepharanthine is a natural product and an approved drug used for more than 70 years in Japan to successfully treat a variety of acute and chronic diseases. In clinical research, cepharanthine has been shown to exhibit multiple pharmacological properties including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, immuno-regulatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral and anti-parasitic effects. However, historically cepharanthine's low oral bioavailability has represented a major obstacle to realizing its full clinical potential.

Compared to generic cepharanthine, PD-001 has been shown in rodent and non-rodent models to possess markedly improved oral bioavailability (more easily absorbed). These findings support the development of an orally administered formulation, and in so doing, removes the undesirable requirement for frequent intravenous dosing to maintain therapeutic levels of drug in circulation. Sairiyo endeavours to develop an efficacious oral therapeutic to potentially improve outcomes for infectious disease and oncology applications.

PD-001 is protected by US Patent US10576077, with a patent expiration date of March 23, 2036.

About Sairiyo Therapeutics Inc.

Sairiyo Therapeutics Inc., which is owned by PharmDrug Inc. (51%) and PharmaTher (49%), is focused on advancing the clinical development of an improved and patented enteric-coated orally bioavailable formulation of cepharanthine (PD-001) to treat responsive cancers and infectious disease, including COVID-19.

About PharmaTher Holdings Ltd.

PharmaTher Holdings Ltd. (OTCQB: PHRRF) (CSE: PHRM) is focused on the development and commercialization of KETARX™ (Ketamine) to fill the global unmet medical needs for anesthesia, sedation, pain, mental health, and neurological indications. PharmaTher owns 49% of Sairiyo Therapeutics Inc., which focuses on advancing the clinical development of an improved and patented enteric-coated orally bioavailable formulation of cepharanthine (PD-001) to treat responsive cancers and infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Learn more at PharmaTher.com.

For more information about PharmaTher, please contact:

Fabio Chianelli
Chief Executive Officer
PharmaTher Holdings Ltd.
Tel: 1-888-846-3171
Email: info@pharmather.com
Website: www.pharmather.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words “closer”, "could", “confident”, "would", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "potential", "aim", “may”, “plan”, “proposed”, “lead”, “toward”, “anticipate”, and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on PharmaTher Holdings Ltd. (the "Company") current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company at the date of the information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof, and Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Company's management's discussion and analysis for the three and nine months ended February 29, 2024 ("MD&A"), dated April 19, 2024, which is available on the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

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FAQ

What is the focus of PharmaTher's recent announcement?

PharmaTher announced the submission of a Clinical Trial Application for a Phase 1 study of its reformulated cepharanthine (PD-001).

When will the Phase 1 study of PD-001 begin?

The study is expected to begin in June 2024, pending approval from Australian regulators.

What is the goal of the Phase 1 study for PD-001?

The goal is to assess the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of PD-001 in healthy volunteers.

What financial incentives are available for the PD-001 study in Australia?

Sairiyo aims to capitalize on a 43.5% rebate from Australia's R&D tax incentive program.

What are the next steps after the Phase 1 study of PD-001?

Sairiyo plans to submit an Investigational New Drug application to the FDA for Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials in the U.S.