Tonix Pharmaceuticals Announces Collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital to Evaluate TNX-1900 (Intranasal Potentiated Oxytocin) for Treating Binge Eating Disorder

Rhea-AI Summary

Tonix Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: TNXP) has announced a Phase 2 clinical trial for TNX-1900, aimed at treating binge eating disorder, a condition affecting 2.8 million American adults. Collaborating with Massachusetts General Hospital, the trial will evaluate 60 patients and is set to begin in the second half of 2022. Chief Executive Officer Seth Lederman highlighted the significant treatment gap for this disorder. Previous research indicates oxytocin, the active component in TNX-1900, may help reduce food intake by altering neural pathways involved in eating behavior.

Positive

• Phase 2 clinical trial for TNX-1900 targeting binge eating disorder expected to start in H2 2022.
• Collaboration with renowned Massachusetts General Hospital enhances credibility.
• Potential to address significant unmet medical need for patients with binge eating disorder.

Negative

• TNX-1900 is still an investigational drug and has not received FDA approval.
• Previous treatments for binge eating disorder have mixed success rates, with up to 50% of patients continuing to binge.

An Investigator Initiated Phase 2 Clinical Trial of TNX-1900 In Patients with Binge Eating Disorder Planned for Second Half 2022

Binge Eating Disorder is Estimated to Affect 2.8 Million American Adults^1-3

Expands Uses of Tonix’s Proprietary Potentiated Oxytocin for Intranasal Administration to a Potential New Indication

CHATHAM, N.J., March 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP) (Tonix or the Company), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced an agreement with Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, to evaluate TNX-1900* in an investigator initiated Phase 2 clinical trial as a potential treatment for patients with binge eating disorder. The Phase 2 clinical trial is expected to start in the second half of 2022.

“Binge eating disorder is a serious mental health condition associated with behavioral and metabolic morbidity for which there are few treatment options,” said Seth Lederman, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Tonix Pharmaceuticals. “Oxytocin is a well-known natural hormone that is used therapeutically in certain other indications including as an i.v. medication for the induction of labor in pregnancy with a medical indication. We are hopeful that our proprietary intranasal dosage form will enhance its properties for use in the underserved population of patients suffering from binge eating disorder.”

TNX-1900* is also in development for the treatment of chronic migraine and is expected to enter a multi-site Phase 2 potential pivotal clinical trial for the prevention of migraine headache in chronic migraineurs in the second half of 2022.

“The binge eating disorder trial is expected to provide a rich source of data to evaluate the potential clinical benefit of TNX-1900 on binge eating disorder, which is often seen in association with other behavioral conditions such as depression, substance abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder, and is often under-diagnosed and under-treated,” said Elizabeth A. Lawson, M.D., M.M.Sc., Director, Interdisciplinary Oxytocin Research Program, Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and principal investigator of the trial. “While available psychological and pharmacological treatments produce remission from binge eating in some cases, up to 50% of patients continue to binge, and weight loss in those with obesity is difficult to achieve and sustain. There is accumulating evidence that oxytocin may reduce food intake by acting on neural pathways involved in reward and impulse control, which have been implicated in binge eating disorder. We are excited to investigate TNX-1900 as a potential novel therapy to reduce binge eating and excess body weight in individuals with binge eating disorder.”

Dr. Lawson previously led a program of research suggesting intranasal oxytocin reduces food intake, modulates the neural circuitry driving eating behavior, and enhances impulse control in men with overweight and obesity.^4-7

The planned investigator initiated Phase 2 clinical trial will be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 60 patients with binge eating disorder and obesity. The 8-week study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of TNX-1900 as a treatment for binge eating disorder and determine whether TNX-1900 reduces bingeing frequency and body weight in adults with binge eating disorder and obesity, and underlying mechanisms.

* TNX-1900 is an investigational new drug and has not been approved for any indication.

¹https://www.bingeeatingdisorder.com/hcp/patient-demographics (accessed Feb 23, 2022)
²Hudson JI, et al. (2007) [Published correction appears in Biol Psychiatry. 2012;72(2):164.] Biol Psychiatry. 61(3):348-358. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.03.040.
³Howden LM and Meyer JA. (2011) Age and sex composition: 2010. US Census Bureau
⁴Lawson EA et al. (2015) Oxytocin reduces caloric intake in men. Obesity 23(5):950-6.  doi: 10.1002/oby.21069.
⁵Plessow F. et al. (2018) Effects of intranasal oxytocin on the blood oxygenation level-dependent signal in food motivation and cognitive control pathways in overweight and obese men. Neuropsychopharmacology 43(3):638-645.  doi: 10.1038/npp.2017.226.
⁶Kerem L et al. (2020) Oxytocin reduces the functional connectivity between brain regions involved in eating behavior in men with overweight and obesity. In J Obes 44(5):980-989. doi: 10.1038/s41366-019-0489-7.
⁷Plessow F et al. (2021) Oxytocin administration increases proactive control in men with overweight or obesity: A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Obesity 29(1):56-61. doi: 10.1002/oby.23010.

About Binge Eating Disorder

Binge-eating disorder is a psychiatric illness characterized by frequent episodes of uncontrollable consumption of large amounts of food. It is the most common eating disorder and often leads to obesity-associated complications and later psychopathology¹. Binge eating disorder is characterized by increased homeostatic appetite and sensitivity to reward (including food reward), which may lead to initiation of binge episodes, and a reduced ability to control behavioral impulses and formed habits, creating an imbalance in the sensitive interplay between these bottom-up and top-down processes governing the adaptive regulation of food intake and energy balance^2-5.

¹Field AE et al. (2012) Prospective association of common eating disorders and adverse outcomes. Pediatrics, 130: e289–95.  doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-3663.
²Dawe S. & Loxton NJ, (2004) The role of impulsivity in the development of substance use and eating disorders Neurosci Biobehav Rev.  28(3):343-51. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2004.03.007.
³Giel KE et al. (2017) Food-Related Impulsivity in Obesity and Binge Eating Disorder-A Systematic Update of the Evidence. Nutrients 9(11):1170. doi: 10.3390/nu9111170.
⁴Hernandez D et al. (2019) Meal-Related Acyl and Des-Acyl Ghrelin and Other Appetite-Related Hormones in People with Obesity and Binge Eating. Obesity 27(4):629-635. doi: 10.1002/oby.22431.
⁵Schag K et al. (2013) Food-related impulsivity in obesity and binge eating disorder--a systematic review. Obes Rev.  14(6):477-95.  doi: 10.1111/obr.12017. 

About TNX-1900 and Tonix’s Potentiated Oxytocin Platform

TNX-1900 is based on a proprietary potentiated formulation of oxytocin and is currently being developed as a candidate for prophylaxis of chronic migraine, the treatment of insulin resistance¹ and related conditions.TNX-1900 is based on Tonix’s patented intranasal potentiated oxytocin formulation. Tonix is also developing a different intranasal formulation, designated TNX-2900, for the treatment of Prader-Willi syndrome. Oxytocin is a naturally occurring human hormone that acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. It was originally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as Pitocin®*, an intravenous infusion or intramuscular injection drug, for use in pregnant women to induce labor. An intranasal form of oxytocin was marketed in the U.S. by Novartis to assist in the production of breast milk as Syntocinon®** (oxytocin nasal 40 units/ml), but the product was withdrawn, and the New Drug Application has been discontinued. TNX-1900 and TNX-2900 are in the pre-Investigational New Drug stage and have not been approved for any indication.

¹Deblon N, et al. (2011) PLoS ONE 6(9): e25565. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0025565
*Pitocin® is a trademark of Par Pharmaceutical, Inc.
**Syntocinon® is a trademark of BGP Products Operations GmbH

About Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp.

Tonix is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, licensing, acquiring and developing therapeutics and diagnostics to treat and prevent human disease and alleviate suffering. Tonix’s portfolio is composed of immunology, infectious disease, and central nervous system (CNS) product candidates. Tonix’s immunology portfolio includes biologics to address organ transplant rejection, autoimmunity and cancer, including TNX-1500¹ which is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD40 ligand being developed for the prevention of allograft rejection treatment of autoimmune diseases. A Phase 1 study of TNX-1500 is expected to be initiated in the second half of 2022. Tonix’s infectious disease pipeline includes next-generation vaccines to prevent COVID-19, an antiviral to treat COVID-19, and a potential treatment for Long COVID. The pipeline also includes a vaccine in development to prevent smallpox. Tonix’s lead vaccine candidate for COVID-19, TNX-1800², is a live virus vaccine based on Tonix’s recombinant pox vaccine (RPV) platform. TNX-3500³ (sangivamycin, i.v. solution) is a small molecule antiviral drug to treat acute COVID-19 and is in the pre-IND stage of development. TNX-102 SL⁴ , (cyclobenzaprine HCl sublingual tablets), is a small molecule drug being developed to treat Long COVID, a chronic post-COVID condition. Tonix expects to initiate a Phase 2 study in Long COVID in the first half of 2022. The Company’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, is in mid-Phase 3 development for the management of fibromyalgia with a new Phase 3 study expected to start in the first half of 2022. Finally, TNX-1300⁵ is a biologic designed to treat cocaine intoxication that is expected to start a Phase 2 trial in the first quarter of 2022.

¹TNX-1500 is an investigational new biologic at the pre-IND stage of development and has not been approved for any indication.
²TNX-1800 is an investigational new biologic at the pre-IND stage of development and has not been approved for any indication. TNX-1800 is based on TNX-801, live horsepox virus vaccine for percutaneous administration, which is in development to protect against smallpox and monkeypox. TNX-801 is an investigational new biologic and has not been approved for any indication.
³TNX-3500 is an investigational new drug at the pre-IND stage of development and has not been approved for any indication.
⁴TNX-102 SL is an investigational new drug and has not been approved for any indication.
⁵TNX-1300 is an investigational new biologic and has 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 development of TNX-1900; 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, 2020, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 15, 2021, 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 Pharmaceuticals
investor.relations@tonixpharma.com 
(212) 688-9421

Olipriya Das, Ph.D. (media)
Russo Partners
olipriya.das@russopartnersllc.com 
(646) 942-5588

Peter Vozzo (investors)
ICR Westwicke
peter.vozzo@westwicke.com 
(443) 213-0505

FAQ

What is the purpose of the Phase 2 clinical trial for TNXP?

The Phase 2 clinical trial for TNXP aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TNX-1900 in treating binge eating disorder.

When is the TNXP clinical trial expected to start?

The TNXP clinical trial is expected to start in the second half of 2022.

What is the significance of TNX-1900 in the treatment of binge eating disorder?

TNX-1900 may provide a new treatment option for binge eating disorder, which currently has limited effective therapies.

How many patients will be involved in the TNXP trial?

The trial will involve 60 patients diagnosed with binge eating disorder and obesity.

What are the expected outcomes of the TNXP clinical trial?

The trial aims to determine if TNX-1900 reduces binge eating frequency and body weight in participants.