Tonix Pharmaceuticals Announces Publication in Psychiatry Research Showing Activity of Bedtime TNX-102 SL on PTSD Symptoms and Sleep Quality in Military-Related PTSD at Four Weeks of Therapy

Rhea-AI Summary

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. announces positive results from TNX-102 SL therapy studies for PTSD and acute stress reaction. The company's research paper highlights the potential of bedtime TNX-102 SL treatment in improving PTSD severity and sleep quality in military-related PTSD cases.

Insights

Medical Research Analyst

The recent findings from the study on TNX-102 SL, a sublingual formulation of cyclobenzaprine, highlight its potential therapeutic benefits in the context of acute stress reaction (ASR) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The data indicating nominal improvements in PTSD severity and sleep quality are significant, considering that sleep disturbances are a common symptom and a potential risk factor for the progression of PTSD. The role of TNX-102 SL in improving sleep quality could be a critical factor in preventing the transition from ASR to PTSD, which aligns with current medical understanding of the importance of sleep in mental health recovery.

From a research perspective, the initiation of therapy within 24 hours after a traumatic event, such as a motor vehicle collision, represents a proactive approach to mental health care. The OASIS trial's design to test the drug's efficacy in the immediate aftermath of trauma may provide insights into the early intervention strategies for trauma-related disorders. This could potentially reshape the standard of care in emergency and trauma medicine, emphasizing the importance of addressing mental health outcomes alongside physical injuries.

Market Research Analyst

The announcement of the OASIS trial's commencement, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, could have a notable impact on the business prospects of Tonix Pharmaceuticals. The trial's success could lead to increased interest from the military and civilian sectors in TNX-102 SL as a treatment option for trauma-related conditions. Given the prevalence of PTSD, particularly among military personnel, a positive outcome from the trial could position TNX-102 SL as a significant product in Tonix's portfolio, potentially affecting the company's stock valuation.

The market for PTSD and related conditions is underserved, with limited pharmacological options available. If TNX-102 SL demonstrates efficacy and safety in the OASIS trial, it could capture a considerable market share. Investors will likely monitor the trial's progress closely, as its outcomes could influence not only Tonix's market position but also the broader landscape of treatments for stress-related disorders.

Pharmaceutical Legal Expert

The recent clearance of the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the OASIS trial is a critical legal and regulatory milestone for Tonix Pharmaceuticals. This step indicates regulatory confidence in the initial safety profile of TNX-102 SL and allows for further clinical investigation. It is essential to note that the legal framework governing clinical trials is stringent, ensuring patient safety and the integrity of the data collected.

Should TNX-102 SL prove to be effective in the OASIS trial, the path to potential FDA approval would involve rigorous scrutiny of the drug's safety and efficacy data. The legal landscape of drug approval is complex, with a successful IND clearance being just one of many hurdles. Tonix will need to navigate further regulatory requirements, including potential phase 3 trials, New Drug Application (NDA) submission and FDA review processes, which all have significant implications for the company's timelines and investment needs.

Data support evaluation of the effects of two weeks of TNX-102 SL therapy on severity of acute stress reaction (ASR) and frequency of acute stress disorder (ASD) and PTSD after civilian motor vehicle collision in upcoming U.S. DoD-Funded Phase 2 investigator-initiated OASIS trial

Nominal improvement in PTSD severity and measures of sleep quality at Week 4 in the HONOR study support development of bedtime TNX-102 SL therapy in the immediate aftermath of trauma

TNX-102 SL (Tonmya™) is also in late-stage development for the management of fibromyalgia for which NDA preparation is ongoing

CHATHAM, N.J., March 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP) (Tonix or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company with marketed products and a pipeline of development candidates, today announced the publication of a research paper in the Journal Psychiatry Research. The article titled, “A Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Bedtime Sublingual Cyclobenzaprine (TNX-102 SL) in Military-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder,” by Parmenter, et al. found that bedtime TNX-102 SL^* treatment is well-tolerated and showed nominal improvement in PTSD severity and sleep quality measures in the first four weeks in military-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).¹ The Company believes these findings suggest a potential role for short-term bedtime TNX-102 SL treatment in the immediate aftermath of traumatic events.

The data support the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)-funded Phase 2 investigator-initiated OASIS trial to evaluate bedtime TNX-102 SL² in reducing the severity of acute stress reaction (ASR) and the frequency of acute stress disorder (ASD) and PTSD. The IND supporting the OASIS trial was recently cleared,³ and the trial is expected to begin enrolling in the second quarter. The trial is sponsored by The University of North Carolina Institute for Trauma Recovery and supported by a $3 million grant from DoD. In the OASIS study, 14 days of bedtime TNX-102 SL 5.6 mg will be tested in the immediate aftermath of motor vehicle collision. The study will test the potential for TNX-102 SL treatment initiated within 24 hours of index trauma to target trauma-related sleep disturbance and other ASR symptoms to facilitate recovery from ASR and to prevent PTSD.

“There is an urgent need for interventions to reduce rates of ASD and PTSD in the immediate aftermath of trauma,”⁴ said Seth Lederman, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Tonix Pharmaceuticals. “We believe the results in the published paper suggest that bedtime TNX-102 SL has short-term activity on improving PTSD symptom severity and sleep quality in military-related PTSD. Poor sleep after trauma is a risk factor for progressing from ASD to PTSD. Therefore, poor sleep is not only a symptom of ASR, ASD and PTSD, but also a potential target of therapy.”

Dr. Gregory Sullivan, Chief Medical Officer of Tonix said, “Sleep disturbances are known to play a critical role in the development and maintenance of PTSD. The upcoming OASIS trial will test a 14-day short-course of bedtime TNX-102 SL therapy beginning within 24 hours of index trauma for effects on ASR symptoms and incidence of PTSD development. We are excited to test bedtime TNX-102 SL in the immediate aftermath of trauma to learn whether drug intervention reorients the trajectory of posttraumatic pathology from acute trauma to early recovery in the first few weeks.”

About TNX-102 SL (also known as Tonmya™ for the management of fibromyalgia)

PTSD: The Phase 3 HONOR study described in the published article was performed in military-related PTSD with the primary endpoint of improvement from baseline in Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) total score at Week 12 comparing TNX-102 SL 5.6 mg and placebo. The study did not reach statistical significance on the primary endpoint.   While there was nominal improvement by the Week 4 visit on CAPS-5 (p=0.019), the improvement relative to placebo was not sustained at Weeks 8 and 12. The CAPS-5 “sleep disturbance” item also showed nominal improvement at Week 4 (p=0.002), as well as at Week 8 (p=0.026), but not thereafter. The PROMIS Sleep Disturbance T-score also showed early nominal improvement with TNX-102 SL 5.6 mg at Week 4 (p=0.015). It is also notable that when the primary endpoint was analyzed for responder rate, defined as ≥50% improvement on CAPS-5 total score at Week 4, 38.4% of those on TNX-102 SL were responders versus 24.4% on placebo (p=0.019). TNX-102 SL was well-tolerated and the adverse events reported were similar to those seen in prior TNX-102 SL studies. There were three participants with serious adverse events (SAEs) reported during the study: two in the placebo group and one in the active group. None were deemed related to study drug. Administration site reactions were similar in profile to prior studies with TNX-102 SL, with oral numbness (hypoaesthesia) at the highest rate. These oral sensory adverse events (AE), oral numbness, oral tingling, and tongue discomfort were temporally-related to dosing and were rated as mild and transient (<60 min) in the majority of cases. No new safety signals were observed.

In addition to the Phase 3 HONOR study described in the published article¹, Tonix has also studied TNX-102 SL in a Phase 2 (‘AtEase’) trial in military PTSD⁵ and in a Phase 3 (‘RECOVERY’) trial in civilian PTSD.⁶ Both studies were performed with the primary endpoint of CAPS-5 improvement at Week 12. AtEase compared bedtime TNX-102 SL at two doses (2.8 mg & 5.6 mg) and placebo. RECOVERY compared TNX-102 SL 5.6 mg and placebo. Neither study reached statistical significance on the primary endpoint.  

Fibromyalgia: TNX-102 SL has shown positive results in two Phase 3 clinical trials for the management of fibromyalgia. Tonix plans to submit a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the second half of 2024 under the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for Tonmya for the management of fibromyalgia.

Formulation Technology and Patents: TNX-102 SL is a patented sublingual tablet formulation of cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride which is designed for daily administration at bedtime with a proposed mechanism of improving sleep quality in fibromyalgia. TNX-102 SL provides rapid transmucosal absorption and reduced production of a long half-life active metabolite, norcyclobenzaprine, due to bypass of first-pass hepatic metabolism. As a multifunctional agent with potent binding and antagonist activities at the 5-HT2A-serotonergic, α1-adrenergic, H1-histaminergic, and M1-muscarinic cholinergic receptors, TNX-102 SL is in development as a daily bedtime treatment for fibromyalgia. TNX-102 SL is also in development for fibromyalgia-type Long COVID (formally known as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 [PASC]), alcohol use disorder, and agitation in Alzheimer’s disease. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued United States Patent No. 9636408 in May 2017, Patent No. 9956188 in May 2018, Patent No. 10117936 in November 2018, Patent No. 10,357,465 in July 2019, and Patent No. 10736859 in August 2020. The Protectic™ protective eutectic and Angstro-Technology™ formulation claimed in the patent are important elements of Tonix’s proprietary TNX-102 SL composition. These patents are expected to provide Tonmya, upon NDA approval, with U.S. market exclusivity until 2034/2035. In addition, Tonix has pending but not issued U.S. patent applications directed to the transmucosal absorption of cyclobenzaprine HCl, with U.S. market exclusivity expected until 2033, for treating depressive symptoms in fibromyalgia, with U.S. market exclusivity expected until 2032, and for treating pain in fibromyalgia with U.S. market exclusivity expected until 2041.

*TNX-102 SL has not been approved for any indication; name conditionally approved by FDA as Tonmya™ for the management of fibromyalgia

1. Parmenter ME, et al. Psychiatry Research. 2024. 334: 115764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115764.
2. Tonix Press Release – September 27, 2023. “Tonix Pharmaceuticals Announces Department of Defense Grant to Support the University of North Carolina’s Proposed Investigator Sponsored OASIS Trial of TNX-102 SL for Treatment of Acute Stress Reaction, Acute Stress Disorder, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder”. https://bit.ly/3T1LyIl
3. Tonix Press Release – Feb 12, 2024. “Tonix Pharmaceuticals Announces FDA IND Clearance for DoD Funded Trial of TNX-102 SL for the Reduction of Acute Stress Reaction and Prevention of PTSD” https://bit.ly/3TiQOsj.
4. Schnurr, PP et al. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2024: www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M23-2757.
5. Sullivan GM, et al. Psychiatry Res. 2021. 301:113974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113974.
6. Tonix Press Release – December 21, 2020, “Tonix Pharmaceuticals Reports Topline Results from Phase 3 RECOVERY Study of TNX-102 SL in PTSD and Outlines Future Development Plans” https://bit.ly/3uOgUu8

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp.^*

Tonix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing, licensing and commercializing therapeutics to treat and prevent human disease and alleviate suffering. Tonix’s development portfolio is focused on central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Tonix’s priority is to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA in the second half of 2024 for Tonmya, a product candidate for which two positive Phase 3 studies have been completed for the management of fibromyalgia. TNX-102 SL is also being developed to treat acute stress reaction as well as fibromyalgia-type Long COVID. Tonix’s CNS portfolio includes TNX-1300 (cocaine esterase) a biologic designed to treat cocaine intoxication with Breakthrough Therapy designation. Tonix’s immunology development portfolio consists of biologics to address organ transplant rejection, autoimmunity and cancer, including TNX-1500, which is a 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 and infectious disease. 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.

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; 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, 2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 13, 2023, 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 Morris
Tonix Pharmaceuticals
investor.relations@tonixpharma.com
(862) 904-8182

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

Media Contact

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ICR Westwicke
ben.shannon@westwicke.com
(919) 360-3039

FAQ

What is the focus of the research paper published by Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp.?

The research paper focuses on evaluating the efficacy and safety of bedtime sublingual cyclobenzaprine (TNX-102 SL) in military-related posttraumatic stress disorder.

What positive results were found in the studies regarding TNX-102 SL therapy?

The studies found nominal improvement in PTSD severity and measures of sleep quality in military-related PTSD cases.

What is the upcoming U.S. DoD-funded Phase 2 investigator-initiated trial related to TNX-102 SL therapy?

The trial aims to evaluate the effects of TNX-102 SL therapy on reducing the severity of acute stress reaction and the frequency of acute stress disorder and PTSD after civilian motor vehicle collisions.

Who is sponsoring the OASIS trial and how is it supported?

The University of North Carolina Institute for Trauma Recovery is sponsoring the trial, supported by a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense.

What role does poor sleep play in the development of PTSD according to Tonix Pharmaceuticals?

Poor sleep is considered a risk factor for progressing from acute stress reaction and acute stress disorder to posttraumatic stress disorder.