Tonix Pharmaceuticals Announces Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for its Infectious Disease R&D Center in Maryland

Rhea-AI Summary

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP) announced the opening of its new 48,000 square foot research and development center in Frederick, Maryland, on October 18, 2021. The center aims to enhance its infectious disease pipeline, particularly for COVID-19 and other pathogens. U.S. Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone will attend the ribbon-cutting event. Tonix plans to develop vaccines and antiviral therapeutics, utilizing its recombinant pox virus platform technology to respond quickly to emerging pandemic threats. The facility will operate as a biosafety level-3 lab to conduct research on live pathogens.

Positive

• Opening of a new 48,000 square foot R&D center in Frederick, Maryland enhances operational capacity.
• The facility supports Tonix's infectious disease pipeline, focusing on COVID-19 and new pathogens.
• Plans to upgrade the lab to biosafety level-3 will facilitate research on live pathogens.
• Utilizing recombinant pox virus technology allows for rapid vaccine development against emerging diseases.

Negative

• None.

Internal R&D Capabilities Expected to Support U.S. Pandemic Preparedness with Accelerated Discovery and Development of Vaccines and Antivirals Against COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases

The R&D Center is Operational with a Dedicated Staff of Scientists and Technicians

CHATHAM, N.J., Oct. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP) (Tonix or the Company), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced it will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Company’s approximately 48,000 square foot research and development center (RDC) in Frederick, Md. on October 18, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. ET. The RDC is expected to support the Company’s expanding infectious disease pipeline. This includes providing internal capacity to discover and develop vaccines and antivirals intended to support U.S. pandemic preparedness.

U.S. Senator for Maryland Ben Cardin and U. S. Congressman David Trone representing Maryland’s 6^th Congressional District, are expected to speak at the event. Also expected to attend the event are Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz, Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner, and the Mayor of Frederick, Md., Michael O’Connor. Seth Lederman, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Tonix and Anthony Macaluso, PhD, Executive Vice President, Strategic Development of Tonix will make comments.

“Maryland’s economy is an innovation economy, making Tonix and Frederick a great match,” said U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, a member of the Senate Finance Committee. “I applaud the decision to bring nearly 50,000 square feet of R&D space to Frederick and have no doubt that the highly skilled local workforce will achieve great things there.”

“Tonix Pharmaceuticals does great work in the biopharmaceutical space and, equally important, brings high-paying jobs to our community” said Congressman Trone. “We welcome Tonix to Maryland’s 6^th District and look forward to its positive impact in Frederick.”

“We at Tonix are excited to achieve this significant milestone in our efforts toward supporting and growing our pipeline of vaccines and antiviral therapeutics,” stated Dr. Lederman. “We believe that this strategy will enable Tonix to develop vaccines and therapeutics to address the current COVID-19 pandemic, and to be prepared to efficiently combat potential novel or emerging pathogens, termed ‘Disease X’, that could impact society in the future. We believe that the recombinant pox virus platform technology underlying TNX-1800 and TNX-801, coupled with our capabilities at the RDC and our Advanced Development Center (ADC) for manufacturing, will be rapidly deployable for addressing Disease X, with simplified distribution and administration, relative to modified mRNA-based vaccines. Our goal is to be able to design and test new recombinant pox virus vaccines against novel pathogens within the 100 days of recognition of a potential emerging pandemic threat, consistent with the criteria^1,2 recently set forth by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.”

The RDC main building was constructed as a biosafety level (BSL)-3 facility but has been operating at BSL-2. Tonix plans to make appropriate upgrades and seek certification for BSL-3 so that research may be conducted on live SARS-CoV-2- and other pathogens.

The RDC in Frederick, Md. will complement Tonix’s ADC being constructed in New Bedford, Mass., and its Commercial Manufacturing Center (CMC) planned in Hamilton, Mont. The ADC will house laboratories dedicated to process analytical development and pilot manufacturing of the Company’s vaccine candidates for clinical trials. The CMC is expected to support commercial scale manufacturing of vaccine products.

¹https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/American-Pandemic-Preparedness-Transforming-Our-Capabilities-Final-For-Web.pdf
²https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/09/03/fact-sheet-biden-administration-to-transform-capabilities-for-pandemic-preparedness/

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp.

Tonix is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, licensing, acquiring and developing small molecules and biologics to treat and prevent human disease and alleviate suffering. Tonix’s portfolio is primarily composed of immunology and central nervous system (CNS) product candidates. Tonix’s immunology portfolio includes a COVID-19 platform of product candidates to prevent and treat COVID-19, to treat Long COVID as well as to detect functional T cell immunity to COVID-19. Tonix’s lead vaccine candidate for COVID-19, TNX-1800¹, is a live replicating vaccine based on Tonix’s recombinant pox vaccine (RPV) platform to protect against COVID-19, primarily by eliciting a T cell response. Tonix reported positive efficacy data from animal studies of TNX-1800 in the first quarter of 2021 and expects to start a Phase 1 study in humans in the first half of 2022. TNX-3500² (sangivamycin) is a small molecule antiviral drug to treat acute COVID-19 and is in the pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) stage of development. TNX-102 SL³ (cyclobenzaprine HCl sublingual tablets) is a small molecule drug being developed to treat Long COVID, a chronic condition, and is also in the pre-IND stage. Finally, Tonix is developing TNX-2100⁴, an in vivo diagnostic to measure the presence of functional T cell immunity to COVID-19. Tonix intends to initiate a first-in-human clinical study of TNX-2100⁴ in the fourth quarter of 2021, pending IND clearance. Tonix’s immunology portfolio also includes biologics to address immunosuppression, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. 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 SL³, is in mid-Phase 3 development for the management of fibromyalgia.

¹TNX-1800 is an investigational new biologic 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.

²TNX-3500 is an investigational new drug at the pre-IND stage of development and has not been approved for any indication.

³TNX-102 SL is an investigational new drug and has not been approved for any indication.

⁴TNX-2100 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, the risks related to the operation of research and manufacturing facilities, risks related to 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 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
(862) 904-8182

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 primary purpose of the new R&D center opened by Tonix Pharmaceuticals?

The new R&D center aims to enhance Tonix's infectious disease pipeline, particularly for developing vaccines and antivirals against COVID-19 and other pathogens.

When is the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Tonix's new research facility?

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for October 18, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. ET.

What technology will Tonix utilize in the new R&D center for vaccine development?

Tonix will utilize recombinant pox virus platform technology for the rapid discovery and development of vaccines.

What certifications are planned for Tonix's new research facility?

Tonix plans to upgrade the facility to biosafety level-3 to conduct research on live pathogens.

Who are the notable attendees expected at the ribbon-cutting ceremony?

Expected attendees include U.S. Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone, among other local officials.