Theriva™ Biologics Announces Positive Outcome of Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC) Review in Phase 1b/2a Clinical Trial of SYN-004 (ribaxamase) in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients

Rhea-AI Summary

Theriva™ Biologics (NYSE American: TOVX) announced positive results from the Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC) review of its Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of SYN-004 (ribaxamase) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients. The trial aims to prevent acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD). Key findings from Cohort 2 include:

- 19 patients received at least 1 dose of study drug
- 18 patients received IV piperacillin/tazobactam
- Adverse events were typical for allo-HCT patients
- No blood samples were positive for SYN-004
- Pharmacokinetics of piperacillin were as expected

The DSMC recommended proceeding to Cohort 3, where SYN-004 or placebo will be administered with IV cefepime. CEO Steven A. Shallcross expressed encouragement about SYN-004's therapeutic potential and the progress made in addressing concerns about its absorption in patients with poor intestinal barrier function.

Positive

• DSMC recommended proceeding to Cohort 3 of the clinical trial
• No blood samples were positive for SYN-004, alleviating concerns about absorption
• Adverse events were typical for the patient population, with none related to the study drug
• Pharmacokinetics of piperacillin were as expected

Negative

• 15 serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported among 10 patients
• Two patients died after the study drug administration, though not related to the treatment

Insights

Medical Research Analyst

The positive outcome from the DSMC review for Cohort 2 of Theriva Biologics' Phase 1b/2a trial of SYN-004 (ribaxamase) is a significant milestone. Key findings include:

• No safety concerns were identified, with adverse events typical for allo-HCT patients
• No SYN-004 was detected in patient blood samples, consistent with previous studies
• Piperacillin pharmacokinetics were as expected

This data supports SYN-004's potential in preventing acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients. The DSMC's recommendation to proceed to Cohort 3 with cefepime is promising for the drug's development.

However, investors should note that the study remains blinded and further funding is needed for Cohort 3. While encouraging, these results are early-stage and do not guarantee ultimate success. The 1.7 million market cap suggests the company is still highly speculative.

DSMC has reviewed the safety and pharmacokinetic data from Cohort 2 and recommended that the study proceed to enroll patients into Cohort 3

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Theriva™ Biologics, Inc. (NYSE American: TOVX), (“Theriva” or the “Company”), a diversified clinical-stage company developing therapeutics designed to treat cancer and related diseases in areas of high unmet need, today announced a positive outcome from the Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC) review of results from the second Cohort of its Phase 1b/2a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial of SYN-004 (ribaxamase) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients for the prevention of acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD).

Cohort 2 enrolled 19 patients who received at least 1 dose of study drug (SYN-004 or Placebo randomized 2:1). Eighteen (18) patients received at least one dose of intravenous (IV) piperacillin/tazobactam and 12 of these patients completed sufficient doses of IV piperacillin/tazobactam to be evaluable towards the study endpoints. The study is ongoing and remains blinded; however, key findings from blinded data for Cohort 2 are included below:

• Adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) observed in Cohort 2 were typical of those observed in allo-HCT patients and no AEs or SAEs were determined by the investigators to be related to study drug treatment.
  • A total of 15 SAEs were reported among 10 patients, with the most common SAE being infections and infestations, including sepsis.
  • No patients died within the 30-day follow-up period after the last dose of study drug; 1 patient died 95 days and another 211 days after the last dose of study drug due to cancer relapse and pneumonia respectively (not related to study drug).
• Consistent with the findings from Cohort 1 and previous studies of SYN-004 in healthy volunteers, no patient blood samples were positive for SYN-004 at any timepoint.
• The pharmacokinetics of piperacillin, which can be metabolized by SYN-004, were as expected for this patient population.
  

Based on a review of the safety and pharmacokinetic data, the DSMC has recommended that the study proceed to enroll Cohort 3, in which study drug (SYN-004 or placebo) will be administered in combination with the IV beta-lactam antibiotic cefepime.

Steven A. Shallcross, Chief Executive Officer of Theriva Biologics, commented, “These encouraging data support the clinical advancement of SYN-004 and build on the growing data that underscore its therapeutic potential. The first 2 cohorts have shown that active SYN-004 is not found in the blood of allo-HCT patients after repeated oral doses, in part alleviating the concern that SYN-004 might be absorbed in patients with poor intestinal barrier function and potentially interfere with IV antibiotics. We are very grateful for the tremendous support from Dr. Dubberke and his team at Washington University as we pursue additional funding to enable the conduct of the third cohort and continue with the goal of improving standard treatment for these highly susceptible patients by overcoming existing limitations of broad-spectrum IV beta-lactam antibiotics.”

About the Phase 1b/2a Clinical Trial

The ongoing randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 1b/2a clinical trial is being conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The trial is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and potential absorption of oral SYN-004 (150 mg QID for a maximum of 28 days) into the systemic circulation of allogeneic HCT recipients who receive an IV antibiotic. To mitigate risk, Cohort 1 of the study administered meropenem as the study-assigned antibiotic. Meropenem is a carbapenem antibiotic that is not metabolized by SYN-004. Patients in Cohorts 2 were administered piperacillin/tazobactam and Patients in Cohort 3 will be administered cefepime. Both piperacillin and cefepime can be metabolized by SYN-004. The trial is also designed to evaluate potential protective effects of SYN-004 on the gut microbiome as well as generate preliminary information on potential therapeutic benefits and patient outcomes of SYN-004 in allogeneic HCT recipients. The trial is expected to enroll up to 36 participants with three sequential cohorts, each evaluating a different study-assigned IV beta-lactam antibiotic. Safety and pharmacokinetic data for each Cohort will be reviewed by an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Committee that will make a recommendation on whether to proceed to the next IV antibiotic. More information on the study is available here (NCT04692181).

About SYN-004 (ribaxamase)

SYN-004 (ribaxamase) is an oral prophylactic therapy designed to degrade certain IV beta-lactam antibiotics within the GI tract and maintain the natural balance of the gut microbiome for the prevention of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), overgrowth of pathogenic organisms, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. Allogeneic HCT recipients routinely receive long courses of IV beta-lactam antibiotics to treat infection following conditioning therapy. Antibiotic-mediated damage of the gut microbiome in allogeneic HCT recipients may lead to adverse outcomes including CDI, VRE colonization and potentially fatal bacteremia and aGVHD. A previously completed placebo-controlled Phase 2b clinical trial of 412 patients demonstrated SYN-004 protected the gut microbiome from antibiotic-mediated dysbiosis. Patients who received SYN-004 also demonstrated significantly better maintenance and recovery of the gut microbiome as well as lower incidences of new colonization by opportunistic and potentially pathogenic microorganisms such as VRE.

About Theriva™ Biologics, Inc.

Theriva™ Biologics (NYSE American: TOVX), is a diversified clinical-stage company developing therapeutics designed to treat cancer and related diseases in areas of high unmet need. The Company is advancing a new oncolytic adenovirus platform designed for intravenous (IV), intravitreal and antitumoral delivery to trigger tumor cell death, improve access of co-administered cancer therapies to the tumor, and promote a robust and sustained anti-tumor response by the patient’s immune system. The Company’s lead candidates are: (1) VCN-01, an oncolytic adenovirus designed to replicate selectively and aggressively within tumor cells, and to degrade the tumor stroma barrier that serves as a significant physical and immunosuppressive barrier to cancer treatment; (2) SYN-004 (ribaxamase) which is designed to degrade certain commonly used IV beta-lactam antibiotics within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to prevent microbiome damage, thereby limiting overgrowth of pathogenic organisms such as VRE (vancomycin resistant Enterococci) and reducing the incidence and severity of acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients; and (3) SYN-020, a recombinant oral formulation of the enzyme intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) produced under cGMP conditions and intended to treat both local GI and systemic diseases. For more information, please visit Theriva Biologics’ website at www.therivabio.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar expressions, and include statements regarding the encouraging data supporting the clinical advancement of SYN-004 and building on the growing data that underscore its therapeutic potential, SYN-004 improving standard treatment for the highly susceptible patients by overcoming existing limitations of broad-spectrum IV beta-lactam antibiotics, the potential protective effects of SYN-004 on the gut microbiome and generating preliminary information on potential therapeutic benefits and patient outcomes of SYN-004 in allogeneic HCT recipients, the Company’s ability to find additional funding to support Cohort 3, and the trial enrolling up to 36 participants with three sequential cohorts, each evaluating a different study-assigned IV beta-lactam antibiotic. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the ability of SYN-004 to improve standard treatment for the highly susceptible patients by overcoming existing limitations of broad-spectrum IV beta-lactam antibiotics, the ability to enroll the anticipated number of patients in the Phase 1b/2a clinical trial, the Company’s ability to reach clinical milestones when anticipated, the Company’s ability to find additional funding to support Cohort 3, as well as results that are consistent with prior results; the ability to complete clinical trials on time and achieve the desired results and benefits, continuing clinical trial enrollment as expected; the ability to obtain regulatory approval for commercialization of product candidates or to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements, regulatory limitations relating to the Company’s ability to promote or commercialize their product candidates for the specific indications, acceptance of product candidates in the marketplace and the successful development, marketing or sale of Synthetic Biologics' and VCN's products, developments by competitors that render such products obsolete or non-competitive, the Company’s ability to maintain license agreements, the continued maintenance and growth of the Company’s patent estate, the ability to continue to remain well financed, and other factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and its other filings with the SEC, including subsequent periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Theriva Biologics undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

For further information, please contact:
Investor Relations:

Chris Calabrese
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
ccalabrese@lifesciadvisors.com
917-680-5608

Source: Theriva Biologics, Inc.

FAQ

What were the results of the DSMC review for Theriva's SYN-004 clinical trial?

The DSMC review of Theriva's Phase 1b/2a clinical trial for SYN-004 (ribaxamase) yielded positive results. The committee recommended proceeding to Cohort 3 based on the safety and pharmacokinetic data from Cohort 2.

How many patients were enrolled in Cohort 2 of the TOVX SYN-004 clinical trial?

Cohort 2 of the clinical trial enrolled 19 patients who received at least 1 dose of the study drug (SYN-004 or Placebo), with 18 patients receiving at least one dose of intravenous piperacillin/tazobactam.

What is the purpose of Theriva's SYN-004 (ribaxamase) clinical trial?

The clinical trial aims to evaluate SYN-004 (ribaxamase) for the prevention of acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.

What is the next step for Theriva Biologics (TOVX) in the SYN-004 clinical trial?

The next step for Theriva Biologics is to proceed with Cohort 3 of the clinical trial, where SYN-004 or placebo will be administered in combination with the IV beta-lactam antibiotic cefepime.