Novavax, advancing COVID-19 shot, recruits AstraZeneca exec as its chief medical officer

Fiercepharma | June 17, 2020

On the heels of some big fundraising moves and in the hunt for a COVID-19 vaccine, Novavax is adding some Big Pharma experience to its executive team.  Joining the company's leadership team as chief medical officer is Filip Dubovsky, an AstraZeneca veteran. Dubovsky joins Novavax directly from the British drugmaker, where he served as head of clinical engagement and policy, plus as chief medical officer for clinical affairs. Before that role, he oversaw a portfolio of more than two dozen malaria vaccines at the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative.  Dubrovsky will be tasked with overseeing development of the company's COVID-19 candidate. The company in late May kicked off a phase 1/2 study of the prospect, and it's been working through steps to scale up its manufacturing in parallel. Aside from its COVID-19 work, the company is getting ready to submit an FDA application for its flu vaccine, NanoFlu.

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Tonix Pharmaceuticals Completes Enrollment in Potentially NDA-Enabling Phase 3 RESILIENT Trial of TNX-102 SL for Management of Fibromyalgia

Globenewswire | August 02, 2023

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. a biopharmaceutical company, announced that it has completed enrollment of its potentially final, confirmatory Phase 3 RESILIENT trial of TNX-102 SL (cyclobenzaprine HCL sublingual tablets) 5.6 mg in fibromyalgia and expects topline data next quarter. A total of 457 participants were randomized. TNX-102 SL is in development as a non-opioid, centrally acting analgesic, to be taken daily at bedtime for the management of fibromyalgia. If successful, we believe this will be the final, well-controlled efficacy trial required for submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) for approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “The completion of enrollment in our Phase 3 RESILIENT trial is a significant milestone for both Tonix and the fibromyalgia community,” said Seth Lederman, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Tonix. “Currently-approved treatments have not fully met the needs of fibromyalgia patients and there has not been a new FDA-approved therapy for the condition since 2009. TNX-102 SL has the potential to be a new non-addictive, non-opioid bedtime medication with broad spectrum symptom coverage and which can be used on a chronic basis for the management of fibromyalgia. With all other clinical, nonclinical and CMC requirements for an NDA submission achieved, we are looking forward to the upcoming data readout and an expeditious filing of an NDA.” In December 2020, Tonix reported positive results from the first Phase 3 study (RELIEF) of TNX-102 SL 5.6 mg for the management of fibromyalgia. TNX-102 SL met its pre-specified primary endpoint in the Phase 3 RELIEF trial, significantly reducing daily pain compared to placebo (p=0.01) in participants with fibromyalgia. Also, when the primary endpoint was analyzed as a ≥30% pain responder analysis, there was a higher rate of responders to TNX-102 SL (47%) than to placebo (35%; p=0.006). TNX-102 SL at 5.6 mg also showed activity in key secondary endpoints demonstrating improvements in sleep quality, mitigation of fatigue, and fibromyalgia-specific global symptomatic and functional recovery. TNX-102 SL was generally safe and well tolerated in patients with fibromyalgia, with overall adverse event profile comparable to prior fibromyalgia studies. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were oral hypoesthesia, oral paresthesia, and product taste abnormal. About the Phase 3 RESILIENT Study The RESILIENT study is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TNX-102 SL (cyclobenzaprine HCl sublingual tablets) in the management of fibromyalgia. The two-arm trial randomized 457 participants in the U.S. The first two weeks of treatment consist of a run-in period in which participants start on TNX-102 SL 2.8 mg (1 tablet) or placebo. Thereafter, all participants increase their dose to TNX-102 SL 5.6 mg (2 x 2.8 mg tablets) or two placebo tablets for the remaining 12 weeks. The primary endpoint is the daily diary pain severity score change (TNX-102 SL 5.6 mg vs. placebo) from baseline to Week 14 (using the weekly averages of the daily numerical rating scale scores), analyzed by mixed model repeated measures with multiple imputation. About Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that is understood to result from amplified sensory and pain signaling within the central nervous system. Fibromyalgia afflicts an estimated 6-12 million adults in the U.S., approximately 90% of whom are women. Symptoms of fibromyalgia include chronic widespread pain, nonrestorative sleep, fatigue, and morning stiffness. Other associated symptoms include cognitive dysfunction and mood disturbances, including anxiety and depression. Individuals suffering from fibromyalgia struggle with their daily activities, have impaired quality of life, and frequently are disabled. Physicians and patients report common dissatisfaction with currently marketed products. About TNX-102 SL TNX-102 SL is a patented sublingual tablet formulation of cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride which 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 receptors, TNX-102 SL is in development as a daily bedtime treatment for fibromyalgia, 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 TNX-102 SL, upon NDA approval, with U.S. market exclusivity until 2034/2035. Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. Tonix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on commercializing, developing, discovering and licensing therapeutics to treat and prevent human disease and alleviate suffering. Tonix markets Zembrace® SymTouch® (sumatriptan injection) 3 mg and Tosymra® (sumatriptan nasal spray) 10 mg. Zembrace SymTouch and Tosymra are each indicated for the treatment of acute migraine with or without aura in adults. Tonix’s development portfolio is composed of central nervous system (CNS), rare disease, immunology and infectious disease product candidates. Tonix’s CNS development portfolio includes both small molecules and biologics to treat pain, neurologic, psychiatric and addiction conditions. Tonix’s lead CNS candidate, TNX-102 SL (cyclobenzaprine HCl sublingual tablet), is in mid-Phase 3 development for the management of fibromyalgia, having completed enrollment in a potentially registration-enabling study, with topline data expected in the fourth quarter of 2023. TNX-102 SL is also being developed to treat Long COVID, a chronic post-acute COVID-19 condition. Enrollment in a Phase 2 study has been completed, and topline results are expected in the third quarter of 2023.

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PharmaKinnex and Data360 Team Up to Extend Client Reach and Improve Patient Access

PRNewswire | July 24, 2023

PharmaKinnex (PK), an inside sales solution provider for the pharmaceutical industry, and Data360, a data and engagement solutions provider for healthcare marketers, today announced a strategic partnership to further enhance client reach and improve patient outcomes. From rare disease to oncology and beyond, this unique partnership is designed to deliver increased profits to clients, enable more advanced and secure data analysis, and most importantly, connect patients with life-saving treatments. PharmaKinnex and Data360 are proud to be a part of this newest revolution in pharmaceuticals and medicine, deploying Fingerprint AI solutions. "The strategic partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to bring unprecedented value to our clients," said Michael White, CEO of PharmaKinnex. "Data360's powerful solutions to identify, target, and engage individuals, while providing valuable analytics about those audiences, will extend our reach to more potential patients and prescribers, providing a sizable edge in the rare disease sector." Integration of Data360's deep insights with PK's marketing expertise will improve PK's call plans, allowing PK to message to new audiences and reach prescribers ahead of the competition. The partnership positions PK as the only inside sales organization with access to such a high level of data, offering a unique and powerful industry advantage. "We are eager to partner with PharmaKinnex and contribute our solutions that identify and engage relevant audiences throughout their digital life, and so improve the patient journey experience," said James Miller, president & CEO of Data360. "For this unique market offering, Data360 will identify health care professionals (HCPs) and patients searching online for rare diseases by activating our Fingerprint AI solution. By providing insights for timeliness, relevance, and intent behavior, Data360 will equip PK with valuable insights and reach to elevate its services to clients." Data360's Fingerprint AI technology is sparking a revolution in healthcare marketing, fueling omnichannel programs with its ability to hyper-target both HCP and patient or caregiver audiences based on online behavior and in-market search criteria. Data360's datasets, coupled with the Fingerprint AI solution, empower brand teams, healthcare marketers, clinical trial teams, and now PK to leverage audience intent. Its service achieves high-quality, segmented, and targeted leads for HCP marketing, patient engagement, and clinical trial recruitment. About PharmaKinnex PharmaKinnex is the leading multichannel marketing company in the U.S. that exclusively serves Life Sciences clients. PK is also the longest-tenured independent company in its competitive set, with over 18 years of continuous support of its industry partners. The PK Call Center successfully executes high-ROI product detailing, inside sales and customer service programs. Each solution is designed with the support of the experienced, award-winning PK leadership team and is tailored to target every important constituency identified, including but not limited to office-based prescribers (physicians, NPs, PAs) across every specialty, hospitals and health systems. About Data360 With the mission to turn data into intelligence, Data360 provides solutions and services to effectively identify, target, and engage audiences. We empower healthcare marketers seeking broader and better access to physicians, HCPs, patients, and caregivers. We deliver unequaled first-party data, proprietary technology (Fingerprint AI) for access to audience intent and behavior, and a focus on cost-effective and compliant ways to activate and engage healthcare audiences.

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Business Insights

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America Highlights Latest Research in Parkinson's Disease at EAN and WPC 2023 Congresses

prnewswire | July 06, 2023

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) today announced the presentation of seven abstracts in Parkinson's disease (PD) at the 9th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), which was held in Budapest, July 1-3, and the 6th World Parkinson Congress (WPC), being held in Barcelona, July 4-7. "Our presence at EAN and WPC this year underscores MTPA's dedication to investigating potential treatment options to tackle the current unmet needs and challenges of Parkinson's disease," said Gustavo A. Suarez Zambrano, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs at MTPA. "We're excited to share our progress with the global scientific community, including the presentation of key findings from a number of clinical trials evaluating ND0612 in people with Parkinson's disease experiencing motor fluctuations." Clinical development of investigational ND0612 is being led by NeuroDerm, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC), MTPA's parent company. If regulatory approval for ND0612 is obtained, MTPA intends to commercialize the therapy in the U.S. Presentations at EAN Presentations highlighted findings from two ongoing studies of investigational ND0612 in people with PD with motor fluctuations, including topline results from the Phase 3 multi-center, randomized, double-blind double-dummy (DBDD) BouNDless trial evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ND0612, in addition to three-year outcomes from the Phase 2b open-label BeyoND study evaluating the long-term safety of ND0612. Additionally, results were shared from an open-label pharmacokinetic study assessing the relative bioavailability of levodopa when administered with ND0612 vs. oral levodopa/carbidopa (LD/CD). Summary of results from a Phase 3 study of subcutaneous levodopa/carbidopa infusion with ND0612 (Nelson Lopes, M.D.; NeuroDerm) ePoster #EPO-610 Continuous subcutaneous levodopa/carbidopa infusion for PD: Summary of results from the 3-Year data from the BeyoND study (Nelson Lopes, M.D.; NeuroDerm) ePresentation #EPR-282 Relative bioavailability of levodopa administered as a subcutaneous infusion with ND0612 versus oral IR levodopa/carbidopa (Sophia Sopromadze, M.D.; NeuroDerm) ePresentation #EPR-066 Presentations at WPC New data from a post-hoc analysis from the 28-day open-label Study 006 will be presented, evaluating the early efficacy of investigational ND0612 in reducing motor fluctuations in study participants treated with a 24-hour ND0612 infusion regimen, along with findings from four case studies describing the long-term (up to five years) experience of participants in the Phase 2b BeyoND study receiving ND0612 treatment. Additional presentations will highlight the development of a Motor Fluctuations Patient Journey Map (MFPJM) for people with PD to describe the holistic patient experience from pre-diagnosis through hospice care with a focus on motor fluctuations, and details on enrollment characteristics of randomized study participants in the Phase 3 BouNDless study. All posters will be on display in the Exhibit Hall during Poster Session 1 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. CEST on July 5. About ND0612 ND0612 is an investigative drug-device combination therapy – a 24 hours/day, continuous subcutaneous infusion of liquid levodopa/carbidopa (LD/CD) for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) experiencing motor fluctuations. About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. Based in Jersey City, N.J., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC). It was established by MTPC to commercialize approved pharmaceutical products in North America. About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC), the pharma arm of Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG), is one of the oldest pharmaceutical companies in the world, founded in 1678. MTPC is headquartered in Doshomachi, Osaka, the birthplace of Japan's pharmaceutical industry. MCG has positioned health care as its strategic focus in its management policy, "Forging the future". MTPC sets the MISSION of "Creating hope for all facing illness". To that end, MTPC is working on the disease areas of central nervous system, immuno-inflammation, diabetes and kidney, and cancer. MTPC is focusing on "precision medicine" to provide drugs with high treatment satisfaction and additionally working to develop "around the pill solutions" to address specific patient concerns based on therapeutic medicine, including prevention of diseases, pre-symptomatic disease care, prevention of aggravation and prognosis. About NeuroDerm, Ltd. NeuroDerm, Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC), based in Israel, inspired to reduce disease burden and improve the quality of life of patients and their families through innovative drug-device combination therapies and technologies. NeuroDerm is an integrated pharmaceutical and medical technology company developing central nervous system (CNS) product candidates.

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