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(NCT04692181).
About SYN-004 (ribaxamase)
SYN-004of 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.
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.
