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Soligenix Announces $600,000 Subaward Supporting Evaluation of Innate Defense Regulator Platform Technology as a Medical Countermeasure for Bacterial Threat Agents
PRINCETON, N.J., May 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Soligenix, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNGX) (Soligenix or the Company), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on
About this update from Soligenix, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"PRINCETON, N.J., May 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Soligenix, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNGX) (Soligenix or the Company), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing products to treat rare diseases where there is an unmet medical need, announced today that Soligenix will be participating in a biodefense contract for the development of medical countermeasures against bacterial threat agents, with Soligenix awarded a subcontract of approximately $600,000 over 3 years. \nInnate Defense Regulators (IDRs) regulate the innate immune system to simultaneously reduce inflammation, eliminate infection and enhance tissue healing. IDRs have no direct antibiotic activity but modulate host responses, increasing survival after infections with a broad range of bacterial Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens including both antibiotic sensitive and resistant strains, as well as accelerating resolution of tissue damage following exposure to a variety of agents including bacterial pathogens, trauma and chemo- or radiation-therapy. IDRs are also effective in conjunction with antibiotics, enhancing efficacy of sub-optimal antibiotic regimens and reducing the required antibiotic dose, thereby potentially minimizing the generation of antibiotic resistance. Soligenix has previously reported the results of a Phase 2 clinical study using dusquetide, its lead IDR, in the treatment of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients undergoing chemoradiation therapy. In addition to demonstrating a reduction in the median duration of severe oral mucositis in these patients, dusquetide treatment was also associated with a reduced incidence of reported infections. A pivotal Phase 3 multinational study in oral mucositis is currently underway in the U.S. and Europe, with an interim analysis expected in the September 2019 timeframe.\nThe proposed work will further evaluate the efficacy of the IDR platform in animal models of disease caused by bacterial biothreat agents, such as B. pseudomallei and F. tularensis, among others. Previous animal studies have demonstrated efficacy against B. pseudomallei infection. \nAbout Bacterial Threat Agents\nBioterrorism agents are characterized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as having significant potential to be utilized as a biowarfare weapon. The classification is based on the e...