Phyton Biotech Achieves Manufacturing Milestone With Thapsigargin, The Active Agent In Mipsagargin

AHRENSBURG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Phyton Biotech today announced that it has achieved a major milestone in connection with the manufacture of thapsigargin, an inhibitor derived from the Thapsia plant that is the active agent for the investigational prodrug mipsagargin. This milestone signifies the advancement in Phyton’s Plant Cell Fermentation (PCF®) development program that now has begun to define the process by which the Thapsia plant is converted into a preserved, fermentable cell line, thus providing a more sustainable source of high-quality thapsigargin.

“We enjoy working with an innovative partner like Inspyr in its development of new treatment options”

Phyton is converting the Thapsia plant into thapsigargin in partnership with Inspyr Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: NSPX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that has a patented technology platform utilizing thapsigargin for its prodrug delivery system, mipsagargin.

"A controlled cell culture-based production process potentially enables Inspyr to secure a high quality, scalable supply of thapsigargin," said Russell Richerson, Ph.D., COO at Inspyr Therapeutics.

"We enjoy working with an innovative partner like Inspyr in its development of new treatment options," said Dr. Gilbert Gorr, Chief Scientific Officer at Phyton Biotech. "We are all very pleased with the results achieved with our PFC manufacturing process so far in both developing cell lines of Thapsia garganica capable of producing thapsigargin, as well as with the added ability to generate high-producing cell lines that grow in liquid culture, which can be further refined and used for process development and scale-up.”

About Phyton

Phyton Biotech is the pioneer in Plant Cell Fermentation (PCF®) for the development and manufacture of plant-based active ingredients and other complex molecules. Phyton Biotech's development services business is focused on harnessing plant-derived natural actives and products for use in the pharmaceutical field (APIs) as well as in food ingredients, cosmetic and agricultural industries. Utilizing a proprietary PCF® platform technology, Phyton offers a time, risk, and cost balanced path to commercially viable production processes, resulting in the addition of sustainability, reliability, quality and scalability to the supply chain. Phyton's unique capabilities address the entire development chain, including selection and sourcing of plant material, cell line development, process development, down-stream development, chemical processing, scale-up and commercial production up to 75,000 liters. Phyton is also the world's largest commercial provider of high quality Paclitaxel and Docetaxel API via PCF® to a global customer base of sterile injectable manufacturers. The company has GMP facilities in Ahrensburg, Germany and Vancouver, Canada. For additional information on Phyton Biotech, visit www.phytonbiotech.com.

About Inspyr Therapeutics

Inspyr Therapeutics, Inc. is developing a novel technology platform that combines a powerful cytotoxin (thapsigargin) with a patented prodrug delivery system that targets the release of drugs within solid tumors without the side effects of chemotherapeutic agents. Mipsagargin, its lead drug candidate, has been studied in a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) and has been granted Orphan Drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in this indication. Mipsagargin is being evaluated in other therapeutic areas within oncology. For additional information on Inspyr Therapeutics, visit www.inspyrtx.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This communication may contain forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that statements in this document regarding potential applications of Inspyr Therapeutics’ technologies or the future prospects of the company constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, uncertainty of clinical trial results or regulatory approvals or clearances, need for future capital, dependence upon collaborators and maintenance of our intellectual property rights and the acceptance of Inspyr Therapeutics’ proposed therapies by the health community. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties will be detailed from time to time in Inspyr Therapeutics’ periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.