VANCOUVER, Wash., Oct. 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CytoDyn Inc. (OTCQB:CYDY), a biotechnology company focused on the development of new therapies for combating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, today announced that the first patient in its Phase 3 clinical trial has been injected with PRO 140, the Company’s monoclonal antibody for the treatment of HIV. PRO 140 is the first self-injectable antibody in a Phase 3 protocol involving 300 HIV patients that will each be evaluated over a 25-week period.
The Company believes that upon successful completion of this Phase 3 study, CytoDyn will have the opportunity to seek accelerated approval based on previously FDA granted fast-track candidate designation. Additionally, CytoDyn intends to apply for a breakthrough designation for PRO 140, as the first self-injectable antibody for HIV monotherapy for patients with resistance issues to the current standard of care, referred to as HAART (Highly Active AntiRetroviral Therapy).
The Company’s recently completed Phase 2b treatment substitution trial demonstrated that 98% of patients treated with PRO 140 successfully passed four weeks of monotherapy without virologic failure. At the completion of the study some of these patients were offered the option to continue in an extension trial. CytoDyn recently announced that the first group of patients in the extension trial passed one year of monotherapy with complete viral load suppression. Currently, 11 patients are in the extension trial and all 11 have now passed one year of monotherapy with PRO 140.
The Company’s first Phase 3 trial is designed to allow PRO 140 as a component of a HAART regimen for treatment experienced patients. Management believes the market size for a HAART therapy, which includes the PRO 140 antibody, along with other PRO 140 indications, could exceed a billion dollars. CytoDyn believes that its PRO 140 antibody has compelling advantages over other approved drugs on the market for HIV. These advantages include less toxicity, fewer side effects and once-a-week versus daily administration, which together may improve patient compliance.
Dr. Nader Pourhassan, President and CEO, commented: “We are very pleased to have moved so quickly from completion of our Phase 2b clinical trial to the formal initiation of our Phase 3 licensing trial with the injection of the first patient with PRO 140.”
About CytoDyn
CytoDyn is a biotechnology company focused on the clinical development and potential commercialization of humanized monoclonal antibodies for the treatment and prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. The Company has one of the leading monoclonal antibodies under development for HIV infection, PRO 140, which has finished Phase 2 clinical trials with demonstrated antiviral activity in man and is currently in Phase 3. PRO 140 blocks the HIV co-receptor CCR5 on T-cells which prevents viral entry. Clinical trial results thus far indicate that PRO 140 does not negatively affect the normal immune functions that are mediated by CCR5. Results from six Phase 1 and Phase 2 human clinical trials have shown that PRO 140 can significantly reduce viral burden in people infected with HIV. A recent Phase 2b clinical trial demonstrated that PRO 140 can prevent viral escape in patients during several weeks of interruption from conventional drug therapy. CytoDyn intends to continue to develop PRO 140 as a therapeutic anti-viral agent in persons infected with HIV. For more information on the Company, please visit www.cytodyn.com.
About PRO 140
PRO 140 belongs to a new class of HIV/AIDS therapeutics -- viral-entry inhibitors -- that are intended to protect healthy cells from viral infection. PRO 140 is a fully humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody directed against CCR5, a molecular portal that HIV uses to enter T-cells. PRO 140 blocks the predominant HIV (R5) subtype entry into T-cells by masking this required co-receptor, CCR5. Importantly, PRO 140 does not appear to interfere with the normal function of CCR5 in mediating immune responses. PRO 140 does not have agonist activity towards CCR5 but does have antagonist activity to CCL5 which is a central mediator in inflammatory diseases. PRO 140 has been the subject of seven clinical trials, each demonstrating efficacy by significantly reducing or controlling HIV viral load in human test subjects. PRO 140 has been designated a “fast track” product candidate by the FDA. The PRO 140 antibody appears to be a powerful antiviral agent leading to potentially fewer side effects and less frequent dosing requirements as compared to daily drug therapies currently in use.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of United States securities laws, including statements regarding the Company’s Phase 3 study and its results and completion, as well as other studies. These statements and information represent CytoDyn’s intentions, plans, expectations, and beliefs and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many beyond CytoDyn’s control. These factors could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements or information. The words “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “attempt,” “anticipate,” “foresee,” “plan,” and similar expressions and variations thereof identify certain of such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date on which they are made.
CytoDyn disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. While it is impossible to identify or predict all such matters, these differences may result from, among other things, the inherent uncertainty of the timing and success of and expense associated with research, development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of CytoDyn’s products and product candidates, including the risks that clinical trials will not commence or proceed as planned; products appearing promising in early trials will not demonstrate efficacy or safety in larger-scale trials; future clinical trial data on CytoDyn’s products and product candidates will be unfavorable; funding for additional clinical trials may not be available; CytoDyn’s products may not receive marketing approval from regulators or, if approved, may fail to gain sufficient market acceptance to justify development and commercialization costs; competing products currently on the market or in development may reduce the commercial potential of CytoDyn’s products; CytoDyn, its collaborators or others may identify side effects after the product is on the market; or efficacy or safety concerns regarding marketed products, whether or not scientifically justified, may lead to product recalls, withdrawals of marketing approval, reformulation of the product, additional pre-clinical testing or clinical trials, changes in labeling of the product, the need for additional marketing applications, or other adverse events.
CytoDyn is also subject to additional risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with the actions of its corporate, academic, and other collaborators and government regulatory agencies; risks from market forces and trends; potential product liability; intellectual property litigation; environmental and other risks; and risks that current and pending patent protection for its products may be invalid, unenforceable, or challenged or fail to provide adequate market exclusivity. There are also substantial risks arising out of CytoDyn’s need to raise additional capital to develop its products and satisfy its financial obligations; the highly regulated nature of its business, including government cost-containment initiatives and restrictions on third-party payments for its products; the highly competitive nature of its industry; and other factors set forth in CytoDyn’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015 and other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Investor Relations: Wolfe Axelrod Weinberger Associates, LLC Contact: Robert Schatz, Managing Director Office: 212-370-4500 E-mail: Rob@wolfeaxelrod.com Media: Dr. Nader Pourhassan Office: 360-980-8524 E-mail: npourhassan@cytodyn.com
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