CARMIEL, Israel, March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE-Amex: PLX) announced today that it has initiated a phase I clinical trial of PRX-105, the Company's plant cell expressed pegylated recombinant human acetylcholinesterase product candidate in development for biodefense indications. The trial is designed to study the safety of PRX-105 by administering a bolus intravenous injection of PRX-105 in healthy volunteers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Israeli Ministry of Health have each accepted the Company's exploratory Investigational New Drug application to commence the phase I clinical trial of PRX-105. Pre-clinical studies have previously indicated that PRX-105 successfully protects animals exposed to organophosphate nerve gas agent analogs, in both the prophylactic and post-exposure settings. In addition, the safety of PRX-105 has been demonstrated in a well-controlled study in rodents performed under good laboratory practices.
Nerve gas agents, such as organophosphates, bind to, and inhibit, the action of acetylcholinesterase, an endogenous enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, in humans. The loss of the acetylcholinesterase function results in an accumulation of toxic levels of acetylcholine, which has deleterious effects on major organ systems, including the heart, lung and central nervous system. PRX-105 acts as a bioscavenger of the organophosphates that affect the acetylcholinesterase, thereby causing a re-balancing of acetylcholine levels.
The PRX-105 program is being conducted in collaboration with Professor Hermona Soreq, from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel, a world leader in the field of acetylcholinesterase research, and based on patents that were licensed to Protalix Ltd. by Yissum, the Technology Transfer Company of the Hebrew University. "The acetylcholinesterase project is important project to me, both as an inventor and as a scientist, as Protalix is developing the acetylcholinesterase in its facility in Carmiel, Israel, and the protein appears to be available for use for multiple clinical needs, especially in the neurological degenerative disease area," said Professor Soreq.
About Protalix
Protalix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of proprietary recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed through its proprietary plant cell based expression system. Protalix's ProCellEx(TM) presents a proprietary method for the expression of recombinant proteins that the Company believes will allow for the industrial-scale production of recombinant therapeutic proteins in an environment free of mammalian components and viruses. Protalix is also advancing additional recombinant biopharmaceutical drug development programs. Taliglucerase alfa is an enzyme replacement therapy in development under a Special Protocol Assessment with the FDA for Gaucher disease. In August 2009, the FDA granted orphan drug status and fast track designation to taliglucerase alfa for the treatment of Gaucher disease and Protalix filed a rolling NDA submission with the FDA in December 2009. In November 2009, Protalix granted Pfizer Inc. exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize taliglucerase alfa for the treatment of Gaucher disease, except in Israel. Protalix retained the right to commercialize taliglucerase alfa in Israel.
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Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
