NetworkNewsBreaks – AzurRx BioPharma Inc. (NASDA
Post# of 66
AzurRx BioPharma (NASDAQ: AZRX), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of targeted, nonsystemic therapies for gastrointestinal (“GI”) diseases, has entered into an agreement with PPD Inc. (NASDAQ: PPD) for its upcoming phase 1b/2a clinical trial. PPD, a leading global contract research organization will manage the clinical trial using both oral immediate-release tablet and topical rectal enema foam formulations of micronized oral niclosamide, or FW-420 (“CRO”). The trial is designed to evaluate proprietary formulations of micronized niclosamide for grade 1 colitis and diarrhea in oncology patients receiving treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (“ICIs”). This is the second clinical trial involving niclosamide that the CRO will manage for AzurRx. As previously announced, PPD is also managing AzurRx’s phase 2 clinical trial to investigate niclosamide as a treatment for COVID-19-related gastrointestinal infections; that trial is planned for Q2 2021. “The goal of our FW-420 clinical program is to develop a safe, effective, and non-systemic treatment for immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated colitis, and we are excited to once again partner with PPD to begin the preparations for our Phase 1b/2a clinical trial,” said AzurRx BioPharma president and CEO James Sapirstein in the press release. “The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors has marked a major advance in cancer therapeutics, but the drugs can induce a serious inflammation of the bowels, which if left unchecked, can prove life-threatening and force patients to halt treatment. There are currently no treatments available for grade 1 colitis resulting from the use of ICIs. We believe an oral, non-absorbed treatment, such as FW-420, could prevent the condition from progressing and enable patients to continue their treatment regimen uninterrupted. We hope to rapidly advance the FW-420 program with the support of PPD.”
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