Tonix Pharmaceuticals Receives Federal Grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to Advance Development of TNX-1300 as a Treatment for Cocaine Intoxication
August 02 2022 - 07:00AM
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Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP) (Tonix or the Company), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has received a Cooperative Agreement grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to support development of TNX-1300 (T172R/G173Q double-mutant cocaine esterase 200 mg, i.v. solution) for the treatment of cocaine intoxication. TNX-1300 is a recombinant enzyme that efficiently degrades and metabolizes cocaine. Cocaine intoxication refers to a state in which cocaine has deleterious effects on several body systems, especially the cardiovascular system. TNX-1300 demonstrated activity on reversing the physiological effects of i.v. cocaine challenge in people who use cocaine in a prior Phase 2a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.1
The grant is intended to support continued development of TNX-1300 as a treatment for life threatening cocaine intoxication. In 2021, more than 24,900 individuals in the U.S. died from drug overdose deaths involving cocaine2.
“This grant award underscores the unmet need for safe and effective treatments for cocaine intoxication and validates the progress we have achieved to date with TNX-1300,” said Seth Lederman, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Tonix Pharmaceuticals. “Cocaine intoxication remains a serious issue in the U.S. where there is currently no specific pharmacotherapy indicated treatments. By targeting the cause rather than the symptoms of cocaine intoxication, we believe TNX-1300 may offer significant advantages to the current standard of care for cocaine intoxication.”
Tonix recently announced the design of a new single-blind, open-label, placebo-controlled, randomized Phase 2 clinical trial of TNX-1300 for the treatment of cocaine intoxication. The Phase 2 study, which has the potential to serve as a pivotal trial, is anticipated to start in the fourth quarter of 2022, pending U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreement. TNX-1300 has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA. As a biologic and new molecular entity, TNX-1300 is eligible for 12 years of U.S. market exclusivity upon approval by the FDA, in addition to expected patent protection through 2029.
“The research Tonix is pursuing is a bright light in our shared goal of reducing overdose deaths and harm as we continue to battle the crisis in substance use disorders in New Jersey and across the country, which has only been compounded by the pandemic. This targeted treatment could bring down healthcare costs and, most importantly, loss of life due to cocaine overdose,” said Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11). “With this federal grant, Tonix will be able to move one step closer to FDA authorization and getting this potentially life-saving treatment into the hands of emergency room doctors and nurses, as well as EMS and other first responders. I am proud to have Tonix’s headquarters based here in NJ-11.”
“Tonix has been an incredible partner and job creator in Maryland, and I commend their efforts in fighting against the substance use disorder crisis that our nation continues to face. With over 100,000 Americans killed by drug overdoses just last year, we need to work together to curb the loss and set our sights on prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. That starts with medical innovation in our own communities and reliable investment in our country's brightest leaders. This funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse will do just that,” said Representative David Trone (MD-06).
Research reported in this press release was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under award number U01DA056245. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
About TNX-1300
TNX-1300 (T172R/G173Q double-mutant cocaine esterase 200 mg, i.v. solution) is being developed under an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the treatment of cocaine intoxication. TNX-1300 is a recombinant protein enzyme produced through rDNA technology in a non-disease-producing strain of E. coli bacteria. Cocaine esterase (CocE) was identified in bacteria (Rhodococcus) that uses cocaine as its sole source of carbon and nitrogen and that grows in soil surrounding coca plants.3 The gene encoding CocE was identified and the protein was extensively characterized.3-6 CocE catalyzes the breakdown of cocaine into metabolite ecgonine methyl ester and benzoic acid. Wild-type CocE is unstable at body temperature, so targeted mutations were introduced in the CocE gene and resulted in the T172R/G173Q double-mutant CocE, which is active for approximately 6 hours at body temperature.6 In a Phase 2 study, TNX-1300, at 100 mg or 200 mg i.v. doses, was well tolerated and rapidly reduced cocaine effects after a cocaine 50 mg i.v. challenge.1
About Cocaine Intoxication
Cocaine is an illegal recreational drug which is taken for its pleasurable effects and associated euphoria, as well as mental alertness, in some cases. Pharmacologically, cocaine blocks the reuptake of the neurotransmitter dopamine from central nervous system synapses, resulting in the accumulation of dopamine within the synapse and an amplification of dopamine signaling which reinforces the drug taking. With the continued use of cocaine, however, intense cocaine cravings can occur, resulting in a high potential for continued use and addiction, as well as the risk of cocaine intoxication. Cocaine intoxication refers to the deleterious effects of cocaine on several body systems, especially those involving the cardiovascular system. Common symptoms of cocaine intoxication include tachyarrhythmias and elevated blood pressure, either of which can be life-threatening. As a result, individuals with known or suspected cocaine intoxication are sent immediately to the emergency department, preferably by ambulance in case cardiac arrest o
