Soligenix CEO Featured In CEO3in60 Interview; Stage Set For Multiple Catalysts Starting In Q1 2020

Soligenix CEO Featured In CEO3in60 Interview; Stage Set For Multiple Catalysts Starting In Q1 2020
An update published by PCG Advisory on Wednesday outlined the strong year at Soligenix and included an interview of the company’s CEO, Dr. Chris Schaber.

An update published by PCG Advisory on Wednesday outlined the strong year at Soligenix and included an interview of the company’s CEO, Dr. Chris Schaber. The CEO3in60 particularly highlights how Soligenix (NASDAQ: SNGX) has achieved multiple milestones across the company’s core focus areas, specifically pointing to the two treatments in development targeting the treatment of rare diseases and/or areas of unmet medical need that are currently in Phase 3 studies. The overview further showed the growth in the company’s Public Health Solutions segment of its business which has grown to operate under a multi-million-dollar contract with the National Institutes of Health (NIH).


Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/QQoE_S91jYI

According to the report, at the beginning of the month, Soligenix reached a new milestone by completing patient enrollment for its Phase 3 “Fluorescent Light Activated Synthetic Hypericin” (FLASH) study for SGX301 (synthetic hypericin), which is designed to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). In that study, 169 subjects successfully enrolled in the trial, which had previously received positive interim analysis from an independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) in October 2018. The committee recommended to continue enrolling patients, having observed a beneficial drug effect and further recommended to increase the trial sample size of the study in order to maintain its 90% statistical power, a rigorous standard for the industry. Additionally, the DMC did not note any safety concerns associated with the use of SGX301.

With enrollment complete for this pivotal Phase 3 trial, top-line results are now expected in the first quarter of 2020. SGX301 is a priority program for Soligenix and this study will be used to support a marketing authorization or new drug filing with the US FDA.

More About the SGX301 Clinical Trial

About the drug, SGX301 is a photodynamic therapy that treats cancerous skin lesions by applying a novel, first in class, synthetic hypericin topical ointment followed by activation of the drug with safe, visible fluorescent light. The treatment has the potential to be the first approved front line therapy for CTCL and is anticipated to minimize the risk of secondary malignancies associated with other photodynamic and chemo- therapies, many of which are currently not FDA approved.

The Phase 3 trial design includes three distinct cycles of treatment:

The first cycle is defined as treatment period for the primary endpoint in the trial. Cycle 1 is the randomized double-blind portion of the study with 2:1 SGX301: placebo randomization across 169 patients. The patients treat their 3 index lesions twice a week for 6 weeks, with escalating light exposure until a study defined maximum light exposure is reached. After a 2 week rest period, the size and characteristics of the 3 index lesions are assessed and the improvement in lesion scores for all 3 lesions are compared to the cumulative score for those same lesions at baseline. An improvement ≥50% is considered a successful response.

The second cycle of the study is an unblinded portion. All patients treat their 3 index lesions with SGX301, using the same procedure as in Cycle 1. The lesions are characterized at the end (week 8) of the cycle.

The third cycle of the study is also unblinded and is optional. In this cycle, patients can treat all their lesions with SGX301, using the same procedure as in Cycle 1.

Following Cycle 3 (or Cycle 2 if the patients don’t opt into Cycle 3), a six-month follow-up is undertaken.

Phase 3 for SGX942

A second promising treatment under development is SGX942, which is now actively enrolling in a Phase 3 clinical trial, following a positive interim analysis that was conducted by a DMC in August of 2019. The study is enrolling 260 patients in the US and Europe. Patient enrollment is expected to finish in the first quarter of the new year and expect to receive the trial’s top line results by the second quarter 2020.

The drug, SGX942, treats oral mucositis that develops in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation and chemotherapy. oral mucositis is a side effect experienced by these cancer patients undergoing chemo-radiation. Oral mucositis inflames the mouth, throat, and GI tract, so severely that painful open ulcers develop that often times leaves patients unable to eat and drink. The symptoms can be so intense that patients may stop their cancer treatment just to gain temporary relief.

SGX942 is a short 4-minute IV-infusion given in conjunction with the radiation and chemotherapy treatment. The anticipated result is that theSGX942 will modulate or reduce the severe inflammation, while healing the mouth quicker and reducing the high infection rates often associated with oral mucositis.

Government Contracts in Public Health Initiatives

Beyond its drug programs, the PCG Advisory article further showcased Soligenix’s Public Health Solutions business segment, which is presently funded entirely by the government. Currently, the company is operating under about $28 million in government grants and contracts, predominantly with the NIH. The lead program currently in development, is a heat stable ricin vaccine, RiVax®, to prevent lethal ricin poisoning.

These public health programs provide an offset to the company’s overall cash burden, allowing Soligenix to manage its funds more effectively compared to other biotech companies.

Soligenix is ending the year with multiple promising trials in progress and is expecting to deliver the first of its potentially transformative catalyst from its late-stage Phase 3 trials in early 2020.

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