Oragenics Announces Concussion Drug Successfully Clears FDA-Required Cardiotoxicity Testing

Oragenics, Inc. recently announced its lead candidate for treating concussion successfully completed a study that indicates ONP-002 does not cause cardiotoxicity. ONP-002 is a new chemical entity (NCE) designed to target the brain through delivery into the nasal cavity and onward to the brain. Prior to conducting a clinical trial, the US FDA requires pharmaceuticals to be tested on cardiac receptors to ensure that they do not show any causes of electrical malformations.

Oragenics conducted hERG (human Ether-à-go-go-Related Gene) ion channel studies on ONP-002 under Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) with Charles River Laboratories. Like previous non-GLP hERG studies, inhibitory concentrations were greater than 10 micromolar. Based on Phase I ONP-002 clinical trial dosing and subsequent blood plasma concentrations, ONP-002 is expected to have a large cardiac safety margin, suggesting that ONP-002 treatment for concussion will not cause cardiac arrhythmia.

“We are pleased that ONP-002 has demonstrated a strong safety margin for the heart, enabling us to continue planning the Phase 2 trials. Safety remains our top priority, and we will continuously monitor all safety parameters throughout the trials,” said Michael Redmond, President of Oragenics. “Furthermore, a Phase 2 study is being planned to further evaluate the drug in concussed patients.”

Concussion is a significant unmet medical need, with an estimated 69 million cases reported annually worldwide. Common causes of concussions include falls, motor vehicle accidents, and contact sports. According to the CDC, the total annual healthcare cost for nonfatal traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) exceeds $40.6 billion. This includes $10.1 billion covered by private insurance, $22.5 billion by Medicare, and $8 billion by Medicaid. Concussions have been associated with other neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Additionally, post-concussion symptoms, which can occur in up to 20% of affected individuals, are linked to long-term disability.

Oragenics is a development-stage biotechnology company focused on nasal delivery of pharmaceutical medications in neurology and fighting infectious diseases, including drug candidates for treating mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), also known as concussion, and for treating Niemann Pick Disease Type C (NPC), as well as proprietary powder formulation and an intranasal delivery device. For more information, visit www.oragenics.com.