DELRAY BEACH, Fla., April 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AzurRx BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: AZRX), (“AzurRx” or the “Company”), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of targeted, non-systemic therapies for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with PPD, Inc. (NASDAQ: PPD), a leading global contract research organization (CRO), for its planned Phase 1b/2a clinical trial evaluating proprietary formulations of micronized niclosamide for grade 1 colitis and diarrhea in oncology patients receiving treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
Under the terms of the agreement, PPD will manage the Phase 1b/2a clinical trial using both oral immediate-release tablet and topical rectal enema foam formulations of micronized oral niclosamide, also known as FW-420. AzurRx anticipates initiating the trial during the second quarter of 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 James Sapirstein, President and CEO of AzurRx BioPharma. “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.”
The agreement with PPD marks 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, planned for the second quarter of 2021.
Daniel Burch, M.D., Senior Vice President and Global Head of PPD® Biotech, stated, “We are pleased to have this opportunity to broaden our collaboration with AzurRx as it expands its clinical program for niclosamide to bring relief to patients suffering from immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated colitis. We look forward to utilizing our expertise and capabilities to advance the development of FW-420, beginning with the upcoming clinical trial.”
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