Full Press Release Details
Oragenics Reports Positive In Vivo Antibiotic Efficacy Data in Critical Animal Study
Lead Lantibiotic Clinical Candidate Selected from MU1140 Analog Pipeline
GERMANTOWN, MD - July 28, 2015 - Oragenics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: OGEN) and Intrexon Corporation (NYSE:XON), a leader in synthetic biology, announced today positive data on multiple compounds from Oragenics Mutacin 1140
( MU1140 ) lantibiotic platform in a critical animal model study, as well as the selection of a lead clinical candidate. The compounds were subjected to a standardized proof of concept animal model evaluating efficacy for
reducing clinically relevant C. difficile infection(s) and increased survival relative to vancomycin positive control.
Lantibiotics are a class of
antibiotics with a novel mechanism of action active against several multi-drug resistant infectious agents. Through its Exclusive Channel Collaboration ( ECC ), Oragenics has utilized Intrexon s proprietary bio-engineering
capabilities to develop its MU1140 analog pipeline which could provide an important new tool in the fight against global bacterial antibiotic resistance.
The tested compounds were selected based on important compound characteristics including, but not limited to: drug activity (based on minimum inhibitory
concentration) equal or better than standard of care drugs against certain drug-resistant bacteria, safety, toxicity, stability, and manufacturability. The study specifically evaluated compound efficacy as measured by survivability,
amounts of C. difficile colony forming units, and toxin levels. Overall several compounds demonstrated promising results, and Oragenics new lead clinical candidate achieved a 100% survival rate throughout the entire study in contrast to
a 33% survival rate for the vancomycin (current standard of care) positive control. There was a 0% survival rate for the placebo control group.
Telling, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board of Oragenics said, These test results represent a significant development and we are delighted to share this progress as we continue our efforts to develop lantibiotics, a new therapeutic class of
antibiotics, with our collaborator Intrexon to combat the growing problem of resistance to existing therapeutics. Dr. Telling added, We remain on-track for our previously disclosed expectation of pre-IND meetings with the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration in the fourth quarter. This in vivo efficacy data represents a significant step forward in the development path undertaken by Oragenics.
Samuel Broder, M.D, Senior Vice President and Head of Intrexon s Health Sector, stated, We are very
pleased that the suite of Intrexon technologies and proprietary industrial processes has facilitated the development of novel lantibiotics by our ECC partner, Oragenics. This is an important area of much needed new antibiotic development.
About Oragenics, Inc.
Oragenics, Inc. is focused on
becoming the world leader in novel antibiotics against infectious disease and probiotics for oral health in humans and pets. Oragenics, Inc. has established three exclusive worldwide channel collaborations with Intrexon Corporation Inc., a synthetic
biology company. The collaborations allow Oragenics access to Intrexon s proprietary technologies toward the goal of accelerating the development of much needed new antibiotics that can work against resistant strains of bacteria and new
therapeutic probiotics designed to alleviate symptoms from oral diseases. Oragenics also develops, markets and sells proprietary OTC probiotics specifically designed to enhance oral health for humans and pets, under the brand names Evora and
ProBiora both in the United States and through the use of distributors in locations outside of the United States. For more information about Oragenics, visit www.oragenics.com.
About Intrexon Corporation
Intrexon Corporation (NYSE:
XON) is Powering the Bioindustrial Revolution with Better DNA to create biologically-based products that improve the quality of life and the health of the planet. The Company s integrated technology suite provides its partners across
diverse markets with industrial-scale design and development of complex biological systems delivering unprecedented control, quality, function, and performance of living cells. We call our synthetic biology approach Better DNA , and we invite you to discover more at www.dna.com.
Intrexon and Better DNA are trademarks of Intrexon and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Safe Harbor Statement
Some of the statements
made in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and projections about future events and generally relate to our plans, objectives and expectations for the
development of our business. Although management believes that the plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual future
results may be materially different from the plans, objectives and expectations expressed in this press release.
For more information contact:
Chief Financial Officer
Investor/Media Contact:
Intrexon Corporation:
Senior Manager, Technical Communications
Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (561) 410-7052