Full Press Release Details
Protalix BioTherapeutics Announces New
Preclinical Results Demonstrating a Positive Effect of pegunigalsidase alfa (PRX-102) on Small-fiber Neuropathy in Fabry Disease
Models Compared to Commercially Available Enzyme Replacement Therapies
Israel, April 18, 2017 -- Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE MKT:PLX) (TASE:PLX), announced today new, promising results from
a preclinical trial conducted in collaboration with Prof. Raphael Schiffmann,
Director, Institute of Metabolic Disease at the Baylor Research Institute, Dallas, Texas. It was demonstrated that treatment of
Fabry mice with pegunigalsidase alfa (PRX-102) slows the progression of small fiber neuropathy when compared to treatment of Fabry
mice with currently approved enzyme replacement therapies, and when compared to untreated Fabry mice.
The preclinical study evaluated 1mg/kg pegunigalsidase alfa
compared to Fabrazyme and Replagal at the approved clinical doses (1, 0.2 mg/kg, respectively)
in Fabry mice, with untreated Fabry mice and wild type (healthy) mice as controls. Bi-weekly intravenous infusions were administered
Fabry mice treated with pegunigalsidase alfa showed a 53% reduction
(p<0.05) in the number of Iba1 spots, a marker for inflammation of the peripheral sensory nerves system, compared to untreated
Fabry controls. Levels of Iba1 in the pegunigalsidase alfa-treated mice reached the levels of the healthy mice. In contrast, there
was no difference in the Iba1 marker in Fabry mice treated with Replagal or Fabrazyme , compared
to untreated Fabry mice.
"Significantly decreased Iba1 marker in treated Fabry
mice suggests that repeated infusions of the drug from an asymptomatic stage prevents the activation and/or proliferation of resident
DRG macrophages and alleviates damage to the peripheral sensory nerves," commented Dr. Yoseph Shaaltiel, Protalix's
Executive Vice President, Research and Development. "This change was not observed in Fabry mice treated with Fabrazyme
or Replagal , an additional positive differentiation of pegunigalsidase alfa from currently approved therapies addressing
Fabry disease neuropathy."
Additionally, the sensitivity of the nervous system was assessed
using the well-established hot plate test, which measures the effect of the enzyme treatment on response time. pegunigalsidase
alfa demonstrated effectiveness in attenuation of small fiber neuropathy progression. "This may show greater efficacy compared
to the present enzyme preparations," commented Dr. Shaaltiel.
About Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
Protalix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development
and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed through its proprietary plant cell-based expression system,
ProCellEx . Protalix's unique expression system presents a proprietary method for developing recombinant proteins in
a cost-effective, industrial-scale manner. Protalix's first product manufactured by ProCellEx, taliglucerase alfa, was approved
for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2012 and, subsequently, by the regulatory authorities of other
countries. Protalix has licensed to Pfizer Inc. the worldwide development and commercialization rights for taliglucerase alfa,
excluding Brazil, where Protalix retains full rights. Protalix's development pipeline includes the following product candidates:
PRX-102, a modified version of the recombinant human alpha-GAL-A protein for the treatment of Fabry disease; PRX-106, an orally
delivered anti-inflammatory treatment; PRX-110, a chemically modified DNase I for the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis; and others.
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strictly historical, all such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private
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include, among others: failure or delay in the commencement or completion of our preclinical and clinical trials which may be caused
by several factors, including: slower than expected rates of patient recruitment; unforeseen safety issues; determination of dosing
issues; lack of effectiveness during clinical trials; inability to monitor patients adequately during or after treatment; inability
or unwillingness of medical investigators and institutional review boards to follow our clinical protocols; and lack of sufficient
funding to finance clinical trials; the risk that the results of the clinical trials of our product candidates will not support
our claims of safety or efficacy, that our product candidates will not have the desired effects or will be associated with undesirable
side effects or other unexpected characteristics; risks related to the amount and sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents;
risks related to the successful conclusion of our negotiations with the Brazilian Ministry of Health regarding the purchase of
alfataliglicerase, and our commercialization efforts for alfataliglicerase in Brazil generally; risks relating to our ability to
make scheduled payments of the principal of, to pay interest on or to refinance our 2018 convertible notes or any other indebtedness;
risks relating to the compliance by Funda o Oswaldo Cruz with its purchase obligations and related milestones under
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and other factors described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The statements in this press release
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The Trout Group, LLC
Source: Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.