Full Press Release Details
TITAN PHARMACEUTICALS
AND WALTER REED ARMY INSTITUTE
OF RESEARCH COLLABORATE TO EVALUATE PRONEURA ANTIMALARIAL IMPLANTS
non-clinical studies with ProNeura implants incorporating antimalarial
drugs demonstrate proof-of-concept
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA -
July 6, 2017 - Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTNP), a specialty pharmaceutical company developing proprietary
therapeutics for the treatment of select chronic diseases utilizing its ProNeura long-term, continuous drug delivery technology,
announced today that it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Walter Reed Army Institute
of Research (WRAIR) and Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to evaluate the development of ProNeura-based implants for a long-term
regimen in the prevention of malaria.
"The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research has been involved
with testing virtually every drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for protection against malaria, and we are
excited to be collaborating with the organization on this important endeavor," said Titan President and CEO Sunil Bhonsle.
"ProNeura's ability to provide long-term, continuous drug delivery could represent an important advance over current approved
daily dosed antimalarial products."
Initial non-clinical studies have demonstrated preliminary proof-of-concept
and the results were recently presented by the Experimental Therapeutics (ET) branch of WRAIR at the 2017 Asia Pacific Military
Health Exchange (APMHE) in Singapore. ProNeura implants containing piperaquine, an effective compound against blood stage parasites,
were formulated at SwRI and tested at WRAIR in a mouse model infected with Plasmodium berghei, to characterize the pharmacokinetic
(PK) release profile and long-term prophylactic efficacy. Piperaquine implants demonstrated sustained drug release for 6 weeks
of PK analysis, and exhibited sufficient suppression of early blood stage malaria in infected mice, as assessed by IVIS (In
Vivo Imaging System). Furthermore, complete protection from infection with Plasmodium berghei parasites was demonstrated
for up to 8 weeks post-implantation in mice. In addition, the sustained release of other antimalarial drugs, atovaquone and doxycycline,
were demonstrated in vivo with their respective ProNeura-based implants.
There is an important need for a reliable long-term regimen
for the prevention of malaria in resource-constrained environments. The development of long-acting implants could greatly improve
compliance with a reliable treatment regimen, potentially allowing ground combat forces to maneuver and perform in an uninterrupted
manner. The preliminary findings of the study allow WRAIR to pursue additional studies with long-acting ProNeura implants that
include FDA-approved anti-malarial drugs.
"We look forward to a constructive research collaboration
with Titan Pharmaceuticals and Southwest Research Institute on sustained-release antimalarial implants," said Lt. Col. Mara
Kreishman-Deitrick, PhD, director of ET at WRAIR.
About Titan Pharmaceuticals
Titan Pharmaceuticals
Inc. (NASDAQ: TTNP), based in South San Francisco, CA, is developing proprietary therapeutics primarily for the treatment of serious
medical disorders. The company's lead product is Probuphine , a novel and long-acting formulation of buprenorphine for the
long-term maintenance treatment of opioid dependence. Probuphine employs Titan's proprietary drug delivery system ProNeura ,
which is capable of delivering sustained, consistent levels of medication for three months or longer. Titan has granted commercial
rights in the U.S. and Canada for Probuphine to Braeburn Pharmaceuticals. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in
May 2016, Probuphine is the first and only commercialized treatment of opioid dependence to provide continuous, around-the-clock
blood levels of buprenorphine for six months following a single procedure. The ProNeura technology has the potential to be used
in developing products for treating other chronic conditions such as Parkinson's disease and hypothyroidism, where maintaining
consistent, around-the-clock blood levels of medication may benefit the patient and improve medical outcomes. For more information
about Titan, please visit www.titanpharm.com.
This press release may contain "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our product development programs and any other
statements that are not historical facts. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business,
operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's
current expectations include those risks and uncertainties relating to the commercialization of Probuphine, the regulatory approval
process, the development, testing, production and marketing of our drug candidates, patent and intellectual property matters and
strategic agreements and relationships. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates
or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.
Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:
Sunil Bhonsle, President