On August 9, 2021 Cytocom Inc. (Nasdaq: CBLI), a leading biopharmaceutical company creating next-generation immune therapies that focus on immune restoration and homeostasis, reported an update regarding its portfolio of clinical programs (Press release, Cleveland BioLabs, AUG 9, 2021, View Source [SID1234586175]).
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"We are excited and believe that we are well positioned to further the development of our clinical-stage pipeline and showcase the power of our expanded post-merger drug development capabilities," stated Michael K. Handley, President and CEO of Cytocom. "We are strategically focused on immune-modulating treatments designed to address anemia and neutropenia, emergent viruses, cancer, and autoimmune diseases."
Mr. Handley continued, "The coming months will be busy. We are completing the necessary steps to begin enrolling patients by year-end 2021 in a Phase 3 clinical trial for our lead drug candidate, CYTO-201, for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. Building on our legacy Cytocom pipeline are the Cleveland BioLabs assets, specifically entolimod, an immune-stimulatory agent. We are eager to explore new indications for entolimod and remain excited about the potential for toll-like receptor 5 agonists in treating neutropenia and anemia in cancer patients. Our team is working to put together development plans in hematology and we are in talks with a renowned medical facility to begin a clinical study using entolimod in the coming months."
Mr. Handley concluded, "In addition, we plan to follow in the first half of 2022 with a clinical trial exploring CYTO-401 as an adjunct to standard of care therapy to extend the duration of disease remission in patients with pancreatic cancer. We are also completing the necessary steps to activate clinical trial sites and begin enrolling patients in clinical trials exploring CYTO-205 in patients with acute and post-acute COVID-19. This could be a particularly compelling opportunity given the pernicious nature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which, despite growing vaccination rates, continues to impact millions of people worldwide. What’s more, the medical community has specifically expressed interest on a "long haulers" study."
CYTO-201 and Crohn’s Disease
Cytocom’s lead investigational drug candidate, CYTO-201, is being studied for the treatment of pediatric patients with Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (or digestive) tract, causing symptoms such as persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain and rectal bleeding. Studies show that because the signs and symptoms of the disease are unpredictable, patients living with the disease endure significant burdens, not only physical, but also emotional and economic.
On July 27, 2021, Cytocom completed a successful end of Phase 2 meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding a clinical development plan for a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating CYTO-201 in pediatric Crohn’s patients. Cytocom is partnering with ICON plc (NASDAQ: ICLR), a global contract research organization (CRO), to manage the trial, and expects to begin enrolling patients by year-end 2021.
Entolimod and Hematology
Cytocom’s new management team is now reviewing information regarding the past development work for entolimod, as well as previous clinical trial data. The company plans to address the clinical hold imposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) in 2019 in order to initiate clinical trials for new indications. In addition to continuing work on the Acute Radiation Syndrome or ARS, Cytocom plans to explore new indications for entolimod based on the potential of toll-like receptor 5 agonists in hematology indications, specifically the treatment of neutropenia and anemia in cancer patients. Cytocom is developing a hematology program and discussions are underway with a renowned academic institution to potentially initiate the first study later this year using entolimod in a hematology indication.
CYTO-401 and Pancreatic Cancer
Cytocom is developing CYTO-401 as an adjunct to standard of care therapy to extend the duration of disease remission in patients with pancreatic cancer. In August 2021, the company received FDA feedback regarding the clinical development program. Having feedback on the development program and establishing an advisory panel of oncology experts, Cytocom is now evaluating contract research organizations (CROs) and is planning to initiate the clinical trial in the first half of 2022.
CYTO-205 and Acute and Post-Acute COVID-19
With the FDA having cleared an Investigational New Drug (IND) application, Cytocom expects to begin a Phase 2 clinical trial in the third quarter of 2021 to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CYTO-205 to slow or halt the progression of the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Cytocom is finalizing protocols for a study evaluating CYTO-205 in patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS). Also known as "long haulers," these patients represent a high unmet medical need with roughly 30% of all COVID-19 infections developing into long-haul syndrome. Cytocom plans to conduct the trial under the existing IND and expects to begin enrolling patients by year-end 2021. CYTO-205 is designed to modulate immune system function by decreasing elevated inflammatory responses associated with viral infection.