SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.,
Oct. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Titan
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTNP) and Opiant Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. (NASDAQ:OPNT) today announced a collaboration to explore
development of a novel approach to the prevention of opioid relapse
and overdose in individuals with opioid use disorder. The companies
will conduct a feasibility assessment of a subcutaneous implant
using Titan's proprietary ProNeura™ sustained release technology to
administer an opioid antagonist. A product that delivers
non-fluctuating, therapeutic levels of an opioid antagonist,
continuously for up to 6 months, may be ideally suited for the
prevention of opioid relapse and overdose.
Relapse and fatal overdose among those with opioid use disorder
is significantly higher than any other type of drug addiction. As
many as 91 percent of those in recovery will experience a relapse.
At least 59 percent of those who relapse do so within the first
week of sobriety, while 80 percent relapse within a month after
discharging from a treatment and detox program.i The
risk of a fatal overdose is at its highest during a relapse. Even
returning to a low dose of opioids after a period of abstinence can
result in an overdose for a long-term opioid user.ii
"Currently, the only FDA-approved opioid antagonist for relapse
prevention is a monthly depot injection of naltrexone," said Opiant
CEO Roger Crystal, M.D. "A product
with a six-month duration would allow patients to be opioid-free
for a longer period, providing a greater window for long-term
recovery, and most critically, relapse and overdose prevention.
This six-month duration would mean that patients only have to make
one good decision to initiate therapy, which is important because
the longer patients receive pharmacological treatment, the less
likely they are to relapse and possibly overdose."
"We are pleased to collaborate with Opiant on this important
project to evaluate the addition of an opioid antagonist implant to
the armamentarium of products to treat opioid use disorder," said
Titan President and CEO Sunil
Bhonsle. "Our knowledge from developing the FDA-approved
Probuphine® (buprenorphine) implant for the maintenance treatment
of opioid addiction, coupled with the drug development expertise at
both companies, should enable us to complete this evaluation
relatively rapidly and, hopefully, with a successful result."
Titan continues to explore opportunities to expand the use of
its ProNeura long-term, continuous drug delivery platform, and
recently commenced a Phase 1/2 clinical study of a ropinirole
implant for treating Parkinson's disease. An implantable
triiodothyronine (T3) product for the treatment of hypothyroidism
is completing non-clinical development focused on formulation
optimization. Titan is also collaborating with the Walter Reed Army
Institute of Research and the Southwest Research Institute in the
early non-clinical evaluation of the implant drug delivery platform
in malaria prophylaxis. Additional ProNeura feasibility evaluations
are ongoing in the area of chronic pain treatment with a
peripherally acting Kappa opioid receptor agonist, and in the
treatment of type 2 diabetes with currently approved peptides.
Opiant is committed to innovation and product development in the
addiction space. The company is developing additional therapies for
opioid use disorder, including advancing the pre-clinical
development of its heroin vaccine candidate, which was licensed in
October 2016 from the Walter Reed
Army Institute of Research and the National Institute on Drug Abuse
(NIDA). The company's pipeline of nasal opioid antagonists also
addresses both alcohol use and eating disorders. Opiant continues
to maintain an active presence in national organizations such as
the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Dr. Crystal was
recently invited to testify before the President's Commission on
Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis.
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 and the first and only commercialized
treatment of opioid dependence approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration to provide continuous, around-the-clock blood levels
of buprenorphine for six months following a single procedure.
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. 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.
About Opiant Pharmaceuticals
Opiant Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing
pharmacological treatments for addictions. NIDA, a division of the
NIH, describes these disorders as chronic relapsing brain diseases
which burden society at both the individual and community levels.
With its innovative opioid antagonist nasal delivery technology,
Opiant is positioned to become a leader in these treatment markets.
Its first product, NARCAN® Nasal Spray, is approved for marketing
in the U.S. and Canada by the
company's partner, Adapt Pharma Operations Limited. For more
information please visit: www.opiant.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
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.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Sunil Bhonsle, President & CEO
(650) 244-4990
Media Contact:
Susan
Thomas
(650) 989-2216
sthomas@titanpharm.com
Investor Contact:
Stephen
Kilmer
(650) 989-2215
skilmer@titanpharm.com
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i Smyth,
B. P., Barry, J., Keenan, E. & Ducray, K. (2010). Lapse
and relapse following inpatient treatment of opiate
dependence. Irish Medical
Journal. 103(6),176–179.
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ii http://www.alcoholismdrugabuseweekly.com/m-article-detail/even-a-low-dose-of-opioids-after-a-short-period-of-abstinence-can-result-in-overdose.aspx
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SOURCE Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.