SAN DIEGO, Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biora Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIOR), the biotech company that is reimagining therapeutic delivery, today presented detailed results from its PM-602 study titled “A scintigraphic study to evaluate the localization and delivery function of a Drug Delivery System (DDS) device in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC) in fasted state” during the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting in Charlotte, NC, October 21–26, 2022.

“In the PM-602 study, Biora’s device accurately localized colon entry and successfully released and dispersed a solution in the colon of active UC patients as shown by gamma scintigraphy,” said Walter Doll, PhD, RPh, Principal Investigator and President at Scintipharma, Inc. “The ability of the device to deliver therapeutics directly to the disease location has the potential to significantly advance treatment of UC, thus offering hope of a more normal lifestyle for these patients,” continued Dr. Doll.

“Ulcerative colitis is difficult to effectively manage with current therapeutics, and there is a significant need for new approaches. Research suggests a primary limitation may be the inability to achieve sufficient drug levels at the site of disease in the colon,” stated Dr. Bruce Sands, who is the Dr. Burrill B. Crohn Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Chief of the Dr. Henry D. Janowitz Division of Gastroenterology at Mount Sinai Health System. Dr. Sands also serves as chair of the Biora Therapeutics Clinical Advisory Board and is a paid consultant. “These results demonstrate that Biora’s platform has the potential to transform management of ulcerative colitis by improving efficacy through increased drug concentration in the colon, while potentially minimizing the harmful side effects associated with systemic drug delivery,” continued Dr. Sands.

The study demonstrated that the DDS device was well tolerated, and that the device functioned as intended in active ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. In all seven patients, regardless of variable GI transit time, level of inflammation, or presence of blood in the stool, the device accurately identified colon entry, triggered release, and delivered a liquid payload to the colon. The liquid payload spread from the site of release throughout the remainder of the colon, completely covering the colon over time.

Seven patients with a Mayo score of two or greater, indicating moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, participated in the PM-602 study. During the study, Biora’s device was ingested orally in a single dose. After identification of colon entry, the device released a saline solution payload that included radioisotopes. Serial gamma-scintigraphy images were used to independently determine device localization and payload delivery to the lower gastrointestinal tract. No investigational drug was administered during the study.

With the completion of three successful device function studies in humans, the company expects to submit an IND application during the first quarter of 2023 to begin a clinical study evaluating its PGN-600 drug-device combination, which uses a liquid formulation of tofacitinib.

The poster can be viewed by visiting bioratherapeutics.com/publications. 

About Biora Therapeutics’ Targeted Therapeutics Platform
Biora Therapeutics’ targeted therapeutics platform utilizes a novel approach that could improve IBD patient outcomes by enabling delivery of therapeutics directly to the site of disease. The objective is to increase therapeutic levels in tissue while reducing systemic uptake. For the 1.8 million patients in the United States who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), existing therapeutics offer less than ideal efficacy, likely because of the challenges with safely achieving sufficient drug levels in the affected tissues. Recent data have shown that targeted delivery of therapeutics has the potential to improve patient outcomes in IBD.
   
Biora’s Drug Delivery System (DDS) is an ingestible capsule designed for targeted delivery of therapeutics to improve treatment of IBD. It is approximately the size of a fish oil capsule and delivers a payload of up to 500µl liquid or solid formulation. Once swallowed, the capsule is designed to autonomously identify specific locations in the GI tract and release a therapeutic dose.

Biora is developing the PGN-600 program, which consists of a liquid formulation of tofacitinib delivered to the colon via the DDS capsule, for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Studies in healthy volunteers have demonstrated accurate localization and delivery in a fasted state and also demonstrated the device’s ability to function in both fasted and fed states, making it potentially the first ingestible therapeutic delivery device that does not require fasting or other food restriction for use. A device function study in participants with active ulcerative colitis (UC) patients also demonstrated successful device performance in active UC patients. During the first quarter of 2023, the company expects to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to begin a Phase 1 study with its PGN-600 drug-device combination to evaluate drug concentration in tissue and reduction of drug levels in plasma.

About Biora Therapeutics
Biora Therapeutics is the biotech company that is reimagining therapeutic delivery. By creating innovative smart pills designed for targeted drug delivery to the GI tract, and systemic, needle-free delivery of biotherapeutics, the company is developing therapies to improve patients’ lives. Biora envisions a world where patients have access to needle-free drug delivery and better therapeutic outcomes.

For more information, visit bioratherapeutics.com or follow the company on LinkedIn or Twitter.

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Investor Contact
Chuck Padala
Managing Director, LifeSci Advisors
IR@bioratherapeutics.com
(646) 627-8390

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