SARASOTA, Fla. / Mar 05, 2024 / Business Wire / Oragenics, Inc. (NYSE American: OGEN), a company focused on developing unique, intranasal pharmaceuticals for the treatment of neurological disorders, today announced it is preparing to undertake the final steps of GMP manufacturing and formulation of its drug candidate for its expected Phase IIA clinical trial. The drug candidate is expected to be combined with its novel intranasal device, for the treatment of mild Traumatic Brain Injury, aka concussion. Oragenics’ lead drug candidate, ONP-002, is a new chemical entity (NCE) designed to target the brain through self-propelled powdered delivery into the nasal cavity and onward to the brain. A 40-patient Phase I human study showed ONP-002 to be safe and well-tolerated.

Oragenics is currently manufacturing the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) that will then be formulated and spray dried as a nanoparticle powder. Once formulated the powder is loaded into an intranasal device, believed to be novel, that is breath-propelled, which Oragenics believes will improve intranasal binding to the olfactory nerve beds for delivery directly to the brain. This application, believed to be novel, is designed as an acute field deliverable, intended to allow for concussed patients to get treatment in the early stages when the pathological cascade is most intense. Phase II patients will be recruited between the ages of 18-55 in the acute phase following concussion.

Intranasal delivery of ONP-002 as a nanoparticle has been shown to enhance brain exposure and metabolism in animals. “Preclinical intranasal targeting of the brain has been shown to improve outcomes in animals and safety margin following concussion. We are excited to be finishing up ONP-002 manufacturing and formulation work needed for our Phase II study which is on the horizon,” commented Michael Redmond, President of Oragenics.

Concussion is an unmet medical need. There is an estimated 69M concussions annually reported worldwide. Common causes of concussion include falls, motor vehicle accidents, and contact sports. Other neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) have been linked to concussion. Post concussion syndrome is linked to long term disability and occurs in as high as 20% of concussed patients. “Concussions can have serious long-term consequences. Manufacturing and formulating API in a GMP facility ensures the integrity of the drug before and during the trials, we look forward to completing this work in the short-term and getting the Phase II trial underway,” Greg Gironda, Oragenics Operational Consultant.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation statements regarding the ability of the Company to timely and successfully undertake a Phase II clinical trial using its novel drug - device combination for the treatment of mild Traumatic Brain Injury. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and information currently available. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "project" and similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. Investors should be cautious in relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the Company’s ability to advance the development of its product candidates, including the neurology assets, under the timelines and in accord with the milestones it projects; the Company’s ability to raise capital and obtain funding, non-dilutive or otherwise, for the development of its product candidates; the regulatory application process, research and development stages, and future clinical data and analysis relating to its product candidates, including any meetings, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA and investigational review boards, whether favorable or unfavorable; the Company’s ability to obtain, maintain and enforce necessary patent and other intellectual property protection; the nature of competition and development relating to concussion treatments; the Company’s expectations as to the outcome of preclinical studies and clinical trials and the potential benefits, activity, effectiveness and safety of its product candidates including as to administration, transmission, manufacturing, storage and distribution; and general economic and market conditions and risks, as well as other uncertainties described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information set forth is as of the date hereof unless otherwise indicated. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included and not place undue reliance on such statements. We do not assume any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by law.