NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Dec. 20, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hemispherx Biopharma (NYSE American:HEB) said, its Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) for Ampligen® has completed a commercial scale demonstration/engineering manufacturing run, along with the re-qualifications of analytical methods that were agreed upon during a previous successful Pre-Approval Inspection (PAI) as necessary prior to the production of commercial lots of Ampligen®.
This accomplishment, in addition to completing all qualification operations to address new equipment and new container closure/vial components, allows the manufacture of current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) clinical product in March 2018 following a scheduled shut down of the CMO for its bi-annual maintenance program. Completion of the demonstration/engineering manufacturing run provides confidence that the clinical product will meet the stringent quality control release and stability testing prior to release and should be available to patients by the end of the second quarter 2018. The manufacture of a second clinical lot of Ampligen® is being scheduled to assure maintenance of the clinical supply inventory.
- Ampligen® has been approved in Argentina for severely debilitated Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients. Hemispherx recently reported that discussions are underway with the U.S. FDA on the next steps regarding a New Drug Application (NDA) for Ampligen® in ME/CFS, which afflicts more than one million people in this country, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Ampligen® is the only drug to have completed a Phase 3 clinical trial in the U.S. in ME/CFS.
- Earlier this year Hemispherx began supplying Ampligen® for pancreatic cancer patients in an Early Access Program (EAP) in the Netherlands. In addition, work is underway at two leading U.S. cancer centers to define Ampligen®’s potential role in enhancing the effectiveness of PD-1 and PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors in the fast-growing field of immuno-oncology.
Commenting on the importance of this event, Hemispherx Biopharma’s CEO, Thomas Equels states, “We are pleased to announce the achievement of this important milestone in our plan to manufacture Ampligen® in large volume lots for the purpose of supplying drug for our upcoming clinical programs as well as for manufacture and sale internationally.”
About Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc.
Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. is an advanced specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the clinical development of new drug entities for treatment of seriously debilitating disorders. Hemispherx’s flagship products include Alferon N Injection® and the experimental therapeutic rintatolimod (tradenames Ampligen® or Rintamod®). Rintatolimod is an experimental RNA nucleic acid being developed for globally important debilitating diseases and disorders of the immune system, including Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Hemispherx’s platform technology includes components for potential treatment of various severely debilitating and life threatening diseases. Because rintatolimod is experimental in nature, it is not designated safe and effective by the FDA for general use and is legally available only through clinical trials.
Cautionary Statement
Some of the statements included in this press release may be forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For instance, we cannot assure that cGMP manufacture of Ampligen® will recommence in March 2018 or that Ampligen® will be available to patients by the end of the second quarter 2018. Any forward-looking statements set forth in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. This press release and prior releases are available at www.hemispherx.net. The information found on our website is not incorporated by reference into this press release and is included for reference purposes only.
Contact
Phone Number: 800-778-4042
Email: IR@hemispherx.net