Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Presents Early Findings Showing Increased Survival in Lead-in Portion of Phase 3 Glioblastoma Study with TSC plus Standard of Care

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Nov. 19, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: DFFN), a cutting-edge biotechnology company developing new treatments for life-threatening medical conditions by improving the body’s ability to bring oxygen to the areas where it is needed most, announces increased survival in inoperable glioblastoma patients enrolled in the 19-patient, open-label, dose-escalation lead-in portion of its Phase 3 study with Trans Sodium Crocetinate (TSC) plus standard of care (SOC).  John Gainer, Ph.D., the Company’s chief scientific officer, will present details of these findings at the inaugural Glioblastoma Drug Development Summit being held in Boston December 10-11, and sponsored by Hanson Wade. Dr. Gainer’s slide presentation will be posted to the Company’s website at immediately prior to the conference.

In an earlier Phase 2 study testing TSC in newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain cancer patients, an almost fourfold increase in 2-year survival was seen versus historical controls in inoperable patients. The current Phase 3 INTACT (INvestigating Tsc Against Cancerous Tumors) study – an open-label, randomized, controlled trial – is designed to examine this finding in a fully powered safety and efficacy registration study, which, if successful, could be the basis for US FDA approval.

In the INTACT trial, subjects are randomized at baseline to SOC for first-line treatment of GBM plus TSC, or to SOC alone. The SOC for GBM is temozolomide plus radiation therapy for 6 weeks, followed by 28 days of rest, then by 6 cycles of post-radiation temozolomide treatment. In a modification to the Phase 2 dosing regimen, patients in the INTACT trial will also receive high-dose TSC during the post-radiation chemotherapy phase.

A 19-patient, open-label, dose-escalation lead-in portion to the INTACT trial was recently completed, sending a positive safety signal across all patients receiving TSC.  In addition, six of the seven patients who received the high dose TSC treatment are still alive, with a median survival at the present time of 14.3 months. This is compared with 9.2 months for the historical standard of patients with inoperable GBM. Since six of the TSC-treated patients are still alive, median survival time is actually increasing with the passage of time, suggesting the INTACT trial may confirm or better the efficacy findings seen in the Phase 2 study.

Patients’ abilities to perform their daily activities as measured by Karnofsky performance scores increased from the baseline following completion of high dose treatment with TSC. Investigators have also reported instances of inoperable GBM patients treated with the higher dose TSC regimen leaving hospice or returning to work after treatment in the open-label portion of the study.

“We are encouraged by these early findings showing that patients enrolled in the lead-in portion of the INTACT trial have experienced increased survival with our new protocol,” said Dr. Gainer.  “Although final conclusions will depend on the completion of the randomized portion of the trial, we believe that TSC helps to eradicate the low oxygen status of cancerous tumors, and it appears this may also result in a survival benefit compared with the current standard therapy.”  

The Company previously announced it is seeking a partner to continue development of TSC in the GBM indication and has begun patient enrollment in its Phase 2 on-ambulance trial with TSC for the treatment of stroke.

About Hanson Wade

Hanson Wade's goal is to accelerate progress within organizations and across industries. Its primary method for achieving this is by creating exclusive business conferences that gather together the world's smartest thinkers and doers. The inaugural Glioblastoma Drug Development Summit is designed with two critical and ambitious objectives:  to help overcome the major biological challenges limiting effective Glioblastoma treatment; and to evaluate novel therapies and innovative trial design to prevent more tragic Phase 2 failures.

About Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. is an innovative biotechnology company developing new treatments that improve the body’s ability to bring oxygen to the areas where it is needed most, offering new hope for the treatment of life-threatening medical conditions.

Diffusion’s lead drug TSC was originally developed in conjunction with the Office of Naval Research, which was seeking a way to treat hemorrhagic shock caused by massive blood loss on the battlefield. 

Evolutions in research have led to Diffusion’s focus today: Fueling Life by taking on some of medicine’s most intractable and difficult-to-treat diseases, including stroke and GBM brain cancer. In each of these diseases, hypoxia – oxygen deprivation of essential tissue in the body – has proved to be a significant obstacle for medical providers and the target for TSC’s novel mechanism.

Its on-ambulance PHAST-TSC acute stroke protocol has begun patient enrollment. In July 2019 the Company reported favorable safety data in a 19-patient dose-escalation run-in study to its Phase 3 INTACT program, using TSC to target inoperable GBM brain cancer.  Additional preclinical data supports the potential use of TSC as a treatment for other conditions where hypoxia plays a major role, such as myocardial infarction, respiratory diseases such as COPD, peripheral artery disease, and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

In addition, RES-529, the Company’s PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitor that dissociates the mTORC1 and mTORC2 complexes, is in preclinical testing for GBM.

Diffusion is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia – a hub of advancement in the life science and biopharmaceutical industries – and is led by CEO David Kalergis, a 30-year industry veteran and company co-founder. 

Forward-Looking Statements

To the extent any statements made in this news release deal with information that is not historical, these are forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the company's plans, objectives, expectations  and intentions with respect to future operations and products, the potential of the company's technology and product candidates, the anticipated timing of future clinical trials, and other statements that are not historical in nature, particularly those that utilize terminology such as "would," "will," "plans," "possibility," "potential," "future," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "continue," "expects," other words of similar meaning, derivations of such words and the use of future dates. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Uncertainties and risks may cause the Diffusion’s actual results to be materially different than those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Particular uncertainties and risks include: the difficulty of developing pharmaceutical products, obtaining regulatory and other approvals and achieving market acceptance; general business and economic conditions; the company's need for and ability to obtain additional financing or partnering arrangements; and the various risk factors (many of which are beyond Diffusion’s control) as described under the heading “Risk Factors” in Diffusion’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release and are based on management's current beliefs and expectations. Diffusion undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts:

David Kalergis, CEO

Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

(434) 220-0718

LHA Investor Relations

Kim Sutton Golodetz

(212) 838-3777