Innovation Pharma Completes Interim Safety Data Review—DMC Approves Increased Dosing Frequency in Phase 2 Clinical Trial of Brilacidin in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

• Study drug dosing regimen to increase to 5 days (from 3 days) based on DMC recommendation
  
  
• Enrollment has reached 25 percent in the Company’s ~120-patient Phase 2 COVID-19 clinical trial

WAKEFIELD, Mass., April 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innovation Pharmaceuticals (OTCQB:IPIX) (“the Company”), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced that an independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) completed its scheduled review of interim safety data in the Company’s randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial of Brilacidin for treatment of moderate-to-severe COVID-19 in hospitalized patients (see ).

Upon reaching 25 percent enrollment (30 subjects), recruitment was paused and a pre-specified unblinded safety data review and evaluation was conducted by the DMC. Following their review, the DMC recommended increasing the dosing regimen of Brilacidin from 3 days to 5 days of treatment, as intended per the protocol, which the Company has since implemented. Recruitment for the 5-day treatment regimen has begun. Efficacy data was not reviewed by the DMC and remains blinded.

“We are thrilled with the recommendation of the DMC pertaining to the safety profile of Brilacidin, a drug that has repeatedly been shown in lab studies by virology experts as a top candidate for fighting infectious and resilient coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen responsible for COVID-19,” said Leo Ehrlich, Chief Executive Officer at Innovation Pharmaceuticals. “There is a sense of urgency to develop novel pan-coronavirus therapeutics for COVID-19, particularly given the growing spread of variants worldwide, including P1 and B.1.1.7, which appear to be contributing to cases of infection cropping up in patients who have already been vaccinated. With its unique mechanism of action to directly disrupt the novel coronavirus, we believe Brilacidin possesses potential to address these worrisome reminders that SARS-CoV-2 isn’t going anywhere. More broadly, Brilacidin’s antiviral potency also appears to extend beyond coronaviruses to other types of viruses, based on independent ongoing laboratory research, further supporting Brilacidin’s broad spectrum antiviral potential.”

The clinical rationale for consideration of expanding treatment duration to 5 days, from the initial dosing regimen of 3 days, is to provide a longer duration of systemic Brilacidin exposure at a level that can strongly suppress SARS-CoV-2 virus replication, and associated symptoms, and thus maximize therapeutic benefits to hospitalized patients with moderate or severe COVID-19. The expanded dosing regimen has particular value in that a 5-day dosing is the recommended initial treatment duration for Gilead Sciences’ Veklury® (remdesivir), the only FDA-approved antiviral drug for treatment of COVID-19. Trial data for Veklury could serve as a benchmark in evaluating Brilacidin outcomes.

The Company aims to expedite enrollment in the coming weeks toward study completion and release of topline results. Two sites, in addition to the 9 currently active and recruiting patients, have been initiated, with a further two sites planned to initiate within the next week.

Innovation Pharma is developing Brilacidin, a defensin-mimetic, under Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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About Innovation Pharmaceuticals

Innovation Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IPIX) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing a world-class portfolio of innovative therapies addressing multiple areas of unmet medical need, including inflammatory diseases, cancer, infectious diseases, and dermatologic diseases.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including statements concerning future drug development plans, statements regarding the antiviral capabilities and therapeutic potential of Brilacidin and its impact on SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and other coronaviruses, as well as obtaining government regulatory approvals to commence clinical testing. Other statements regarding future product developments, and markets, including with respect to specific indications, and any other statements which are other than statements of historical fact. These statements involve risks but not limited to risks related to conducting pre-clinical studies and clinical trials and seeking regulatory and licensing approvals for Brilacidin and Kevetrin in the US and other jurisdictions; that prior test results may not be replicated in future studies and trials, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause the Company’s actual results and experience to differ materially from anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. The Company has in some cases identified forward-looking statements by using words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “estimates,” “looks,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “goal,” “potential,” “may,” “suggest,” and similar expressions. Among other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements are the Company’s need for, and the availability of, substantial capital in the future to fund its operations and research and development; including the amount and timing of the sale of shares of common stock under securities purchase agreements; the fact that the Company’s licensee(s) may not successfully complete pre-clinical or clinical testing and the Company will not receive milestone payments, or the fact that the Company’s compounds may not successfully complete pre-clinical or clinical testing, or be granted regulatory approval to be sold and marketed in the United States or elsewhere. A more complete description of these risk factors is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to any such forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law or regulation.

INVESTOR AND MEDIA CONTACTS 

Innovation Pharmaceuticals Inc. 

Leo Ehrlich