Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: TNXP) has announced the publication of new preclinical research in the peer-reviewed Journal of Virology demonstrating significant differences in virulence between mpox virus clade IIb, the strain circulating in the U.S., and the historic clade IIa strain. Conducted at the company’s research and development center, the study identified three new mouse models for investigating mpox pathogenesis and found that the clade IIb isolate is up to 100,000 times less virulent than clade IIa. These findings provide additional tools to evaluate vaccines and other medical countermeasures, according to the company.
The research supports continued development of TNX-801, Tonix’s live attenuated horsepox virus vaccine candidate for the prevention of mpox and smallpox. The company believes the new animal models will help researchers better understand emerging mpox variants, assess vaccine durability and protective efficacy, and advance efforts to address the ongoing global threat posed by the disease. The full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/ZlMkK.
Tonix Pharmaceuticals is a fully-integrated, commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on central nervous system (CNS) and immunology treatments in areas of high unmet medical need. TONMYA (cyclobenzaprine HCl sublingual tablets 2.8mg), the company’s recently approved flagship medicine, is the first new treatment for fibromyalgia in more than 15 years. Tonix’s CNS commercial infrastructure supports its marketed products, including its acute migraine products, Zembrace SymTouch and Tosymra. Tonix is maximizing the science behind TONMYA in Phase 2 clinical trials to evaluate its potential in major depressive disorder and acute stress disorder. In addition, the company’s CNS portfolio includes TNX-2900, which is Phase 2 ready for the treatment of Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare disease. Tonix is also advancing a pipeline of immunology programs, including monoclonal antibody TNX-4800 for Lyme disease prophylaxis and TNX-1500, a third-generation CD40 ligand inhibitor for the prevention of kidney transplant rejection.
This research is particularly important as the world continues to face threats from mpox and potential emerging variants. The development of effective vaccines and animal models is crucial for preparedness against future outbreaks. The new mouse models could accelerate the evaluation of TNX-801 and other countermeasures, potentially leading to faster regulatory approvals and deployment in public health emergencies. For more updates on Tonix Pharmaceuticals, visit the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/TNXP.
