• PRV-101 continued to be well tolerated and elicited durable high titers of virus-neutralizing antibodies in a dose-dependent fashion in healthy volunteers

Tampere, Finland – Vactech Oy (Vactech), a biotechnology company focused on development of vaccines against Type 1 Diabetes and other immune-mediated diseases, announced today that as a result of a strategic partnership between Vactech and Provention Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRVB), positive results from the final analysis of its First-In-Human study of PRV-101 were achieved. PRV-101 is a polyvalent inactivated coxsackievirus B (CVB) vaccine candidate targeting all key CVB strains associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D) autoimmunity. Provention is developing PRV-101 for the prevention of acute CVB infection and its complications, as well as for the potential delay or prevention of associated autoimmune disorders T1D and Celiac Disease.

In this final analysis, 6 months following the last dose of the vaccine, PRV-101 met the primary endpoint confirming the tolerability observed in the previously reported interim analysis, with no Treatment-Emergent Serious Adverse Events, Adverse Events of special interest, or Adverse Events leading to study drug discontinuation or study withdrawal.

The results also showed durability of viral neutralizing antibody (VNT) responses. At this 6-month post-final dosing time point, the percentages of subjects in the high-dose PRV-101 arm who maintained high titers of VNT were 100% for the majority of serotypes included in the vaccine and no less than 90% for all.

PRV-101, developed by Provention using patents, technology and know-how licensed from Vactech, is designed to prevent acute CVB infections and, in individuals at increased risk due to genetic susceptibility, to prevent CVB-triggered autoimmune damage to pancreatic beta cells that often progresses to T1D and damage to intestinal cells that may lead to Celiac Disease.

This trial is a Phase 1 placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized First-In-Human study conducted at the Clinical Research Services Turku - CRST Oy, a clinical trial unit in Turku, Finland. The study's primary endpoint was the safety of two dose levels of PRV-101 in healthy adult volunteers provided three administrations with 4-week intervals. Tolerability and immunogenicity were also evaluated.

“This is an important milestone in the development of the vaccine as it tells that we are going to the right direction. These results support the next stages of the development,” said Heikki Hyöty, PhD, professor of virology at Tampere University and scientific co-founder of Vactech Oy.

"These final results from this First-In-Human trial of PRV-101 are extremely encouraging," said Francisco Leon, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer and co-founder of Provention Bio. "We appreciate all of our collaborators and partners on this program who enabled PRV-101 to take a significant stride forward to producing clinical data to demonstrate its potential to be the first vaccine to prevent CVB and ultimately decrease the global incidence of T1D and celiac disease. We look forward to potentially partnering to advance this program in the future."

About Coxsackievirus B (CVB) Infection and Immunity

CVB is a common, potentially serious infection that damages insulin-producing cells and gut-lining cells, triggering a T-cell immune response that is believed to cause autoimmunity in predisposed individuals. The only persistent infection significantly associated with the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and celiac autoimmunity, CVB has been found in the pancreas of about 60% of patients with T1D and the gut of about 20% of patients with celiac disease.

About PRV-101

PRV-101 is an investigational polyvalent vaccine being developed for the prevention of acute coxsackievirus B (CVB) infection and the potential delay or prevention of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and celiac disease. It is specifically designed to prevent autoimmunity by the primary prevention of a putative infectious trigger. PRV-101 has the potential to be the first vaccine to prevent CVB as well as up to about 50% of T1D and about 20% of celiac disease.

About Vactech Oy (Ltd.)

Vactech develops and licenses vaccines and novel technologies for vaccines and diagnostics with a pipeline of early-stage product candidates focused on Type 1 Diabetes, Celiac Disease, Asthma & Allergy and diagnostics. Vactech is a privately owned company having a track record of collaboration with both industrial and academic partners. Vactech is engaged in a strategic partnership with Provention Bio, Inc. especially in the field of PRV-101.

For additional information on Vactech Oy, please, visit www.vactech.fi or contact:

Raimo Harju, CEO

About Provention Bio, Inc.

Provention Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRVB) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing the development of investigational therapies that may intercept and prevent debilitating and life-threatening immune-mediated disease. The Company's pipeline includes clinical-stage product candidates that have demonstrated in pre-clinical or clinical studies proof-of-mechanism and/or proof-of-concept in autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes, celiac disease and lupus. Visit www.ProventionBio.com for more information and follow us on Twitter: @ProventionBio.

• Prev
• Next