SIGA Technologies, Inc., a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the health security market, today announced that it entered into a collaboration with Turnstone Biologics to provide TPOXX® (tecovirimat) in connection with Turnstone’s proprietary SKV vaccinia oncolytic immunotherapy platform. The platform utilizes vaccinia viruses engineered for increased selectivity and safety, as well as high-potency immune stimulation, and allows delivery of multiple therapeutic agents directly to tumors. The collaboration will provide Turnstone with access to SIGA’s TPOXX oral antiviral capsules for use if required in future clinical programs.
In preclinical studies, TPOXX has been shown to be active against most orthopoxviruses, including vaccinia. The unique mechanism of action of TPOXX coupled with published efficacy in animal studies, make it an important addition to development programs focused on vaccinia-based cancer therapies.
On July 13, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved oral TPOXX for the treatment of smallpox to mitigate the impact of a potential outbreak or bioterror attack. TPOXX is the only FDA-approved treatment of smallpox.
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