Virpax(R) Enters into an NIH Collaboration to Further Develop NES100 for Acute and Chronic Non-Cancer Pain

Announces CRADA with National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences

WEST CHESTER, PA / ACCESSWIRE / August 31, 2020 / Virpax^® Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Virpax”), a company specializing in developing pharmaceutical products for pain management, today announced that it has entered into a cooperative research and development agreement with the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), an institute/center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This collaboration is for the continued development of Virpax’s product candidate, NES100, an intranasal peptide, for the management of acute and chronic non-cancer pain.

NES100 is an enkephalin drug product based on a type of nanotechnology delivery approach. Enkephalin is a naturally occurring (endogenous) peptide that is not easily administered in its original form. We believe that the nanotechnology may enable and enhance the delivery of this metabolically labile peptide drug into the brain. NES100 is the first investigational product formulation delivered via the nasal route with the potential to enhance enkephalin transport to the brain. NES100 uses a preassembled device and cartridge to propel the enkephalin formulation through the nose to the brain by flowing along the olfactory nerve pathway. The Molecular Envelope Technology (MET) is designed to protect and help carry the drug to the brain with the goal of promptly suppressing pain by binding to the delta opioid receptors. NES100 has demonstrated analgesic potential in animal models without the development of opioid tolerance, withdrawal, respiratory depression, euphoria, or addiction associated with use of opioids.

Anthony P. Mack, Chairman and CEO of Virpax commented, “We are excited to announce this collaboration with NCATS and the NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative as we believe that it may help Virpax develop an effective and safe alternative to conventional opioids used by patients to manage acute and chronic pain. The study will be led by Dr. Jeffrey Gudin, principal investigator, and co-founder of Virpax. We believe that the NIH/NCATS collaborative agreement will enable our team to maintain momentum in both our pre-clinical and clinical development strategies.”

About Virpax Pharmaceuticals

Virpax Pharmaceuticals is focused on developing branded prescription products and providing more efficient drug treatments using its proprietary cutting-edge delivery technologies designed to satisfy unmet global market needs. Virpax’s pipeline consists of non-addictive products being studied to manage musculoskeletal pain, post-operative pain and moderate to severe chronic pain. While Virpax is a market leader in the development of non-addictive pain management products, Virpax is also using its patented delivery technologies to develop therapies to manage PTSD, treat post-traumatic headaches, and also a technology to help prevent viral spread, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2. For more information, please visit www.virpaxpharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are identified by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar words. These statements are only predictions. Virpax cautions readers that forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this news release and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, those associated with the timing of NES100 regulatory filings and clinical milestones and other risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s analysis only on their stated date, and Virpax takes no obligation to update or revise these statements except as may be required by law.

Contact

Shana Panzarella, Chief of Staff
Virpax Pharmaceuticals
484-880-4588
info@virpaxpharma.com

SOURCE: Virpax Pharmaceuticals

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