SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Oct. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Titan
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTNP) and Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPNT) today announced a collaboration to explore
development of a novel approach to the prevention of opioid relapse and overdose in individuals with opioid use disorder. The
companies will conduct a feasibility assessment of a subcutaneous implant using Titan's proprietary ProNeura™ sustained release
technology to administer an opioid antagonist. A product that delivers non-fluctuating, therapeutic levels of an opioid
antagonist, continuously for up to 6 months, may be ideally suited for the prevention of opioid relapse and overdose.
Relapse and fatal overdose among those with opioid use disorder is significantly higher than any other type of drug addiction.
As many as 91 percent of those in recovery will experience a relapse. At least 59 percent of those who relapse do so within the
first week of sobriety, while 80 percent relapse within a month after discharging from a treatment and detox program.i
The risk of a fatal overdose is at its highest during a relapse. Even returning to a low dose of opioids after a period of
abstinence can result in an overdose for a long-term opioid user.ii
"Currently, the only FDA-approved opioid antagonist for relapse prevention is a monthly depot injection of naltrexone," said
Opiant CEO Roger Crystal, M.D. "A product with a six-month duration would allow patients to be
opioid-free for a longer period, providing a greater window for long-term recovery, and most critically, relapse and overdose
prevention. This six-month duration would mean that patients only have to make one good decision to initiate therapy, which is
important because the longer patients receive pharmacological treatment, the less likely they are to relapse and possibly
overdose."
"We are pleased to collaborate with Opiant on this important project to evaluate the addition of an opioid antagonist implant
to the armamentarium of products to treat opioid use disorder," said Titan President and CEO Sunil
Bhonsle. "Our knowledge from developing the FDA-approved Probuphine® (buprenorphine) implant for the maintenance treatment
of opioid addiction, coupled with the drug development expertise at both companies, should enable us to complete this evaluation
relatively rapidly and, hopefully, with a successful result."
Titan continues to explore opportunities to expand the use of its ProNeura long-term, continuous drug delivery platform, and
recently commenced a Phase 1/2 clinical study of a ropinirole implant for treating Parkinson's disease. An implantable
triiodothyronine (T3) product for the treatment of hypothyroidism is completing non-clinical development focused on formulation
optimization. Titan is also collaborating with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the Southwest Research Institute in
the early non-clinical evaluation of the implant drug delivery platform in malaria prophylaxis. Additional ProNeura feasibility
evaluations are ongoing in the area of chronic pain treatment with a peripherally acting Kappa opioid receptor agonist, and in
the treatment of type 2 diabetes with currently approved peptides.
Opiant is committed to innovation and product development in the addiction space. The company is developing additional
therapies for opioid use disorder, including advancing the pre-clinical development of its heroin vaccine candidate, which was
licensed in October 2016 from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the National Institute
on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The company's pipeline of nasal opioid antagonists also addresses both alcohol use and eating disorders.
Opiant continues to maintain an active presence in national organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and
Dr. Crystal was recently invited to testify before the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis.
About Titan Pharmaceuticals
Titan Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:TTNP), based in South San Francisco, CA, is
developing proprietary therapeutics primarily for the treatment of serious medical disorders. The company's lead product is
Probuphine®, a novel and long-acting formulation of buprenorphine and the first and only commercialized treatment of opioid
dependence approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to provide continuous, around-the-clock blood levels of
buprenorphine for six months following a single procedure. Probuphine employs Titan's proprietary drug delivery system ProNeura™,
which is capable of delivering sustained, consistent levels of medication for three months or longer. Titan has granted
commercial rights in the U.S. and Canada for Probuphine to Braeburn Pharmaceuticals. The
ProNeura technology has the potential to be used in developing products for treating other chronic conditions such as Parkinson's
disease and hypothyroidism, where maintaining consistent, around-the-clock blood levels of medication may benefit the patient and
improve medical outcomes. For more information about Titan, please visit www.titanpharm.com .
About Opiant Pharmaceuticals
Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing pharmacological treatments for
addictions. NIDA, a division of the NIH, describes these disorders as chronic relapsing brain diseases which burden society at
both the individual and community levels. With its innovative opioid antagonist nasal delivery technology, Opiant is positioned
to become a leader in these treatment markets. Its first product, NARCAN® Nasal Spray, is approved for marketing in the U.S. and
Canada by the company's partner, Adapt Pharma Operations Limited. For more information please
visit: www.opiant.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating
to our product development programs and any other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements involve risks and
uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from management's current expectations include those risks and uncertainties
relating to the commercialization of Probuphine, the regulatory approval process, the development, testing, production and
marketing of our drug candidates, patent and intellectual property matters and strategic agreements and relationships. We
expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements
contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any
such statement is based, except as required by law.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Sunil Bhonsle, President & CEO
(650) 244-4990
Media Contact:
Susan Thomas
(650) 989-2216
sthomas@titanpharm.com
Investor Contact:
Stephen Kilmer
(650) 989-2215
skilmer@titanpharm.com
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i Smyth, B. P., Barry, J., Keenan, E. & Ducray, K.
(2010). Lapse and relapse following inpatient treatment of opiate dependence. Irish Medical
Journal. 103(6),176–179.
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ii http://www.alcoholismdrugabuseweekly.com/m-article-detail/even-a-low-dose-of-opioids-after-a-short-period-of-abstinence-can-result-in-overdose.aspx
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SOURCE Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.