SIGA Announces Collaboration with Turnstone Biologics

SIGA to supply TPOXX To Support Turnstone’s SKV Vaccinia Oncolytic Viral Immunotherapy Program

NEW YORK, March 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SIGA Technologies, Inc. (SIGA) (NASDAQ: SIGA), 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.

“TPOXX has potential as a new tool to support the adoption of oncolytic vaccinia virus immunotherapies, including those being developed by Turnstone,” said Dr. Phil Gomez, CEO of SIGA. “The availability of a potent antiviral drug against vaccinia provides additional assurance to patients receiving these promising investigational therapies, their physicians, and regulators. We are pleased to enter into this collaboration with Turnstone Biologics, a leading innovator of next-generation oncolytic viral therapies.” 

Mike Burgess, Ph.D., President, Research and Development at Turnstone added, “For nearly a century, viruses have been used as the backbone for prophylactic vaccines that have saved more lives than any other medical innovation in human history. Turnstone is harnessing the inherent immune-stimulating properties of viruses to create novel cancer therapies. As part of our responsible stewardship of this biologic product, we are pleased to partner with SIGA to make TPOXX available if needed in clinical trials.”

In preclinical studies, TPOXX has been shown to be active against most orthopoxviruses, including vaccinia (published in NEJM, 2018¹). 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.

ABOUT SIGA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. and TPOXX

SIGA Technologies, Inc. is a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the health security market. Health security comprises countermeasures for biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear attacks (biodefense market), vaccines and therapies for emerging infectious diseases, and health preparedness. Our lead product is TPOXX, also known as tecovirimat and ST-246, an orally administered and IV formulation antiviral drug for the treatment of human smallpox disease caused by variola virus. TPOXX is a novel small-molecule drug of which 2 million oral courses have been delivered to the Strategic National Stockpile under Project BioShield. The oral formulation of TPOXX was approved by the FDA for the treatment of smallpox on July 13, 2018. In September 2018, SIGA signed a new contract with Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for additional procurement and development related to both oral and intravenous formulations of TPOXX. For more information about SIGA, please visit www.siga.com