Phyton Biotech Achieves Manufacturing Milestone with Thapsigargin, the Active Agent in Mipsagargin

Phyton Testing Laboratory

AHRENSBURG, Germany–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Phyton Biotech today announced that it has achieved a major milestone in connection with the manufacture of thapsigargin, an inhibitor derived from the Thapsia plant that is the active agent for the investigational prodrug mipsagargin. This milestone signifies the advancement in Phyton’s Plant Cell Fermentation (PCF®) development program that now has begun to define the process by which the Thapsia plant is converted into a preserved, fermentable cell line, thus providing a more sustainable source of high-quality thapsigargin.

Phyton is converting the Thapsia plant into thapsigargin in partnership with Inspyr Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: NSPX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that has a patented technology platform utilizing thapsigargin for its prodrug delivery system, mipsagargin.

“A controlled cell culture-based production process potentially enables Inspyr to secure a high quality, scalable supply of thapsigargin,” said Russell Richerson, Ph.D., COO at Inspyr Therapeutics.

“We enjoy working with an innovative partner like Inspyr in its development of new treatment options,” said Dr. Gilbert Gorr, Chief Scientific Officer at Phyton Biotech. “We are all very pleased with the results achieved with our PFC manufacturing process so far in both developing cell lines of Thapsia garganica capable of producing thapsigargin, as well as with the added ability to generate high-producing cell lines that grow in liquid culture, which can be further refined and used for process development and scale-up.”

About Phyton

Phyton Biotech is the pioneer in Plant Cell Fermentation (PCF®) for the development and manufacture of plant-based active ingredients and other complex molecules. Phyton Biotech’s development services business is focused on harnessing plant-derived natural actives and products for use in the pharmaceutical field (APIs) as well as in food ingredients, cosmetic and agricultural industries. Utilizing a proprietary PCF® platform technology, Phyton offers a time, risk, and cost balanced path to commercially viable production processes, resulting in the addition of sustainability, reliability, quality and scalability to the supply chain. Phyton’s unique capabilities address the entire development chain, including selection and sourcing of plant material, cell line development, process development, down-stream development, chemical processing, scale-up and commercial production up to 75,000 liters. Phyton is also the world’s largest commercial provider of high quality paclitaxel and docetaxel API via PCF® to a global customer base of sterile injectable manufacturers. The company has GMP facilities in Ahrensburg, Germany and Vancouver, Canada.

About Inspyr Therapeutics

Inspyr Therapeutics, Inc. is developing a novel technology platform that combines a powerful cytotoxin (thapsigargin) with a patented prodrug delivery system that targets the release of drugs within solid tumors without the side effects of chemotherapeutic agents. Mipsagargin, its lead drug candidate, has been studied in a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) and has been granted Orphan Drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in this indication. Mipsagargin is being evaluated in other therapeutic areas within oncology. For additional information on Inspyr Therapeutics, visit www.inspyrtx.com.

Contacts

Phyton Biotech
Dr. Gilbert Gorr, +49-4102-4906-47
or
Inspyr Therapeutics, Inc.
Linda Coker, 210-479-8112

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