Orexo AB has announced that its US subsidiary, Orexo US, Inc., has secured an $8 million funding award from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the US Department of Health and Human Services. This funding will facilitate the development of OX390, an intranasal rescue medication aimed at addressing the escalating crisis of opioid overdoses caused by adulterated substances.
The funding is structured in five stages, potentially reaching up to $50.9 million contingent upon the achievement of specific milestones. This financial support will enable Orexo to conduct essential non-clinical toxicology studies, human clinical trials, and regulatory filings for a formulation of OX390 designed for community use. OX390 represents a novel approach to reversing respiratory depression associated with opioid overdoses, utilizing Orexo’s proprietary AmorphOX® technology, which has demonstrated efficacy in previous clinical studies.
Nikolaj Sørensen, President and CEO of Orexo AB, emphasized the urgent need for innovative treatment options to combat the opioid epidemic, particularly as new lethal adulterants emerge. Edward Kim, Chief Medical Officer of Orexo US, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the challenges faced by emergency responders in dealing with increasingly complex overdose scenarios. The project is partially funded by federal resources, underscoring the collaborative effort to develop effective medical countermeasures in response to the ongoing opioid crisis.
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