SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO — Vistagen Therapeutics (VTGN), an $81.58 million market cap clinical neuroscience company, announced encouraging results from a Phase 2A study of its investigational product, PH284 Nasal Spray, aimed at treating cachexia in cancer patients. According to InvestingPro according to the data, the company maintains a strong balance sheet with more cash than debt, although it is currently operating at a loss with an EBITDA of -$45.47 million. Cachexia, a complex syndrome that leads to significant weight and muscle loss, is prevalent in patients with advanced cancer and other chronic diseases.
The study, which included 40 patients with terminal cancer-induced cachexia, showed that PH284 led to a significant increase in subjective feelings of hunger compared to placebo. Notably, on the seventh day of treatment, patients using PH284 reported a 71% improvement in hunger compared to baseline, while those on placebo saw less than a 1% increase.
The safety and tolerability of PH284 was also highlighted, showing an adverse event profile comparable to placebo, with no serious adverse events reported. The study’s findings suggest that PH284 could potentially improve the quality of life of patients suffering from cachexia by increasing their appetite, which is critical for maintaining strength and the effectiveness of treatments such as chemotherapy.
PH284 is the fifth ferrin product candidate in Vistagen’s neuroscience pipeline, each showing positive clinical data and placebo-like tolerability. The company, based in South San Francisco, is focused on developing treatments that use the nose-to-brain neurocircuitry without the need for systemic absorption.
A research study conducted in 2005 was sponsored by Pherin Pharmaceuticals, now a subsidiary of Vistagen, and was conducted at the National Institute of Oncology and the National Institute of Nutrition in Mexico City. After Vistagen acquired Pherin in February 2023, the company gained access to the results of the study.
As Vistagen evaluates a potential path forward for PH284, including the necessary studies to support a US investigational new drug application, the company remains committed to addressing unmet needs in a variety of disorders through its innovative neuroscience pipeline.
This article is based on Vistagen’s press release and aims to present the study’s findings in a factual and unbiased manner.
In other recent news, VistaGen Therapeutics (NASDAQ: a loss of 13 million dollars. VistaGen’s cash reserve is $97.6 million.
Stifel, a financial services company, highlighted the company’s progress in Phase III clinical trials of fasadienol, a drug candidate for social anxiety disorder. The trials, known as PAL-3 and PAL-4, are enrolling participants at a satisfactory pace, with peak data expected in the second half of fiscal 2025.
Stifel reiterated its Buy rating on shares of VistaGen, maintaining a stable price target of $12.00. The company’s optimism is based in part on the mixed historical development of fasadienol, with one trial failing and another succeeding.
Furthermore, VistaGen is preparing for a Phase 2b trial for another product candidate, itruvone, and a US IND filing for PH80, aimed at treating menopausal hot flashes. The company also plans to file a new drug application for fasadienol in early 2026. These are some of the recent developments at VistaGen Therapeutics.
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