RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. JV Presents Results Of Phase IIb/III (ARISE-1) Dry Eye Trial At Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology 2017

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQB: RGRX) ("the Company" or "RegeneRx"), a clinical-stage drug development company focused on tissue protection, repair and regeneration, announced that its joint venture, ReGenTree LLC, presented the results of its ARISE-1 Phase 2b/3 dry eye clinical trial in a poster session to physicians, scientists, and analysts today at the 2017 ARVO meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.    

As previously reported, the double-masked, placebo-controlled trial in 317 patients with dry eye syndrome demonstrated that after 28 days of treatment, RGN-259 was safe and significantly reduced ocular discomfort both during and after exposure to a controlled adverse environment (CAE®).  Ocular discomfort is a symptom of dry eye syndrome.  ReGenTree also reported that after 28 days of treatment RGN-259 significantly reduced total and inferior corneal fluorescein staining in a subgroup of subjects with compromised baseline tear film break-up time, which is a sign of dry eye syndrome.  Both symptom and sign improvements are typically required by FDA to obtain marketing approval of a pharmaceutical treatment for dry eye.

A second Phase 3 dry eye trial (ARISE-2) designed to reproduce the results seen in ARISE-1 is currently underway in the U.S. with over 500 patients.  The trial is expected to be completed by the fall of 2017.

About RGN-259 for the Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome

RGN-259 is a sterile, preservative-free topical eye drop for ophthalmic indications whose active ingredient is Thymosin beta 4 (T4). Based on U.S. Phase 2 and Phase 2b/3 clinical trials in moderate and severe dry eye syndrome, RGN-259 is safe and found to show statistically significant improvements in several signs and symptoms of dry eye, as well as positive trends in other outcome measures.  The data from these trials, as well as a previously completed clinical trial of RGN-259 in patients with NK, reflect RGN-259's mechanisms of action, support the "protective" effects of RGN-259, and provide FDA-approvable clinical endpoints to be targeted in these and any future clinical trials.  Dry eye syndrome is a multifactorial disease and it is well known that T4 can elicit a spectrum of therapeutic responses, including promotion of cell migration and proliferation, reduction of inflammation and acceleration of corneal epithelial growth and would represent a major step forward from current treatment options.

About RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.regenerx.com)

RegeneRx is focused on the development of novel therapeutic peptides, including Thymosin beta 4 (T4) and its constituent fragments, for tissue and organ protection, repair and regeneration. RegeneRx currently has three drug candidates in clinical development for ophthalmic, cardiac and dermal indications, three active strategic licensing agreements in the U.S., China, and Pan Asia (Korea, Japan, and Australia, among others), and has patents and patent applications covering its products in many countries throughout the world. RGN-259, the Company's T4-based ophthalmic drug candidate, has been designated an orphan drug in the U.S. for the treatment of neurotrophic keratopathy (NK). In March 2016, RegeneRx, through its U.S joint venture, ReGenTree LLC, completed a 317-patient Phase 2b/3 clinical trial in patients with dry eye syndrome. The dry eye trial results were announced in May 2016 and ReGenTree subsequently received permission from the U.S. FDA and has initiated a second Phase 3 trial in approximately 500 patients that is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2017. ReGenTree is simultaneously conducting a 46-patient Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with NK. RGN-259 is also being developed in patients with dry eye syndrome in Asia through RegeneRx's two Asian partnerships. RGN-352, the Company's T4-based injectable formulation, is a Phase 2-ready drug candidate designed to be administered systemically to prevent and repair cardiac damage resulting from heart attacks and central nervous system tissue damage associated disorders such as multiple sclerosis and traumatic injuries such as stroke. For additional information about RegeneRx please visit www.regenerx.com.

About ReGenTree LLC

ReGenTree is a U.S. joint venture company owned by GtreeBNT Co., Ltd, and RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. specifically to develop RGN-259 in the U.S. and Canada for ophthalmic indications.  ReGenTree licensed the rights to RGN-259 from RegeneRx in 2015.  While G-treeBNT is the majority owner of ReGenTree, RegeneRx retains a significant minority interest in the joint venture, in addition to a royalty on commercial sales, and is represented on the board of ReGenTree. Certain commercial and financial transactions require RegeneRx approval.  G-treeBNT is responsible for operations of the venture and all funding required for clinical development of RGN-259 in the U.S.  For additional information about ReGenTree, please visit www.regentreellc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made under the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements used in this press release relate to, among other things, the quality of clinical data, the activity of the active ingredient in our product candidates, and the expected timing of initiation and completion clinical trials in the United States and the potential benefits to RegeneRx of such trials. There can be no assurance that any proposed clinical trial will start within the estimated initiation timeframe or be completed within the estimated timeframe or that positive results from any clinical trials or research by the Company, its collaborators, or independent parties in the U.S. or any other country will result in subsequent clinical confirmation or future value. There can also be no assurance that any of the Company's drug candidates will result in any approved products in the U.S. or any other country. Please view these and other risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including those identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and subsequent quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q, as well as other filings it makes with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements in this press release represent the Company's views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update this information, as a result of future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/regenerx-jv-presents-results-of-phase-2b3-arise-1-dry-eye-trial-at-arvo-2017-300454170.html

SOURCE RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

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