Oragenics Names William "Frank" Peacock MD Chief Clinical Officer

Oragenics, Inc., a company dedicated to developing innovative intranasal pharmaceuticals for neurological disorders, has announced the appointment of Dr. William “Frank” Peacock as its Chief Clinical Officer. Dr. Peacock will lead the company's forthcoming Phase II clinical trial aimed at treating concussions in emergency departments. The trial will focus on Oragenics' leading drug candidate, ONP-002, which is administered intranasally to treat mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI), commonly known as concussions.

ONP-002 is a new chemical entity designed to target the brain directly via the nasal cavity. A Phase I study involving 40 patients has already been completed, demonstrating that ONP-002 is safe and well-tolerated. Dr. Peacock, who currently serves as Vice Chair for Emergency Medicine Research at Baylor College of Medicine, has extensive experience in emergency medicine and concussion research. He has played a significant role in the approval of high sensitivity blood troponins for acute coronary syndrome failure in emergency settings and is the editor of “Biomarkers of Traumatic Brain Injury.”

Dr. Peacock also leads a trial investigating blood biomarkers for concussion identification in emergency settings. These biomarkers are critical not only for diagnosing concussions but also for predicting their severity and potential long-term complications. His extensive background and expertise make him an ideal candidate to oversee Oragenics' upcoming clinical trials.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Dr. Peacock stated, “I am excited to join Oragenics at such an important time in the company's clinical program. My involvement with concussion care in emergency departments over the past 30 years has highlighted the need for biomarkers to trigger treatment. I look forward to testing ONP-002 to see if it can improve patient outcomes in our Phase II clinical trials.”

Michael Redmond, President of Oragenics, expressed confidence in Dr. Peacock's abilities, stating, “We are fortunate to have such a renowned emergency medicine physician and researcher join our team. His understanding of blood biomarkers and emergency medicine protocols, along with his connections to leading TBI clinical research centers, will be invaluable for the success of Oragenics and our planned Phase II trials.”

Preclinical animal models have shown that ONP-002 can significantly improve molecular and behavioral outcomes following brain injury. Additionally, the intranasal delivery of the drug has been shown to enhance brain exposure and metabolism in animal studies. “Our Phase I human study has demonstrated that ONP-002 is well tolerated in humans. The Phase II trial aims to establish the timing for the first dose, the relationship between drug application and blood biomarker levels, and to evaluate patient symptom severity in the hours and days following injury,” said Dr. Peacock.

Concussion remains a significant unmet medical need, with approximately 69 million cases reported worldwide annually. Common causes include falls, motor vehicle accidents, and contact sports. Concussions have been linked to other neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Post-concussion syndrome, which can lead to long-term disability, affects up to 20% of concussed patients.

Oragenics is a development-stage biotechnology company focused on nasal delivery of pharmaceuticals to treat neurological disorders and infectious diseases. Their drug candidates include treatments for mild traumatic brain injury and Niemann Pick Disease Type C (NPC), utilizing proprietary powder formulations and an intranasal delivery device.