For Immediate Release:
January 26, 2015
Traverse Biosciences Receives $205,709 Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Award in Partnership with the School of Dental Medicine at Stony Brook University
Funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) of the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) to Evaluate the Effectiveness of TRB-N0224 for the
Treatment of Periodontal Disease
Stony Brook, NY; January 26, 2015: Traverse Biosciences announced today that it has received a $205,709 Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award in partnership with the School of Dental Medicine at Stony Brook University. Funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the company’s lead drug candidate, TRB-N0224, for the treatment of periodontal disease. The research will be led by Lorne Golub, DMD, MD (Honorary) in the Department of Oral Biology and Pathology, and Ying Gu, PhD, DDS, in the Department of General Dentistry, who will serve as co-principle investigators on the award, in close collaboration with Traverse Biosciences.
Periodontal disease is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world, includes the major conditions of gingivitis and periodontitis, and is the primary cause of tooth loss in adults. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that the prevalence of periodontitis in U.S. adults aged 30 years and older is 47.2% (64.7M). Periodontal disease has also been associated with other chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and various cancers. Moreover, patients with periodontal disease experience a worse oral health-related quality of life, including functional limitation, psychological discomfort, and social disability. The annual cost of periodontal therapy has been estimated to exceed $14 billion in the U.S. alone.
Periodontal disease also impacts companion animals, including dogs, cats and horses. Canine periodontal disease affects approximately 80% of dogs by the age of three, with the highest incidence in smaller breeds and older animals. Periodontal disease in dogs leads to serious complications (halitosis, pain, gum damage, tooth loss, bone infection, jaw fracture, fistula), and can impair liver, kidney, cardiac and metabolic function. Advanced periodontal disease adversely affects quality of life and mortality, especially in older animals. Diagnosis and disease progression necessitates dental cleanings, periodontal procedures and tooth extractions, all performed under general anesthesia, which also carries significant health risks.
Joseph Scaduto, MS, MBA, Founder and CEO of Traverse Biosciences, stated, “We are working to successfully commercialize TRB-N0224 as an FDA-approved pharmaceutical intervention for the treatment of periodontal disease in both humans and companion animals, and we intend to aggressively pursue pre-clinical and clinical development to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of this lead drug candidate.”
TRB-N0224 was selected from a proprietary library of potential drug candidates invented by Dr. Golub and Dr. Francis Johnson, President of Chem-Master International Inc., as well as Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacological Sciences at Stony brook University. Traverse Biosciences maintains an option to license the relevant intellectual property from the Research Foundation for the State University of New York, with exclusive license negotiations currently underway.
Dr. Golub stated, “TRB-N0224 represents an innovative therapeutic approach which focuses on resolving the chronic inflammation associated with periodontal disease that ultimately leads to bone and tooth loss.” He added, “Our experienced research team is very pleased to partner with Traverse Biosciences to commercialize this unique technology with broad applications in veterinary medicine and human health.”
“I am very pleased that Traverse Biosciences has been able to attract the financial resources necessary to advance this highly collaborative research and development program,” said Dr. Johnson. “With this critical support from NIDCR, we can accelerate the commercialization of this platform technology for the treatment of periodontal disease, as well as a variety of other chronic inflammatory conditions.”
Dr. Gu commented, “I look forward to evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of TRB-N0224 to treat periodontal disease, and I am very pleased to work with Traverse Biosciences on this project.” She added, “It is exciting to work closely with a new venture to develop a promising biomedical technology invented here at Stony Brook University”
Dr. Maria Ryan, Chair of the Department of Oral Biology and Pathology, said, “As a co-inventor of Periostat® and Oracea®, which are already FDA-approved, Dr. Golub is well-positioned to partner with Traverse Biosciences to help drive TRB-N0224 towards market.” She added, “As a researcher, educator and practitioner, Dr. Gu also brings critical skills and an invaluable clinical perspective to this study.”
“The School of Dental Medicine has been a prolific source of innovation throughout its history, and I am proud to see this legacy continue with the invention of TRB-N0224 and the emerging partnership with Traverse Biosciences,” said Dr. Mary Truhlar, Dean of the Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. David Conover, Vice President for Research at Stony Brook University, stated, “The highly competitive STTR program provides crucial funding to emerging bioscience companies to pursue innovative research with the potential to impact human health and society.” He added, “We are very pleased to collaborate with Traverse Biosciences to commercialize TRB-N0224 for the treatment of periodontal disease in humans and companion animals.”
"I congratulate Traverse Biosciences on securing a second STTR award to advance their product development and commercialization efforts," stated Dr. Clinton Rubin, Director of the New York State Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University. He added, "STTR funding represents a significant milestone for graduates of our burgeoning BioEntrepreneur-in-Residence program, which is meant to impact the innovation economy and entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region."
About the Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine: The School of Dental Medicine at Stony Brook University was established in 1968 to define and shape the future as an international leader and innovator in dental education, patient care, research and service. Its mission is to advance oral and general health throughout the local and global community, through the continuous pursuit of excellence in education, patient care, discovery and leadership. Since its inception, the School of Dental Medicine has achieved an enviable reputation for the excellence of its educational and research programs. To learn more about the School of Dental Medicine, visit http://dentistry.stonybrookmedicine.edu/.
About the Center for Biotechnology: The mission of the Center for Biotechnology (CFB) is to catalyze the translation of basic biomedical sciences into diagnostic and therapeutic technologies that benefit human health and society, and fuel economic growth. Designated as a New York State Center for Advanced Technology (CAT) in Medical Biotechnology, the CFB was established in 1983 as a cooperative research and development partnership between universities, private industry and government. The primary objective of the CFB is to generate positive economic impact in the form of new and retained jobs, corporate revenues and cost savings, as well as leveraged funding from private and public sources, primarily by capitalizing on the unique research capabilities of academic institutions to drive and support a globally competitive, knowledge-based economy in New York State. To learn more, visit www.centerforbiotechnology.org.
About the Research Foundation for SUNY: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York is the largest, most comprehensive university-connected research foundation in the country. The RF manages SUNY’s research portfolio providing essential sponsored programs administration and innovation support services to SUNY faculty and students performing research in life sciences and medicine; engineering and nanotechnology; physical sciences and energy; social sciences, and computer and information sciences. The RF moves SUNY ideas and inventions to the marketplace collaborating with business and industry to create new opportunity and new jobs for New York State. To learn more about the RF, visit www.rfsuny.org.
About Traverse Biosciences: Traverse Biosciences is a privately-held emerging bioscience company launched to commercialize a proprietary pipeline of drug candidates to treat inflammatory diseases and age-related conditions affecting humans and companion animals. The company’s lead compound, TRB-N0224, is envisioned as the first FDA-approved, once-daily, edible prescription medication for the prevention of canine periodontal disease. For more information, Follow Traverse Biosciences on LinkedIn, or visit www.traversebiosciences.com. 
