Intec Pharma

Intec Pharma Ltd. was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, founded in October 2000 by Zvi Joseph, that centered its operations on a proprietary drug delivery platform. The firm was established in Jerusalem and focused on developing treatments based on its Accordion Pill technology. A significant event in the company's history was the pivotal Phase 3 trial for its lead product candidate, the Accordion Pill-Carbidopa/Levodopa (AP-CD/LD), aimed at treating symptoms in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. However, in July 2019, the company announced that this trial did not meet its primary endpoint, failing to show a statistically significant superiority over standard immediate-release therapy.

The company's business model revolved around leveraging its Accordion Pill platform to improve the efficacy and safety of existing and developing drugs. This technology was designed as an oral drug delivery system with efficient gastric retention and a specific release mechanism. The Accordion Pill consists of biodegradable polymeric films folded into an accordion shape within a standard capsule. Once in the stomach, the capsule dissolves, allowing the folded films to unfold and remain in the stomach for up to twelve hours, continuously releasing the active drug in the upper gastrointestinal tract for better absorption. This aimed to provide more stable drug plasma levels, a particular challenge for medications that require frequent dosing. Beyond its lead Parkinson's candidate, Intec's pipeline included AP-cannabinoids for pain management. The company's strategy also involved collaborations, such as a partnership with LTS to manufacture the AP-CD/LD for its clinical trials and a feasibility agreement with Novartis for a custom-designed Accordion Pill.

Following the disappointing results of the Phase 3 trial, Intec Pharma shifted its corporate direction. In March 2021, the company announced a definitive merger agreement with Decoy Biosystems, a preclinical-stage biotechnology firm focused on immunotherapy. The transaction was completed in August 2021, resulting in the formation of Indaptus Therapeutics, Inc. This reverse merger marked a strategic pivot from drug delivery to immuno-oncology, with the new entity advancing Decoy's platform for treating various tumors and chronic viral infections. As part of the merger conditions, Intec effected a 1-for-4 reverse share split, and the combined company began trading on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "INDP". The original Intec Pharma shareholders retained approximately 34.4% of the newly formed company.

Keywords: Intec Pharma, Accordion Pill, drug delivery system, gastric retention, Carbidopa/Levodopa, Parkinson's disease treatment, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical, oral drug delivery, biodegradable polymeric films, controlled release, Zvi Joseph, Indaptus Therapeutics, Decoy Biosystems, reverse merger, immuno-oncology, AP-CD/LD, pharmaceutical technology