Genoscience Pharma receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation for ezurpimtrostat to treat HepatoCellular Carcinoma (HCC)

Genoscience Pharma, a clinical-stage biotech company developing unique lysosomotropic drug candidates for the treatment of cancer, fibrosis and auto-immune diseases through autophagy modulation, today announces that its lead candidate, ezurpimtrostat, a PPT-1 (Palmitoyl Protein Thioesterase-1) inhibitor, has been granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of HepatoCellular Carcinoma (HCC). This is an important milestone in the development of ezurpimtrostat, as well as for patients. ODD qualifies ezurpimtrostat for a potential seven years of market exclusivity after approval.

The FDA’s ODD program provides orphan status to drugs and biologics intended for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of a rare disease or condition; those affecting less than 200,000 people in the US. 35,563 new cases of primary liver cancer were reported in 2019 and 27,958 people died. Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer-related death. Without treatment, HCC is rapidly fatal. In the disease’s untreated progression, the median survival time for patients with advanced HCC ranges from four to eight months. The approved combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab has more than doubled this life expectancy and improved the patient-reported outcome. However, progression-free survival remains short and new treatment options are needed.

Ezurpimtrostat (GNS561) is a first-in-class, first-in-human autophagy inhibitor whose anticancer activity is linked to PPT-1 inhibition. It displayed high liver tropism and potent anti-tumor activity against a panel of human cancer cell lines and in HCC in vivo models – alone and in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Recent investigations show that autophagy inhibitors in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors provide opportunities for enhancing anti-tumor activity. Preliminary data from a phase 1b trial on primary and secondary liver tumors has confirmed that administration of ezurpimtrostat as a monotherapy is both feasible and well tolerated.

The drug candidate is currently being trialed, as a first-line treatment in combination with an anti-PDL1 and an anti-angiogenic, in ABE-Liver, a phase 2b clinical trial sponsored by Grenoble University Hospital (France), which will enroll up to 196 patients.

“FDA Orphan Drug Designation is a significant milestone for both Genoscience and for our product, ezurpimtrostat. It recognizes that our treatment has the potential to improve the lives of individuals living with HCC,” said Professor Philippe Halfon, CEO of Genoscience Pharma. “We have recently launched our phase 2b clinical trial using ezurpimtrostat in conjunction with the standard atezolizumab/bevacizumab treatment. We are looking forward to sharing the intermediate results in 2024.”