LYON, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 7, 2017--
Regulatory News:
ERYTECH Pharma (Paris:ERYP) (ADR:EYRYY), a French
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies
for rare forms of cancer and orphan diseases based on its proprietary
ERYCAPS platform, encapsulating therapeutic drug substances inside red
blood cells, today announced the presentation of encouraging preclinical
data supporting the Company’s ERYMMUNE program at two upcoming
immunotherapy medical meetings, World
ADOPT Summit 2017 and 10th
Symposium of Vaccinology. The World ADOPT Summit 2017 is
being held March 7-9, 2017 at the Cavendish Conference Centre in London,
U.K., and the 10th Symposium of Vaccinology is
being held March 20-21, 2017 at the Université Lumière Lyon II in Lyon,
France. In conjunction with the Symposium of Vaccinology, ERYTECH will
also share the results with the members of the French Society of
Immunology.
Dr. Alexander Scheer, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of ERYTECH,
commented, “Results of this study are very encouraging because they
show proof of concept that our ERYMMUNE red blood cell-based immune
therapy technology significantly delays growth of tumors treated when
key tumor antigens are encapsulated. The ERYMMUNE platform leverages the
biological mechanism of stimulating cancer-killing cytotoxic CD4 and CD8
T-cells specific to tumor-associated antigens encapsulated in red blood
cells. These data support the therapeutic strategy of using red blood
cells as carriers to induce efficient and antigen-specific immune
response for effective cancer immunotherapy, suggesting that this
platform has immense potential in cancer immunotherapy and provides
solid foundation for further investigation into the clinical benefit of
this approach.”
The ERYMMUNE platform uses the unique physiological mechanism of red
blood cells (RBC) trafficking to stimulate cytotoxic T-cells specific to
RBC-entrapped tumor-associated antigens. The platform artificially ages
red blood cells and targets the majority of them to the spleen, where
they undergo erythrophagocytosis and present their encapsulated peptides
to Antigen Presenting Cells (APC), thus activating CD4/CD8 T-cells. This
versatile technology enables the encapsulation of single- or
multi-epitope antigens.
The posters, titled “Erythrocytes used as tumor antigen delivery
system to target antigen-presenting cells embodies an innovative
approach for in situ cancer immunotherapy” (presented at the World
ADOPT Summit on March 8th, 2017 at 2:40-3:40pm GMT) and
“Therapeutic vaccine using erythrocytes: innovative approach to target
antigen-presenting cells for in situ cancer immunotherapy” (presented
at the 10th Symposium of Vaccinology on March 20th
and 21st, 2017 at 1:00-2:00pm CET) will present data from
ERYTECH’s preclinical study on the ERYMMUNE technology.
This experimental study entrapped key tumor antigens, including
ovalbumin protein, tyrosinase-related protein 2 peptide (TRP2, a
melanoma tumor antigen) and prostate specific antigen (PSA), in
erythrocytes (red blood cells) and coated the cells with anti-TER 119
antibodies. These encapsulated red blood cells were then injected into
mouse models. Results demonstrated a strong cytotoxic T-cell response
with ovalbumin protein and TRP2 peptide, showing in vivo target cell
lysis of 97% and 96%, respectively, as compared to the control group,
free tumor antigen (non-encapsulated), which induced less than 5% of
lysis. Findings also showed elevated levels of IFNγ-secreting CD8
T-cells in tumors treated with TRP2 peptide and PSA protein entrapped
erythrocytes.
About ERYTECH and eryaspase (GRASPA®): www.erytech.com
Founded in Lyon, France in 2004, ERYTECH is a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for rare forms
of cancer and orphan diseases. Leveraging its proprietary ERYCAPS
platform, which uses a novel technology to encapsulate therapeutic drug
substances inside red blood cells, ERYTECH has developed a pipeline of
product candidates targeting markets with high unmet medical needs.
ERYTECH’s initial focus is on the treatment of blood cancers, including
acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), by
depriving tumors of nutrients necessary for their survival. ERYTECH
plans to pursue regulatory approvals for its lead product candidate,
eryaspase, also known as ERY-ASP or under the trade name GRASPA®, having
achieved positive efficacy and safety results from its completed Phase
2/3 pivotal clinical trial in Europe in children and adults with
relapsed or refractory ALL. ERYTECH also has an ongoing Phase 1 clinical
trial of eryaspase in the United States in adults with newly diagnosed
ALL, and a Phase 2b clinical trial in Europe in elderly patients with
newly diagnosed AML, each in combination with chemotherapy. ERYTECH
believes that eryaspase also has the potential as a treatment approach
in solid tumors and is conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial in Europe in
patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Eryaspase consists of an enzyme, L-asparaginase, encapsulated inside
donor-derived red blood cells. L-asparaginase depletes asparagine, a
naturally occurring amino acid essential for the survival and
proliferation of cancer cells, from circulating blood plasma. ERYTECH
produces eryaspase at its own GMP-approved and operational manufacturing
site in Lyon (France), and at a site for clinical production in
Philadelphia (USA). ERYTECH has entered into licensing and distribution
partnership agreements for eryaspase for ALL and AML in Europe with
Orphan Europe (Recordati Group), and for ALL in Israel with TEVA, which
will market the product under the GRASPA® brand name. The European
Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
have granted orphan drug designations for eryaspase for the treatment of
ALL, AML and pancreatic cancer.
In addition to eryaspase, ERYTECH is developing two other product
candidates that focus on using encapsulated enzymes to induce tumor
starvation. The company is also exploring the use of its ERYCAPS
platform for developing cancer immunotherapies and enzyme replacement
therapies.
ERYTECH is listed on Euronext regulated market in Paris (ISIN code:
FR0011471135, ticker: ERYP) and is part of the CAC Healthcare, CAC
Pharma & Bio, CAC Mid & Small, CAC All Tradable, EnterNext PEA-PME 150
and Next Biotech indexes. ERYTECH is also listed in the U.S. under an
ADR level 1 program (OTC, ticker EYRYY).
Forward-looking information
This press release contains forward-looking statements, forecasts and
estimates with respect to the clinical development plans, business and
regulatory strategy, and anticipated future performance of ERYTECH and
of the market in which it operates. Certain of these statements,
forecasts and estimates can be recognized by the use of words such as,
without limitation, “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”,
“plans”, “seeks”, “estimates”, “may”, “will” and “continue” and similar
expressions. They include all matters that are not historical facts.
Such statements, forecasts and estimates are based on various
assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors, which were deemed reasonable when made but may or may
not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict and may
depend upon factors that are beyond ERYTECH's control. There can be no
guarantees with respect to pipeline product candidates that the
candidates will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they
will prove to be commercially successful. Therefore, actual results may
turn out to be materially different from the anticipated future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements,
forecasts and estimates. Documents filed by ERYTECH Pharma with the
French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (www.amf-france.org),
also available on ERYTECH’s website (www.erytech.com)
describe such risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, no
representations are made as to the accuracy or fairness of such
forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates. Furthermore,
forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates only speak as of the
date of this press release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. ERYTECH disclaims
any obligation to update any such forward-looking statement, forecast or
estimates to reflect any change in ERYTECH’s expectations with regard
thereto, or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which
any such statement, forecast or estimate is based, except to the extent
required by law.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170307005874/en/
Source: ERYTECH Pharma
ERYTECH
Gil Beyen
Chairman and CEO
Eric
Soyer
CFO and COO
+33 4 78 74 44 38
investors@erytech.com
or
The
Ruth Group
Lee Roth, +1 646 536 7012
Investor
relations
lroth@theruthgroup.com
or
Kirsten
Thomas, +1 508 280 6592
Media relations
kthomas@theruthgroup.com
or
NewCap
Julien
Perez
Investor relations
Nicolas Merigeau
Media
relations
+33 1 44 71 98 52
erytech@newcap.eu