Erytech Conducts Phase I Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trial

Erytech Pharma has completed enrollment of patients in a Phase I clinical trial with its product for pancreatic cancer, Graspa.

This product contains the enzyme L-asparaginase encapsulated in red blood cells, using technology owned by Erytech. The first results in this study demonstrated that Graspa was active, with a safety profile that was satisfactory for patients in last-line therapy. Bases on this success, Erytech is expecting to forge ahead with the clinical development of Graspa for the treatment of pancreatic cancer in responder patients.

“Graspa showed good safety and tolerability in these particularly fragile patients, whereas other clinical studies have shown significant toxicity with forms of asparaginase. We had obtained the same results in leukemia; it is the first time in a solid tumor,” Yann Godfrin, MD, Erytech’s co-founder, vice president and chief scientific officer.

Published academic studies and Erytech’s own research on mice and on patient samples have shown that a subgroup of tumors is sensitive to the action of L-asparaginase. In order to select responders, Erytech is working with private-sector and academic partners with a view to fine-tuning a predictive test for the efficacy of encapsulated asparaginase.

Graspa has been granted orphan drug designation by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. It has also received this status in Europe and in the USA for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Erytech use of encapsulation technology opens up new cancer treatment possibilities, in which enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity are key elements in an improved prognosis and quality of life for patients.

Release Date: June 27 2011
Source: Erytech Pharma