Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: FENC; TSX: FRX), a specialty
pharmaceutical company, today announced that Norgine
Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a leading European specialist pharmaceutical
company, has commercially launched PEDMARQSI (sodium
thiosulfate injection) in Germany.
In March 2024, Fennec entered into an exclusive
licensing agreement under which Norgine will
commercialize PEDMARQSI® in Europe, Australia
and New Zealand. Under the terms of the previously announced
exclusive licensing agreement with Norgine, Fennec received
approximately $43 million in an upfront payment and will receive up
to approximately $230 million in additional commercial and
regulatory milestone payments along with double-digit tiered
royalties on net sales of PEDMARQSI starting in the mid-teens and
growing to the mid-twenties.
“Until now, there have been no pharmacological
interventions available to cancer patients in Germany to prevent
ototoxicity, or permanent hearing loss, caused by treatment with
cisplatin,” said Jeff Hackman, chief executive officer of Fennec
Pharmaceuticals. “We congratulate Norgine on making PEDMARQSI®
available to patients and healthcare providers in Germany and look
forward to future launches in other major European markets.”
The data from two open-label, randomized Phase 3
trials, SIOPEL 6 (pivotal) and the Clinical Oncology Group (COG)
Protocol ACCL0431, demonstrated an approximate 50% reduction in the
occurrence of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in patients treated
with cisplatin and sodium thiosulfate vs. those treated with
cisplatin alone.
PEDMARQSI is the first and only approved
therapy in the EU and U.K. for the prevention of ototoxicity, or
hearing loss, induced by cisplatin chemotherapy in patients 1 month
to <18 years of age with localized, non-metastatic solid tumors.
PEDMARQSI was granted marketing authorization by the European
Commission in June 2023 under the paediatric-use marketing
authorization (PUMA), which includes 8 years plus 2 years of data
and market protection.
About Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity
Cisplatin and other platinum compounds are
essential chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of many
pediatric malignancies. Unfortunately, platinum-based therapies can
cause ototoxicity, or hearing loss, which is permanent,
irreversible, and particularly harmful to the survivors of
pediatric cancer.i
The incidence of ototoxicity depends upon the
dose and duration of chemotherapy, and many of these children
require lifelong hearing aids or cochlear implants, which can be
helpful for some, but do not reverse the hearing loss and can be
costly over time.ii Infants and young children that are affected by
ototoxicity at critical stages of development lack speech and
language development and literacy, and older children and
adolescents often lack social-emotional development and educational
achievement.iii
PEDMARK® (sodium
thiosulfate injection)PEDMARK® is the first and only U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapy indicated to
reduce the risk of ototoxicity associated with cisplatin treatment
in pediatric patients with localized, non-metastatic, solid tumors.
PEDMARK is also recommended for the Adolescent and Young Adult
(AYA) population by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® as a
preventative treatment option to reduce hearing loss associated
with platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with localized,
non-metastatic tumors. PEDMARK is a unique formulation of sodium
thiosulfate in single-dose, ready-to-use vials for intravenous use
in pediatric patients. PEDMARK is also the first and only
therapeutic agent with proven efficacy and safety data with an
established dosing regimen, across two open-label, randomized Phase
3 clinical studies, the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Protocol
ACCL0431 and SIOPEL 6.
In the U.S. and Europe, it is estimated that,
annually, more than 10,000 children may receive platinum-based
chemotherapy. The incidence of ototoxicity depends upon the dose
and duration of chemotherapy, and many of these children require
lifelong hearing aids. There is currently no established preventive
agent for this hearing loss and only expensive, technically
difficult, and sub-optimal cochlear (inner ear) implants have been
shown to provide some benefit. Infants and young children that
suffer ototoxicity at critical stages of development lack speech
language development and literacy, and older children and
adolescents lack social-emotional development and educational
achievement.
PEDMARK has been studied by co-operative groups
in two Phase 3 clinical studies of survival and reduction of
ototoxicity, COG ACCL0431 and SIOPEL 6. Both studies have been
completed. The COG ACCL0431 protocol enrolled childhood cancers
typically treated with intensive cisplatin therapy for localized
and disseminated disease, including newly diagnosed hepatoblastoma,
germ cell tumor, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, and
other solid tumors. SIOPEL 6 enrolled only hepatoblastoma patients
with localized tumors.
Indications and UsagePEDMARK®
(sodium thiosulfate injection) is indicated to reduce the risk of
ototoxicity associated with cisplatin in pediatric patients 1 month
of age and older with localized, non-metastatic solid tumors.
Limitations of UseThe safety
and efficacy of PEDMARK have not been established when administered
following cisplatin infusions longer than 6 hours. PEDMARK may not
reduce the risk of ototoxicity when administered following longer
cisplatin infusions, because irreversible ototoxicity may have
already occurred.
Important Safety Information
PEDMARK is contraindicated in patients with history of a severe
hypersensitivity to sodium thiosulfate or any of its
components.
Hypersensitivity reactions occurred in 8% to 13%
of patients in clinical trials. Monitor patients for
hypersensitivity reactions. Immediately discontinue PEDMARK and
institute appropriate care if a hypersensitivity reaction occurs.
Administer antihistamines or glucocorticoids (if appropriate)
before each subsequent administration of PEDMARK. PEDMARK may
contain sodium sulfite; patients with sulfite sensitivity may have
hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic symptoms and
life-threatening or severe asthma episodes. Sulfite sensitivity is
seen more frequently in people with asthma.
PEDMARK is not indicated for use in pediatric
patients less than 1 month of age due to the increased risk of
hypernatremia or in pediatric patients with metastatic cancers.
Hypernatremia occurred in 12% to 26% of patients
in clinical trials, including a single Grade 3 case. Hypokalemia
occurred in 15% to 27% of patients in clinical trials, with Grade 3
or 4 occurring in 9% to 27% of patients. Monitor serum sodium and
potassium levels at baseline and as clinically indicated. Withhold
PEDMARK in patients with baseline serum sodium greater than 145
mmol/L.
Monitor for signs and symptoms of hypernatremia
and hypokalemia more closely if the glomerular filtration rate
(GFR) falls below 60 mL/min/1.73m2.
Administer antiemetics prior to each PEDMARK
administration. Provide additional antiemetics and supportive care
as appropriate.
The most common adverse reactions (≥25% with
difference between arms of >5% compared to cisplatin alone) in
SIOPEL 6 were vomiting, nausea, decreased hemoglobin, and
hypernatremia. The most common adverse reaction (≥25% with
difference between arms of >5% compared to cisplatin alone) in
COG ACCL0431 was hypokalemia.
Please see full Prescribing Information for
PEDMARK® at: www.PEDMARK.com.
About Fennec
PharmaceuticalsFennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a specialty
pharmaceutical company focused on the development and
commercialization of PEDMARK® to reduce the risk of
platinum-induced ototoxicity in pediatric patients. Further,
PEDMARK received FDA approval in September 2022 and European
Commission approval in June 2023 and U.K. approval in October 2023
under the brand name PEDMARQSI. PEDMARK has received Orphan Drug
Exclusivity in the U.S. and PEDMARQSI has received Pediatric Use
Marketing Authorization in Europe which includes eight years plus
two years of data and market protection. For more information,
please visit www.fennecpharma.com.
Forward Looking
StatementsExcept for historical information described in
this press release, all other statements are forward-looking. Words
such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “expect,” “estimate,”
“intend,” “may,” “will,” or the negative of those terms, and
similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements include statements
about our business strategy, timeline and other goals, plans and
prospects, including our commercialization plans respecting
PEDMARK®/PEDMARQSI®, the market opportunity for and market impact
of PEDMARK®/ PEDMARQSI®, its potential impact on patients and
anticipated benefits associated with its use, future commercial and
regulatory milestone and royalty payments from Norgine, and
potential access to further funding after the date of this release.
Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business that could cause
actual results to vary, including the risks and uncertainties that
regulatory and guideline developments may change, scientific data
and/or manufacturing capabilities may not be sufficient to meet
regulatory standards or receipt of required regulatory clearances
or approvals, clinical results may not be replicated in actual
patient settings, unforeseen global instability, including
political instability, or instability from an outbreak of pandemic
or contagious disease, such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), or
surrounding the duration and severity of an outbreak, protection
offered by the Company’s patents and patent applications may be
challenged, invalidated or circumvented by its competitors, the
available market for the Company’s products will not be as large as
expected, the Company’s products will not be able to penetrate one
or more targeted markets, revenues will not be sufficient to fund
further development and clinical studies, our ability to obtain
necessary capital when needed on acceptable terms or at all, the
Company may not meet its future capital requirements in different
countries and municipalities, and other risks detailed from time to
time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2023. Fennec disclaims any obligation to update
these forward-looking statements except as required by law.
For a more detailed discussion of related risk
factors, please refer to our public filings available
at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com.
PEDMARK® PEDMARQSI® and Fennec® are registered
trademarks of Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.
©2025 Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. All rights
reserved. FEN-1604-v1
For further information, please
contact:
Investors:Robert AndradeChief Financial
OfficerFennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.+1 919-246-5299
Corporate and Media:Lindsay Rocco Elixir Health
Public Relations+1 862-596-1304lrocco@elixirhealthpr.com
_______________________i Rybak L. Mechanisms of Cisplatin
Ototoxicity and Progress in Otoprotection. Current Opinion in
Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery. 2007, Vol. 15:
364-369.ii Landier W. Ototoxicity and Cancer Therapy. Cancer. June
2016 Vol. 122, No.11: 1647-1658.iii Bass JK, Knight KR, Yock TI, et
al. Evaluation and Management of Hearing Loss in Survivors of
Childhood and Adolescent Cancers: A Report from the Children's
Oncology Group. Pediatric Blood & Cancer. 2016
Jul;63(7):1152-1162.
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