Theratechnologies Initiates Increased Dose Level in Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Sudocetaxel Zendusortide in Advanced Ovarian Cancer
21 March 2024 - 10:30PM
Theratechnologies Inc. (“Theratechnologies” or the “Company”) (TSX:
TH) (NASDAQ: THTX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the
development and commercialization of innovative therapies, today
announced moving to the next dose level in Part 3 of its Phase 1
clinical trial of sudocetaxel zendusortide in patients with
advanced ovarian cancer. The study’s Medical Review Committee (MRC)
has deemed the dose level in the first cohort of patients safe and
has approved initiation of the next cohort with an increased dose,
in accordance with the updated dose optimization protocol. Study
centers are now actively recruiting patients for the second cohort,
with one patient already enrolled and treated with the higher dose.
“We are encouraged by the safety and
tolerability of the sudocetaxel zendusortide regimen in the first
cohort of six patients in Part 3 of the Phase 1 trial,” said trial
investigator Ira Winer, M.D., Ph.D., FACOG, a member of the
Gynecologic Oncology and Phase 1 Clinical Trials Multidisciplinary
Teams at Karmanos Cancer Center and Associate Professor of Oncology
at Wayne State University. “We will continue to enroll and monitor
patients as we further investigate this novel peptide-drug
conjugate in individuals with advanced, platinum-resistant ovarian
cancer, a population with high unmet medical need.”
Part 3 of the Phase 1 study is intended to
assess the optimal dose and schedule of sudocetaxel zendusortide,
which is being administered on three consecutive weeks followed by
one week of rest on Days 1, 8, and 15 of each 28-day cycle. The
dose for the initial six patients was 1.75 mg/kg/dose and the dose
for the next cohort of patients is 2.50 mg/kg/dose. The MRC
approved initiation of the second cohort following attainment of
the threshold of one or less dose-limiting toxicities in the first
cohort. The study’s updated protocol defines DLTs as any Grade 3 or
greater toxicity, within the first cycle and any worsening of
peripheral neuropathy to Grade 3 or 4 within a three-month
period.
“Initiation of treatment at the next dose level
is an important milestone for Part 3 of the Phase 1 study and will
allow us to further characterize sudocetaxel zendusortide as a
potentially viable therapy for individuals with advanced ovarian
cancer,” commented Christian Marsolais, Ph.D., Senior Vice
President and Chief Medical Officer at Theratechnologies. “We
welcome discussions with potential partners interested in helping
to advance development of this novel peptide-drug conjugate.”
Theratechnologies completed enrollment of the
first cohort of six patients in Part 3 of the Phase 1 trial in
February 2024, and dosed the first patient in October 2023. The
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the amended trial
protocol in June 2023. Further details about the study design,
participation criteria and contact information for the sites can be
found at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04706962.
About Sudocetaxel Zendusortide (TH1902)
and SORT1+ Technology™
Sudocetaxel zendusortide is a first-of-its-kind
sortilin receptor (SORT1)-targeting peptide-drug conjugate, and the
first compound to emerge from the Company’s broader licensed
oncology platform. A new chemical entity, sudocetaxel zendusortide
employs a cleavable linker to conjugate (attach) a proprietary
peptide to docetaxel, a well-established cytotoxic chemotherapeutic
agent used to treat many cancers. The FDA granted Fast Track
designation to sudocetaxel zendusortide as a single agent for the
treatment of all sortilin-positive recurrent advanced solid tumors
that are refractory to standard therapy. Sudocetaxel zendusortide
is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial.
Theratechnologies has established the SORT1+
Technology™ platform as an engine for the development of PDCs
that target SORT1, which is expressed in multiple tumor types.
SORT1 is a “scavenger” receptor that plays a significant role in
protein internalization, sorting, and trafficking. Expression of
SORT1 is associated with aggressive disease, poor prognosis, and
decreased survival. It is estimated that SORT1 is expressed in 40%
to 90% of endometrial, ovarian, colorectal, triple-negative breast
(TNBC), and pancreatic cancers, making this receptor an attractive
target for anticancer drug development.
About Theratechnologies
Theratechnologies (TSX: TH) (NASDAQ: THTX) is a
biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and
commercialization of innovative therapies addressing unmet medical
needs. Further information about Theratechnologies is available on
the Company's website at www.theratech.com, on SEDAR+
at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
Follow Theratechnologies on Linkedin and X (formerly
Twitter).
Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking
statements and forward-looking information (collectively, the
“Forward-Looking Statements”) within the meaning of applicable
securities laws, that are based on management’s beliefs and
assumptions and on information currently available to it. You can
identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may”, “will”,
“should”, “could”, “promising”, “would”, “outlook”, “believe”,
“plan”, “envisage”, “anticipate”, “expect” and “estimate”, or the
negatives of these terms, or variations of them. The
Forward-Looking Statements contained in this press release include,
but are not limited to, statements regarding the conduct of Part 3
of the Phase 1 clinical trial using sudocetaxel zendusortide, the
enrolments of additional patients for the next cohort of the trial
at the higher dose level, the further characterization of the
safety and efficacy of sudocetaxel zendusortide, and the
development of the Company’s SORT1+ Technology™ platform,
including the further development of sudocetaxel zendusortide.
Although the Forward-Looking Statements contained in this press
release are based upon what the Company believes are reasonable
assumptions in light of the information currently available,
investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on these
statements since actual results may vary from the Forward-Looking
Statements contained in this press release. These assumptions
include, without limitation, that the Company will be successful in
enrolling the required number of patients for the next cohort of
the trial at the higher dose level, signs of efficacy will be
observed in such Phase 1 clinical trial whereas no untoward side
effects will be reported, the safety of the increased dose will be
established, and the development of the Company’s SORT1+
Technology™ platform will be successful. Forward-Looking
Statements assumptions are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those that are
disclosed in or implied by such Forward-Looking Statements. These
risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to,
difficulties in recruiting patients for the next cohort of the
trial at the higher dose level, the lack of observation of strong
efficacy results, the reporting of adverse side effects from the
use of sudocetaxel zendusortide leading to a halt on the clinical
trial and, eventually, the Company’s development of its SORT1+
Technology™ platform, and competing development programs
conducted by third parties using PDC. We refer current and
potential investors to the “Risk Factors” section (Item 3.D) of our
Form 20-F dated February 21, 2024 available on SEDAR+
at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR
at www.sec.gov under Theratechnologies’ public filings.
The reader is cautioned to consider these and other risks and
uncertainties carefully and not to put undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. Forward-Looking Statements reflect
current expectations regarding future events and speak only as of
the date of this press release and represent our expectations as of
that date.
We undertake no obligation to update or revise
the information contained in this press release, whether as a
result of new information, future events or circumstances or
otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.
Contacts:
Media inquiries:Julie SchneidermanSenior Director,
Communications & Corporate
Affairscommunications@theratech.com1-514-336-7800
Investor inquiries:Philippe DubucSenior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officerir@theratech.com1-438-315-6608
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