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Ergomed’s Co-Development Partner Aeterna Zentaris Announces Data and Safety Monitoring Board Scheduled to Complete Second Interim Analysis of the ZoptEC Phase 3 Trial in Endometrial Cancer in Early October

Guildford, UK – 14 August 2015: Ergomed plc, (LSE: ERGO or ‘Ergomed’) a profitable UK-based company, dedicated to the provision of specialised services to the pharmaceutical industry and the development of new drugs, is pleased to note that its co-development partner Aeterna Zentaris (NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX: AEZ), has announced that the Data and Safety Monitoring Board […]

Guildford, UK – 14 August 2015: Ergomed plc, (LSE: ERGO or ‘Ergomed’) a profitable UK-based company, dedicated to the provision of specialised services to the pharmaceutical industry and the development of new drugs, is pleased to note that its co-development partner Aeterna Zentaris (NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX: AEZ), has announced that the Data and Safety Monitoring Board is scheduled to complete the second interim analysis of the Phase 3 ZoptEC (Zoptarelin Doxorubicin in Endometrial Cancer) pivotal study with zoptarelin doxorubicin in women with advanced, recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer in early October.

The announcement issued by Aeterna Zentaris follows:

Aeterna Zentaris Announces Data and Safety Monitoring Board Scheduled to Complete Second Interim Analysis of the ZoptEC Phase 3 Trial in Endometrial Cancer in Early October

Quebec City, Canada, August 11, 2015 – Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX: AEZ) (the “Company”) today announced that the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (“DSMB”) for the pivotal Phase 3 ZoptEC (Zoptarelin Doxorubicin in Endometrial Cancer) study with zoptarelin doxorubicin in women with advanced, recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer, will complete a pre-specified second interim efficacy and safety analysis of the compound in early October 2015.

David Dodd, Chairman and CEO of Aeterna Zentaris, commented, “This past June 30, we announced that we had reached our goal of recruiting 500 patients for the Phase 3 ZoptEC study, marking the achievement of an important milestone in our efforts to commercialize this novel compound. Recently, we learned that the number of events required for the DSMB to conduct its second interim analysis had occurred. We are informed that the DSMB will conduct its review of the data in early October of this year, and we expect to be able to announce the results of the review soon thereafter. This review will be an important event in our development of zoptarelin doxorubicin. We are looking forward to learning the results of the DSMB’s analysis.”

Commenting on the compound, Dr. Richard Sachse, the Company’s Chief Medical and Chief Scientific Officer, stated, “We believe that zoptarelin doxorubicin has the potential to become the first FDA approved medical therapy for advanced, recurrent endometrial cancer. This could result in its rapid adoption as a novel core therapy for treatment and management of advanced, recurrent endometrial cancer. Our hope is that the compound will improve and extend the quality of the lives of patients with this devastating disease.”

About the ZoptEC Phase 3 trial

The ZoptEC Phase 3 trial is an open-label, randomized-controlled study, comparing the efficacy and safety of zoptarelin doxorubicin, a hybrid molecule composed of a synthetic peptide carrier and a well known chemotherapy agent, doxorubicin, to doxorubicin alone. The trial is fully recruited (over 500 patients) and is being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). Patients are centrally randomized in a 1:1 ratio and receive either zoptarelin doxorubicin (267 mg/m2) or doxorubicin (60 mg/m2) intravenously, every 3 weeks and for up to 9 cycles. Response will be evaluated every 3 cycles during treatment, thereafter, every 12 weeks until progression. All patients will be followed for survival as the primary efficacy endpoint (“EP”). Secondary EPs include progression free survival, objective response-rate, and clinical benefit rate.

For more information on this trial, please consult (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01767155; EudraCT No: 2012-005546-38; ZoptEC: Zoptarelin doxorubicin in endometrial cancer).

For further information, please contact:

Hume Brophy

Mary Clark, Supriya Mathur and Hollie Vile

Tel: + 44 203 440 5654

ergomed@humebrophy.com

 

Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited

NOMAD/Broker to the Company

Jonathan Senior, Giles Balleny

Tel: + 44 207 710 7600

 

About Ergomed

Ergomed Plc is a profitable UK-based company, providing drug development services to the pharmaceutical industry and has a growing portfolio of co-development partnerships. It operates in over 40 countries.

Ergomed provides clinical development, trial management and pharmacovigilance services to over 60 clients ranging from top 10 pharmaceutical companies to small and mid-sized drug development companies. Ergomed successfully manages clinical development from Phase I through to late phase programmes.

Ergomed has a wide therapeutic focus, with a particular expertise in oncology, neurology and immunology and the development of orphan drugs. Ergomed believes its approach to clinical trials is differentiated from that of other providers by its innovative Study Site Management model and the use of Study Physician Teams, resulting in a close relationship between Ergomed and the physicians involved in clinical trials.

As well as providing high quality clinical development services, Ergomed is building a portfolio of co-development partnerships with pharma and biotech companies which share the risks and rewards of drug development. Ergomed leverages its expertise and services in return for carried interest in the drugs under development. For further information, visit: https://ergomedgroup.com

About Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in developed countries and develops when abnormal cells amass to form a tumour in the lining of the uterus. It largely affects women over the age of 50 with a higher prevalence in Caucasians and a higher mortality rate among African Americans. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be approximately 55,000 new cases of endometrial cancer in the U.S. alone in 2015, with about 20% of recurring disease.

About Aeterna Zentaris

Aeterna Zentaris is a specialty biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing and commercializing novel treatments in oncology, endocrinology and women’s health. For more information, visit www.aezsinc.com

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained within the announcement are forward looking statements and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the potential returns of Ergomed plc (“Ergomed”) and industry and markets in which Ergomed operates, the Directors’ beliefs and assumptions made by the Directors. Words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “should”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “seeks”, “estimates”, “projects”, “pipeline” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward looking statements and expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or the ability to identify and consummate investments and involve certain risks, uncertainties, outcomes of negotiations and due diligence and assumptions that are difficult to predict, qualify or quantify. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward looking statements or expectations. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: the general economic climate, competition, interest rate levels, loss of key personnel, the result of legal and commercial due diligence, the availability of financing on acceptable terms and changes in the legal or regulatory environment.

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Ergomed expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Ergomed’s expectations with regard thereto, any new information or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless required to do so by law or any appropriate regulatory authority.

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