Eisai and PIQUR sign landmark collaboration agreement

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19.02.2016

Eisai and PIQUR Therapeutics today announce a landmark agreement to conduct a Phase 1/2b clinical study to investigate PQR309 in combination with Halaven(eribulin) in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer does not respond to hormonal therapy or therapies that target HER2 receptors, such as Herceptin.

The Phase 1/2b study is scheduled to begin in early 2016. The initial Phase 1 dose-escalation part of the study will assess the safety and tolerability of PQR309 combined with eribulin in patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-negative and triple-negative breast cancer. The Phase 2b expansion part of the study will enroll patients with advanced or metastatic TNBC. The primary objective of this part of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of the PQR309 in combination with eribulin. In total, the Phase1/2b study will enroll approximately 60 patients.

PIQUR will be responsible for conducting the Phase 1/2b clinical trial and the parties may extend the collaboration to include a Phase 3 clinical trial as well as additional trials in new indications of mutual interest. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“We are delighted to enter into this collaboration with PIQUR Therapeutics, which has rapidly established itself as one of the leading experts in the field of PI3K/mTOR inhibitors. Based on convincing pre-clinical data and on the promising results of PIQUR’s front runner compound PQR309 shown in Phase 1 study, we believe that combining eribulin with PQR309  may provide new treatment options for patients with TNBC,” said Dr Takashi Owa, Chief Innovation Officer, Vice President Eisai Co., Ltd.

“We are very pleased to enter into this collaboration with Eisai, one of the worldwide leaders in oncology and to jointly explore new avenues to address an unmet need in breast cancer. We look forward to a fruitful partnership and to pursue the development of this combination treatment following the completion of this first study,” said Hervé Girsault, Chief Business Officer of PIQUR Therapeutics.

Eribulin is the first in the halichondrin class, microtubule dynamics inhibitors with a novel mechanism of action. Structurally eribulin is a simplified and synthetically produced version of halichondrin B, a natural product isolated from the marine sponge Halichondria okadai. Eribulin is believed to work by inhibiting the growth phase of microtubule dynamics which prevents cell division.

Eribulin remains the only single agent chemotherapy to significantly improve overall survival in women with advanced breast cancer after anthracycline and taxane treatment. Metastatic breast cancer is a very difficult condition to treat and only 15% of women will survive beyond five years.

This collaboration underscores Eisai’s human health care (hhc) mission, the company’s commitment to innovative solutions in disease prevention, cure and care for the health and well-being of people worldwide. Eisai is committed to oncology to address the unmet medical needs of patients and their families.

(Press release)

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