Epizyme receives patent for drug candidate for genetically defined type of non-Hodgkin lymphomas

Epizyme, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company creating innovative personalized therapeutics for patients with genetically defined cancers, announced today that it has received a Notice of Issuance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its patent application entitled "ARYL-OR HETEROARYL-SUBSTITUTED BENZENE COMPOUNDS", U.S. Patent No.: 8,410,088. The USPTO granted claims covering the novel small molecule EZH2 inhibitor EPZ-6438 (E7438), a drug candidate for a genetically defined type of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The patent issuance marks Epizyme's first claims covering this chemical matter.

Epizyme is developing EPZ-6438 (E7438) in partnership with Eisai Co., Ltd. In March 2011, the two companies announced a worldwide partnership to discover, develop and commercialize therapeutics targeting EZH2, with Epizyme retaining an option to co-commercialize, co-develop and share profits for this program with Eisai in the United States.