Esperance announces positive results from EP-100 Phase II trial in paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer

Esperance Pharmaceuticals Inc. today reported positive results from a Phase II trial of lead candidate EP-100 in ovarian cancer patients resistant to paclitaxel. EP-100 is a targeted membrane-disrupting peptide designed to seek and destroy cancer cells that overexpress luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) receptors on their surfaces. LHRH receptors are over-expressed in a wide range of cancers.

Results of the randomized, multi-center Phase II trial of EP-100 were presented at the 2015 ASCO Annual Meeting on May 30, 2015 by Alpa M. Nick, MD, MS, Assistant Professor, and study Principal Investigator, Robert Coleman, MD, Professor, both in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.

EP-100 is a synthetic targeted cytolytic peptide conjugated to LHRH. It targets cancer cells that over-express LHRH receptors and kills by disrupting the cell membranes. Preclinical studies have demonstrated anti-cancer synergy between EP-100 and paclitaxel, which is the current standard of care for the treatment of ovarian cancer. The Phase II trial enrolled 50 patients and was designed to explore the efficacy, safety and toxicity of a regimen combining EP-100 and paclitaxel in women with advanced ovarian cancer. The authors reported that EP-100 appears to sensitize paclitaxel-resistant ovarian tumors, leading to further tumor shrinkage and prolonged treatment response, and concluded that a larger study of EP-100 in paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer patients is warranted.

"The successful completion of this Phase II trial is a major milestone for Esperance," said Hector Alila, PhD, CEO of Esperance Pharmaceuticals. "EP-100's ability to sensitize ovarian tumors to further treatment in a resistant population with advanced disease is an important validation for both EP 100 and our Cationic Lytic Peptide (CLYP^TM) platform technology. We have begun planning a Phase III registration trial for EP-100 and are assessing options for further development of other anti-cancer drug candidates in our pipeline."