EUSA Pharma negotiated exclusive, worldwide development and commercialization rights to Alize Pharma II’s L-asparaginase product Asparec ®, which is currently undergoing Phase I evaluation for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
The drug is a PEGylated recombinant L-asparaginase derived from Erwinia chrysanthemi. It is being developed in patients who are hypersensitive to E. coli-derived L-asparaginase. “Asparec fits perfectly with EUSA’s specialty focus on oncology and orphan diseases and builds on our established portfolio in the field of acute lymphoblastic leukemia,” remarks Bryan Morton, president and CEO at EUSA.
Alize Pharma comprises a group of companies developing biopharmaceuticals, proteins, and peptides for the treatment of metabolic diseases and cancer. Alize Pharma SAS is focused on developing AZP-01, a peptide derived from unacylated ghrelin, which is currently in preclinical development for type 2 diabetes and other metabolic and cardiovascular indications. Alize Pharma II SAS is dedicated to developing Asparec.
EUSA Pharma is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing, developing, and marketing late-stage oncology, oncology supportive care, and critical care products. The firm has nine products on the market, including Erwinase® and Kidrolase™ for treatment of ALL and Caphosol® for the treatment of oral mucositis in radiotherapy and chemotherapy patients. Kidrolase is an E. coli-derived L-asparaginase, and Erwinase is EUSA’s own asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi product, which was approved by FDA in November 2011 and is also approved in countries including the U.K. and Canada, with filings in various other markets. Erwinase is the first product developed by EUSA internally.