Poxel Receives Orphan Drug Designation from the European Commission for PXL770 and PXL065 for Treatment of Adrenoleukodystrophy
25 Gennaio 2023 - 07:30AM
Business Wire
POXEL SA (Euronext : POXEL - FR0012432516), a clinical stage
biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments for
chronic serious diseases with metabolic pathophysiology, including
non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and rare metabolic disorders,
today announced that European Commission has granted orphan drug
designation (ODD) for PXL770 and PXL065 for the treatment of
adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). The decision follows a positive opinion
from the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) of the
European Medicines Agency (EMA). The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration has previously granted ODD and Fast Track
Designation to both PXL770 and PXL065 for the treatment of ALD.
These molecules have separate and distinct mechanisms of action.
PXL770 is a novel, first-in-class direct adenosine
monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator. PXL065 is
a novel, proprietary deuterium-stabilized R-stereoisomer of
pioglitazone which exerts effects via multiple non-genomic pathways
engaged by thiazolidinedione molecules. Both compounds are
preparing to enter into Phase 2a clinical Proof-of-Concept (POC)
biomarker studies in ALD patients with adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN)
as soon as possible, subject to financing.
“Orphan Drug Designation in adrenoleukodystrophy for both PXL770
and PXL065 further strengthens the value of these clinical assets
where we are preparing to initiate Phase 2 proof-of-concept
studies, pending additional financing”, noted Thomas Kuhn, CEO of
Poxel. “We are in active discussions to restructure our current
debt obligations and secure the funding to execute our strategy in
rare metabolic diseases”.
Orphan Drug Designation (ODD)
ODD in the European Union (EU) is granted by the European
Commission based on a positive opinion issued by the European
Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medical Products
(COMP). To qualify for ODD from the European Commission, a product
candidate must be intended to treat, prevent, or diagnose a
life-threatening or chronically debilitating disease that does not
affect more than 5 in 10,000 people across the EU. In addition,
there must be sufficient clinical or non-clinical data to suggest
the product candidate may produce clinically relevant outcomes, and
grounds to indicate it can provide a significant benefit over any
currently authorized products. Receiving an orphan drug designation
from the European Commission provides companies with certain
benefits and incentives including clinical protocol assistance,
access to a centralized marketing authorization procedure valid in
all EU member states, reduced regulatory fees, and ten years of
market exclusivity upon receipt of marketing authorization in the
EU. The availability of market exclusivity is intended to encourage
the development of medicines for rare diseases by protecting them
from competition from similar medicines with similar indications,
which cannot be marketed during the exclusivity period.
About ALD
X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is an orphan neurometabolic
disease caused by mutations in the ABCD1 gene which encodes for a
key protein that is required for metabolism of very long chain
fatty acids (VLCFA) by peroxisomes (cellular organelles). ALD is
the most common leukodystrophy with a prevalence similar to
hemophilia – up to 1/10,000 individuals in the general population
have ALD [https://rarediseases.org]. Forms of this disease include
cerebral ALD (C-ALD) and adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) which is the
most common form – typically occurring in adolescence through
adulthood. AMN is characterized by chronic and progressive distal
axonopathy involving the long tracts of the spinal cord and to a
lesser extent the peripheral nerves resulting in progressive
stiffness and weakness in the legs, impaired gait and balance,
incontinence, and loss of sensation. Nearly all men with a
diagnosis of ALD will develop AMN, and many women also present with
features of AMN with a later onset. C-ALD is characterized by
inflammatory demyelination of cells in the brain and typically
afflicts children, but many men with AMN may also develop cerebral
disease; these white matter brain lesions lead to severe neurologic
deficits and death. There are no approved medicines for ALD (other
than glucocorticoid supplements for associated adrenal
insufficiency). C-ALD when first detected in early childhood, can
be treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. HSCT is
currently limited to early stage of C-ALD and this procedure is at
risk of severe adverse reactions.
About Poxel SA
Poxel is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing
innovative treatments for chronic serious diseases with metabolic
pathophysiology, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and
rare disorders. For the treatment of NASH, PXL065
(deuterium-stabilized R-pioglitazone) met its primary endpoint in a
streamlined Phase 2 trial (DESTINY-1). In rare diseases,
development of PXL770, a first-in-class direct adenosine
monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, is focused
on the treatment of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and autosomal
dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). TWYMEEG® (Imeglimin),
Poxel’s first-in-class product that targets mitochondrial
dysfunction, is marketed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in
Japan by Sumitomo Pharma and Poxel expects to receive royalties and
sales-based payments. Poxel has a strategic partnership with
Sumitomo Pharma for Imeglimin in Japan, China, and eleven other
Asian countries. Listed on Euronext Paris, Poxel is headquartered
in Lyon, France, and has subsidiaries in Boston, MA, and Tokyo,
Japan.
For more information, please visit: www.poxelpharma.com
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Contacts - Investor relations / Media Aurélie Bozza
Investor Relations & Communication Senior Director
aurelie.bozza@poxelpharma.com +33 6 99 81 08 36 Elizabeth Woo
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Communication
elizabeth.woo@poxelpharma.com NewCap Emmanuel Huynh or Arthur
Rouillé poxel@newcap.eu +33 1 44 71 94 94
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