Evgen Pharma PLC MOU with The University of Dundee (7073V)
05 Dicembre 2019 - 8:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMEVG
RNS Number : 7073V
Evgen Pharma PLC
05 December 2019
Evgen Pharma plc
("Evgen Pharma" or "the Company")
Memorandum of Understanding with The University of Dundee
Evgen Pharma (AIM: EVG) a clinical stage drug development
company focused on the treatment of cancer and neurological
conditions, announces it has entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding with the The University of Dundee ("The University")
to advance SFX-01 towards a clinical trial in non-alcoholic
steatohepatitis ("NASH") and liver fibrosis. Evgen has agreed to
supply SFX-01 to support a potential future clinical trial led by
John Dillon, Professor of Hepatology and Gastrenterology in the
University's School of Medicine.
With the assistance of Evgen, Professor Dillon will lead the
process to secure appropriate grant funding and obtain clinical
trial regulatory approval. The intention is to utilise advanced MRI
scanning technology to investigate whether SFX-01 can reverse the
hallmarks of NASH in a proof-of-concept clinical trial. Clinical
data arising from a successful trial will support subsequent
development, regulatory approval and commercialisation of SFX-01 in
NASH and liver fibrosis. Evgen will be granted an option to the
clinical data on fair commercial terms to enable it to advance
development and commercialisation.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease ("NAFLD") is now regarded as
the most common liver condition in the developed world, affecting
up to 30% of the general population. NAFLD represents a spectrum of
phenotypes ranging from simple steatosis (fatty infiltration),
through NASH to cirrhosis. Approximately 30% of adults in the
general population have NAFLD, and 10%-20% of these have NASH.
Amongst patients with NASH, 20-30% are at risk of developing
cirrhosis and subsequently dying from end-stage liver disease
within 20 years. In view of the tens of thousands of individuals
who are likely to develop NASH in the next decade, it is clear that
this disease will represent a major burden to healthcare in the
UK.
Professor John Dillon and colleagues have previously published
research that showed that drug-induced activation of the Nrf2
pathway could reverse insulin resistance, suppress hepatic
steatosis, and mitigated against NASH and liver fibrosis. On this
basis, Professor John Dillon approached Evgen, the developer of
SFX-01, a development stage drug that is known to activate the Nrf2
pathway and has demonstrated excellent safety and tolerability in
previous clinical trials.
John Dillon, Professor of Hepatology and Gastrenterology at the
University of Dundee's the School of Medicine said: "We are
delighted that Evgen will support our plans to undertake a clinical
trial on SFX-01 in patients with NASH. Oxidative stress is pivotal
to the development of NASH and our research suggests that
activation of the Nrf2 pathway, which in turn reduces oxidative
stress, can reverse the pathology."
Dr Stephen Franklin, CEO of Evgen Pharma, commented: "As a
result of the successful fundraise in April of this year, we are
now in a position to be able to expand the toxicology package for
SFX-01 which is a prerequisite to being able to support the trial
design proposed by Professor Dillon and colleagues. We are
particularly excited by this trial design because of the use of
advanced MRI imaging of the liver which will give an objective
measure of the extent to which SFX-01 can modulate the pathology of
the disease."
Evgen Pharma plc www.evgen.com via Walbrook
Dr Stephen Franklin, CEO
Richard Moulson, CFO
finnCap www.finncap.com +44 (0) 20 7220 0500
Geoff Nash / Teddy Whiley (Corporate
Finance)
Alice Lane, Manasa Patil (ECM)
WG Partners LLP +44 (0) 20 3705 9330
Nigel Barnes / Claes Spång
Walbrook PR +44 (0)20 7933 87870 or evgen@walbrookpr.com
+44 (0)7980 541 893 / +44 (0)7876
Paul McManus / Anna Dunphy 741 001
University of Dundee +44(0)1382 382910
Roddy Isles, Head of Corporate
Communications +44 (0)7800 581902
r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
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END
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