Initiation builds on positive overall survival and tumor control data from Phase 1/2 trial

Triggers $20M milestone payment from Blackstone Life Sciences

160-patient randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial

MALVERN, PA, USA I May 17, 2021 I Galera Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GRTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a pipeline of novel, proprietary therapeutics that have the potential to transform radiotherapy in cancer, today announced the first patient has been dosed in the randomized Phase 2b GRECO-2 trial of GC4711 in combination with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). GC4711 is a selective small molecule dismutase mimetic being developed to increase the anti-cancer effect of radiation. Enrollment of the first patient in this trial has triggered a $20 million milestone payment from funds managed by Blackstone Life Sciences to Galera under the amended royalty agreement.

“We are excited to start this large Phase 2b trial in pancreatic cancer following the promising data from our initial trial in these patients, a placebo-controlled Phase 1/2 pilot trial, in which we saw a near doubling of overall survival in patients receiving a dismutase mimetic with SBRT,” said Mel Sorensen, M.D., President and CEO of Galera. “In addition, the $20 million milestone payment from Blackstone ensures we are well capitalized to advance this trial in addition to our programs in lung cancer and radiation-induced severe oral mucositis as we prepare for the potential regulatory approval and commercialization of avasopasem, our lead dismutase mimetic product candidate.”

GRECO-2 is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2b trial evaluating the effect of 100 mg of GC4711 or placebo in combination with SBRT on overall survival (OS), the trial’s primary endpoint, in patients with LAPC. Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival (PFS), locoregional control (LRC), time to distant metastases (TDM) and surgical resection, in addition to safety. The trial is expected to enroll approximately 160 patients.

“In the fight against pancreatic cancer, which has a 10% five-year survival rate and few treatment options, clinical trials are critical,” said Julie Fleshman, J.D., MBA, President and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN). “Galera’s GRECO-2 study, as well as the other studies in our comprehensive database of pancreatic cancer clinical trials available in the U.S., investigates cutting edge research and has the potential to improve patient outcomes.”

Additional information on GRECO-2 can be found on clinicaltrials.gov using the identifier NCT04698915.

About GC4711

Galera’s selective dismutase mimetic product candidates, GC4711 and GC4419, are small molecules being developed to protect normal cells and sensitize cancer cells to radiotherapy. GC4711 is in development specifically to augment the anti-cancer efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). The molecule is currently being studied in a Phase 1/2 trial in combination with SBRT in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NCT04476797) and a Phase 2b trial in combination with SBRT in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (NCT04698915).

About Galera Therapeutics

Galera Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a pipeline of novel, proprietary therapeutic candidates that have the potential to transform radiotherapy in cancer. Galera’s lead product candidate is avasopasem manganese (GC4419, also referred to as avasopasem), a selective small molecule dismutase mimetic initially being developed for the reduction of radiation-induced severe oral mucositis (SOM). Avasopasem is being studied in the Phase 3 ROMAN trial to assess its ability to reduce the incidence and severity of SOM induced by radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer (HNC), its lead indication. It is also being studied in the EUSOM Phase 2a multi-center trial in Europe assessing the safety of avasopasem in patients with HNC undergoing standard-of-care radiotherapy, the AESOP Phase 2a trial to assess its ability to reduce the incidence of esophagitis induced by radiotherapy in patients with lung cancer, and a Phase 2 trial in hospitalized patients who are critically ill with COVID-19. A pilot Phase 1/2 trial of GC4419 in combination with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) has completed enrollment and reported updated results, with follow-up ongoing. The FDA granted Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy designations to avasopasem for the reduction of SOM induced by radiotherapy. Galera’s second dismutase mimetic product candidate, GC4711, is being developed specifically to augment the anti-cancer efficacy of SBRT, and is currently being studied in the GRECO-1 Phase 1/2 trial in combination with SBRT in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and the GRECO-2 Phase 2b trial in combination with SBRT in patients with LAPC. Galera is headquartered in Malvern, PA. For more information, please visit www.galeratx.com.

SOURCE: Galera Therapeutics