OSAKA, Japan and SAN DIEGO, CA, USA I July 25, 2017 I Santen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Santen) and TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TCON) (TRACON) today announced that Santen has initiated a Phase 2a clinical study of DE-122 in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The Phase 2a study is a randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy and safety of intravitreal injections of DE-122 in combination with Lucentis® (ranibizumab) compared to Lucentis monotherapy in patients with wet AMD. DE-122 is the ophthalmic formulation of TRACON’s proprietary anti-endoglin antibody, TRC105. The initiation of the Phase 2a study triggers a US$7 million milestone payment from Santen to TRACON.
“Santen is a global pharmaceutical company specialized in the field of ophthalmology, and we are committed to delivering novel medicines for the treatment of high unmet need ophthalmic conditions on a global basis. With limited treatment options available for retinal disease, including wet AMD, Santen is pleased at the development progress of DE-122, which we hope will allow Santen to contribute in new ways to improving the quality of life of patients suffering from retinal disease such as wet AMD,” said Akira Kurokawa, President and CEO of Santen.
“The initiation of the trial represents an important opportunity to expand the scope of our endoglin antibodies to areas of significant unmet medical need beyond oncology,” said Charles Theuer, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of TRACON. “Data generated to date suggest the novel mechanism of action of DE-122 has the potential to combine effectively with approved VEGF inhibitors, the current standard of care, in patients with wet AMD.”
In March 2014, Santen licensed the global development rights to DE-122 in ophthalmology from TRACON. In June 2015, Santen filed an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for DE-122 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
About DE-122
DE-122 is the ophthalmic formulation of TRACON’s proprietary anti-endoglin antibody, TRC105, and is being studied in Santen’s Phase 1/2 study in the U.S. to investigate the safety of single DE-122 intravitreal injection for the treatment of refractory wet AMD.
About TRC105
TRC105 is a novel, clinical stage antibody to endoglin, a protein overexpressed on proliferating endothelial cells that is essential for angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation. TRC105 is currently being studied in one Phase 3 clinical trial and multiple Phase 2 clinical trials sponsored by both TRACON and the National Cancer Institute for the treatment of solid tumors in combination with VEGF inhibitors. TRC105 has received orphan designation for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma in both the U.S. and EU. For more information about the clinical trials, please visit TRACON’s website at www.traconpharma.com/clinical_trials.php.
About Wet AMD
Wet AMD is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly in the world and is caused by excessive growth and leakage of blood vessels at the back of the eye that leads to a chronic and often rapid loss of vision. Existing therapies for the disease are limited including treatment targeting the VEGF pathway.
About Santen
As a specialty company dedicated to the ophthalmic field, Santen carries out research, development, marketing and sales of pharmaceuticals. Santen is the market leader in Japan for prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals and sells products in approximately 60 countries. As a leading company in the field of ophthalmology, Santen aims to contribute to society by supplying valuable products and services to satisfy unmet medical needs. For more details, please see Santen’s website (www.santen.com).
About TRACON
TRACON develops targeted therapies for cancer, ophthalmic and fibrotic diseases. The Company’s clinical-stage pipeline includes: TRC105, an endoglin antibody that is being developed for the treatment of multiple cancers; DE-122, the ophthalmic formulation of TRC105 that is being developed in wet AMD through a collaboration with Santen; TRC102, a small molecule that is being developed for the treatment of lung cancer and glioblastoma; and TRC253, a small molecule that is being developed for the treatment of prostate cancer. To learn more about TRACON and its product candidates, visit TRACON’s website at www.traconpharma.com.
SOURCE: Santen Pharmaceutical
Post Views: 150
OSAKA, Japan and SAN DIEGO, CA, USA I July 25, 2017 I Santen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Santen) and TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TCON) (TRACON) today announced that Santen has initiated a Phase 2a clinical study of DE-122 in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The Phase 2a study is a randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy and safety of intravitreal injections of DE-122 in combination with Lucentis® (ranibizumab) compared to Lucentis monotherapy in patients with wet AMD. DE-122 is the ophthalmic formulation of TRACON’s proprietary anti-endoglin antibody, TRC105. The initiation of the Phase 2a study triggers a US$7 million milestone payment from Santen to TRACON.
“Santen is a global pharmaceutical company specialized in the field of ophthalmology, and we are committed to delivering novel medicines for the treatment of high unmet need ophthalmic conditions on a global basis. With limited treatment options available for retinal disease, including wet AMD, Santen is pleased at the development progress of DE-122, which we hope will allow Santen to contribute in new ways to improving the quality of life of patients suffering from retinal disease such as wet AMD,” said Akira Kurokawa, President and CEO of Santen.
“The initiation of the trial represents an important opportunity to expand the scope of our endoglin antibodies to areas of significant unmet medical need beyond oncology,” said Charles Theuer, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of TRACON. “Data generated to date suggest the novel mechanism of action of DE-122 has the potential to combine effectively with approved VEGF inhibitors, the current standard of care, in patients with wet AMD.”
In March 2014, Santen licensed the global development rights to DE-122 in ophthalmology from TRACON. In June 2015, Santen filed an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for DE-122 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
About DE-122
DE-122 is the ophthalmic formulation of TRACON’s proprietary anti-endoglin antibody, TRC105, and is being studied in Santen’s Phase 1/2 study in the U.S. to investigate the safety of single DE-122 intravitreal injection for the treatment of refractory wet AMD.
About TRC105
TRC105 is a novel, clinical stage antibody to endoglin, a protein overexpressed on proliferating endothelial cells that is essential for angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation. TRC105 is currently being studied in one Phase 3 clinical trial and multiple Phase 2 clinical trials sponsored by both TRACON and the National Cancer Institute for the treatment of solid tumors in combination with VEGF inhibitors. TRC105 has received orphan designation for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma in both the U.S. and EU. For more information about the clinical trials, please visit TRACON’s website at www.traconpharma.com/clinical_trials.php.
About Wet AMD
Wet AMD is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly in the world and is caused by excessive growth and leakage of blood vessels at the back of the eye that leads to a chronic and often rapid loss of vision. Existing therapies for the disease are limited including treatment targeting the VEGF pathway.
About Santen
As a specialty company dedicated to the ophthalmic field, Santen carries out research, development, marketing and sales of pharmaceuticals. Santen is the market leader in Japan for prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals and sells products in approximately 60 countries. As a leading company in the field of ophthalmology, Santen aims to contribute to society by supplying valuable products and services to satisfy unmet medical needs. For more details, please see Santen’s website (www.santen.com).
About TRACON
TRACON develops targeted therapies for cancer, ophthalmic and fibrotic diseases. The Company’s clinical-stage pipeline includes: TRC105, an endoglin antibody that is being developed for the treatment of multiple cancers; DE-122, the ophthalmic formulation of TRC105 that is being developed in wet AMD through a collaboration with Santen; TRC102, a small molecule that is being developed for the treatment of lung cancer and glioblastoma; and TRC253, a small molecule that is being developed for the treatment of prostate cancer. To learn more about TRACON and its product candidates, visit TRACON’s website at www.traconpharma.com.
SOURCE: Santen Pharmaceutical
Post Views: 150
