LYON, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:
ERYTECH (Paris:ERYP)(Euronext Paris: FR0011471135 - ERYP), the French biopharmaceutical company that develops innovative ‘tumor starvation’ treatments for acute leukemia and other oncology indications with unmet medical needs, won EuropaBio’s Most Innovative European Biotech SME Award 2014.
The award was presented to ERYTECH at a ceremony in Brussels yesterday. It recognizes ERYTECH’s pioneering role in developing an innovative concept to starve cancer cells in specific nutrients and its clinical achievements. The company’s novel breakthrough technology consists in encapsulating therapeutic compounds into red blood cells. It has broad application potential and strong IP protection. Solid proof of concept has been demonstrated in three clinical trials in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Positive Phase III results were announced some days ago.
“We are very proud to receive this award. It is a recognition for all employees of ERYTECH and our many partners, without whom we would not have come to this stage. All of us share one mission: to develop innovative tumor starvation treatments for cancer patients, particularly those with acute leukemia and selected solid tumors.” said Pierre-Olivier Goineau, COO and co-founder of ERYTECH together with Yann Godfrin, inventor of the technology.
About EuropaBio: www.europabio.org
EuropaBio is the European Association for Bioindustries and was created in 1996. Our mission is to create an innovative and dynamic biotechnology-based industry in Europe.
Our membership is composed of 56 corporate members, 13 associate members and Bio regions, and 16 national biotechnology associations, who in turn represent more than 1800 small and medium sized biotech companies in Europe. Members of EuropaBio are involved in research, development, testing, manufacturing and commercialization of biotechnology products and processes. Our corporate members have a wide range of activities: human and animal health care, diagnostics, bio-informatics, chemicals, crop protection, agriculture, food and environmental products and services.
EuropaBio also welcomes associate members such as international commercial, financial, asset management and other service-providing companies, regional biotechnology development organizations and scientific institutes. The common denominator among all our members is the use of biotechnology at any stage of research, development or manufacturing.
The EuropaBio Most Innovative SME Award aims to showcase some of the most outstanding examples of how biotechnology is of real benefit to society in areas as diverse as healthcare, agriculture, and industrial processes.
About ERYTECH: www.erytech.com
Created in Lyon in 2004, ERYTECH is a French biopharmaceutical company providing new prospects for cancer patients, particularly those with acute leukemia and selected solid tumors.
By encapsulating the asparaginase enzyme in red blood cells, ERYTECH has developed ERY-ASP/GRASPA®, an original treatment that targets cancer cells through “tumor starvation” while significantly reducing the side effects for patients. ERY-ASP/GRASPA® is currently completing Phase III clinical development in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and is in Phase IIb clinical trial in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in Europe. The product is also in Phase I/II clinical development in ALL in the USA.
Every year about 50,000 patients are diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) or Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), the two forms of acute leukemia. Today, for about 80% of these patients, mainly adults and relapsing patients, current forms of asparaginase cannot be used due to their toxicity. With a presumed improved safety profile, ERY-ASP is being developed to allow all leukemia patients to be treated, even the most fragile ones, representing a market opportunity of more than EUR 1 billion.
The company is also developing other indications in solid tumors and certain orphan indications outside oncology. The company is currently launching a Phase II study in pancreas cancer and it exploring other solid tumor indications.
ERYTECH has obtained orphan drug designations for ERY-ASP/GRASPA in ALL, AML and pancreas cancer, both in Europe and the USA, and has its own GMP-approved and operational manufacturing site in Lyon (France), and a site for clinical production in Philadelphia (USA).
The company has concluded licensing and distribution partnership agreements for ALL and AML in Europe with Orphan Europe (Recordati Group), and for ALL with TEVA in Israel.
ERYTECH is listed on Euronext regulated market in Paris. (ISIN code: FR0011471135, ticker: ERYP) and is part of the CAC Healthcare, CAC Pharm. & Bio and Next Biotech indexes.
Forward-looking information
This document may contain forward-looking statements and estimates with respect to the financial situation, the results of operations, the strategy, the project and to the anticipated future performance of ERYTECH and of the market in which it operates. Certain of these statements, forecasts and estimates can be recognized by the use of words such as, without limitation, “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “seeks”, “estimates”, “may”, “will” and “continue” and similar expressions. They include all matters that are not historical facts. Such statements, forecasts and estimates are based on various assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which were deemed reasonable when made but may or may not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict and may depend upon factors that are beyond the Company's control. Therefore, actual results, the financial condition, performance or achievements of ERYTECH, or industry results, may turn out to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements, forecasts and estimates. Documents filed by ERYTECH Pharma with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (www.amf-france.org), also available on our website (www.erytech.com) describe such risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, no representations are made as to the accuracy or fairness of such forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates. Furthermore, forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates only speak as of the date of the publication of this document. ERYTECH disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statement, forecast or estimates to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with regard thereto, or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement, forecast or estimate is based, except to the extent required by French law.