PCI Biotech with pivotal study in 2018
Our portfolio company PCI Biotech (OSE: PCIB) got an early Christmas present this year. For some time, they have been in dialogue with the regulatory authorities in the US and Europe. On December 20th, they sent out the notice that they in 2018 will start a pivotal, randomized study on the development of fimaporfin in combination with gemcitabine for treatment of inoperable cholangiocarcinoma, bile duct cancer.
Dr Per Walday, CEO of PCI Biotech, said:
“With promising efficacy results generated so far, orphan drug designations granted and guidance from regulators and key opinion leaders, we are focused on finalising the preparations for the pivotal randomised adaptive study. Patients with inoperable cholangiocarcinoma have no approved treatment alternatives today and fimaporfin has the potential to play a role in this area of high unmet medical need. We are therefore pleased that the regulators are open to a potential approval based on interim results“.
A common understanding between the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been reached on several important factors for a pivotal study with fimaporfin in inoperable cholangiocarcinoma, including the sufficiency of a single randomised two-arm study and importantly, the potential for accelerated/conditional approval based on interim results.
The required randomised study will provide the opportunity to generate robust comparative data of importance for market acceptance of fimaporfin as a first line treatment of inoperable cholangiocarcinoma.
Further information on the study, which is planned for initiation during the first half of 2018, will be announced following completion of discussions with regulators and clinical advisors.
About PCI Biotech
PCI Biotech is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on development and commercialisation of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer through its innovative photochemical internalisation (PCI) technology platform. PCI is applied to three distinct anticancer paradigms: fimaCHEM (enhancement of chemotherapeutics for localised treatment of cancer), fimaVACC (T-cell induction technology for therapeutic vaccination), and fimaNAc (nucleic acid therapeutics delivery).
Photochemical internalisation induces triggered endosomal release that is used to unlock the true potential of a wide array of therapeutic modalities. The company’s lead fimaCHEM programme consists of a Phase I/II clinical study in bile duct cancer, an orphan indication with a high unmet need and without approved products. fimaVACCapplies a unique mode of action to enhance the essential cytotoxic effect of therapeutic cancer vaccines, which works in synergy with several other state-of-the-art vaccination technologies. fimaNAc utilises the endosomal release to provide intracellular delivery of nucleic acids, such as mRNA and siRNA therapeutics, thereby addressing one of the major bottlenecks facing this emerging and promising field.
