Date: 2012-11-23
Type of information: Licensing agreement
Compound: Graspa® (L-asparaginase encapsulated in red blood cells, using technology owned by Erytech Pharma)
Company: Orphan Europe, part of Recordati Group (Italy) Erytech (France)
Therapeutic area: Cancer - Oncology
Type agreement: licensing
Action mechanism: Graspa® is a new formulation of L-asparaginase with a safer and broader range of clinical use than existing forms due to the entrapment and protection of the enzyme inside homologous red blood cells. The added value of Graspa® (by encapsulating L-asparaginase in red blood cells) relates to its ability to overcome existing limitations associated with conventional L-asparaginase via longer efficacy, better compliance, reduced doses and a better safety profile. Graspa® is intended to satisfy the unmet medical needs of frail patients, patients suffering relapses and other patient groups for whom the current treatments are not suitable.
Disease: acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Details: Recordati has announced that its subsidiary Orphan Europe and Erytech Pharma, a late development stage French biopharmaceutical company focused on orphan oncology and rare diseases, have entered into an agreement granting Orphan Europe the exclusive rights for the commercialization and distribution of Graspa® for the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in Europe. Graspa®, human erythrocytes encapsulating L-asparaginase, for the treatment of hematological malignancies, is currently in pivotal Phase II/III clinical trial for ALL and will enter a Phase IIb trial in AML in Europe. The product has obtained an orphan drug designation in Europe and the USA for ALL. Erytech Pharma intends now to focus on developments in the US in solid tumors and in other rare disease indications.
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