ERYTECH Pharma provides an update on its development plans to broaden the scope of its lead product ERYASP into the field of solid tumors and announced the launch of a Phase II study in pancreatic cancer. After having performed multiple clinical studies with promising results in acute leukemia, the research and development teams of ERYTECH have, in collaboration with researchers at the world known MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, worked intensively at confirming the mode of action and the potential of ERYASP in other cancer indications. In extensive testing on a large number of tumor samples, it was found and published in a high ranking peer reviewed journal that 50% to 90% of known solid tumors are eligible for treatment through the concept of tumor starvation by administration of asparaginase.

ERYTECH has demonstrated that solid tumors such as pancreatic, liver, bladder and ovarian cancer are potentially sensitive to an asparaginase-based treatment, which represents a multi-billion market opportunity for the product, potentially an order of magnitude much larger than the already sizeable opportunity in acute leukemia. The company has retained pancreatic cancer, a very aggressive form of cancer with few treatment options, as the lead indication for ERYASP in solid tumors. In Europe and the USA alone, every year about 140,000 patients are newly diagnosed with pancreas cancer.

With an overall 5 year survival of 6% to 10%, pancreas cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. Having already successfully completed a Phase I study in late stage pancreas cancer, in which the tolerability of ERYASP has been confirmed in this very fragile patient population, ERYTECH has decided to continue the development in solid tumors by performing a Phase II study in second line pancreas cancer. In a study of about 100 patients, ERYASP in addition to the best standard of care will be compared to the best standard of care alone in a 2-to 1 randomization.