Epizyme To Present Clinical Data From Ongoing Phase 1 Dose Escalation Trial Of Tazemetostat (EPZ-6438) At The European Cancer Congress
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Epizyme, Inc. (NASDAQ: EPZM), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company creating novel epigenetic therapies for cancer patients, announced today that updated data from the phase 1 portion of its ongoing phase 1/2 study of tazemetostat will be presented during the European Cancer Congress 2015, hosted by the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), to be held in Vienna, Austria, September 25-28, 2015. Tazemetostat is a first-in-class EZH2 inhibitor that Epizyme is currently studying in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and advanced solid tumors, including INI1-deficient tumors.
A Phase 1 Study of EPZ-6438 (E7438), an Enhancer of Zeste-Homolog 2
(EZH2)
Inhibitor: Preliminary Activity in INI1-negative
Tumors
Speaker: Antonine Italiano, M.D., Ph.D., Institut
Bergonié, Bourdeaux, France
Session Title: Proffered Paper
Session: Early Drug Development (Hall C1)
Session Date/Time:
Saturday, September 26, 10:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. CET
About EZH2 in Cancer
EZH2 is a histone methyltransferase
(HMT) that is increasingly understood to play a potentially oncogenic
role in a number of cancers. These include non-Hodgkin lymphomas,
INI1-deficient cancers such as malignant rhabdoid tumors, epithelioid
sarcomas and synovial sarcoma; and a range of other solid tumors.
About Tazemetostat
Epizyme is developing tazemetostat for
the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients and patients with
INI1-deficient solid tumors. Tazemetostat is a first-in-class small
molecule inhibitor of EZH2 created by Epizyme using its proprietary
product platform. In some human cancers, aberrant EZH2 enzyme activity
results in misregulation of genes that control cell proliferation
resulting in the rapid and unconstrained growth of tumor cells.
Tazemetostat is the WHO International Non-Proprietary Name (INN) for
compound EPZ-6438.
Tazemetostat is the second HMT inhibitor to enter human clinical development (following Epizyme's DOT1L inhibitor, pinometostat, also known as EPZ-5676).
Additional information about this program, including clinical trial information, may be found here: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01897571
About Epizyme, Inc.
Epizyme, Inc. is a clinical stage
biopharmaceutical company creating novel epigenetic therapeutics for
cancer patients. Epizyme has built a proprietary product platform that
the Company uses to create small molecule inhibitors of a 96-member
class of enzymes known as histone methyltransferases, or HMTs. HMTs are
part of the system of gene regulation, referred to as epigenetics, that
controls gene expression. Genetic alterations can result in changes to
the activity of HMTs, making them oncogenic (cancer-causing). By
focusing on the genetic drivers of cancers, Epizyme's targeted science
seeks to match the right medicines with the right patients.
For more information, visit www.epizyme.com and connect with us on Twitter at @EpizymeRx.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Epizyme, Inc. and other statements containing the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "target," "potential," "will," "would," "could," "should," "continue," and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: uncertainties inherent in the initiation of future clinical studies or expansion of ongoing clinical studies; availability and timing of data from ongoing clinical studies; whether interim results from a clinical trial such as the results referred to in this release will be predictive of the final results of the trial or the results of future trials; expectations for regulatory approvals to conduct trials or to market products; development progress of the Company’s companion diagnostics, availability of funding sufficient for the Company’s foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements; other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of the Company’s therapeutic candidates or companion diagnostics; and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the company’s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on April 28, 2015, and in our other filings from time to time with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date hereof. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.
Epizyme, Inc.
Media/Investors:
Andrew Singer,
617-500-0712
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
asinger@epizyme.com