Epizyme Announces FDA Advisory Committee Votes Unanimously in Favor of Tazemetostat for the Treatment of Patients with Epithelioid Sarcoma

“We are incredibly pleased by ODAC’s unanimous support of the benefit-risk of tazemetostat in ES, and we appreciate the tremendous support received from sarcoma physicians and their medical teams, advocates, caregivers and most notably, patients with ES,” said Dr. Shefali Agarwal, chief medical officer of Epizyme. “We believe the strength of the totality of data, including the observed durable responses and stabilization of disease, safety and tolerability, are distinguishing characteristics of tazemetostat for patients living with this disease. We are thrilled by the panel’s support and look forward to working closely with the Agency as they continue their review of our NDA. I am confident that we have submitted a comprehensive clinical data package for ES to support tazemetostat’s approval.”

ES is a rare and aggressive soft tissue sarcoma characterized by a loss of the INI1 protein. Patients are most commonly diagnosed as young adults, between 20 and 40 years of age, typically with no patients living past five years from diagnosis. ES becomes more aggressive after recurrence or once it has metastasized, with a typical survival of less than one year for patients with metastatic disease.

“Today’s ODAC outcome is a significant step toward addressing the critical needs of ES patients,” said Robert Bazemore, president and chief executive officer of Epizyme. “This is a remarkable achievement marking the culmination of years of hard work by the entire Epizyme team. If approved, we will have the opportunity to change how patients with this devastating cancer are treated. Our commercial-readiness is complete, and we look forward to finalizing our dialog with the FDA.”

The ODAC is an independent panel of experts that evaluates data concerning the efficacy and safety of marketed and investigational cancer treatments and makes recommendations to the FDA. The New Drug Application (NDA) for tazemetostat, an investigational, oral, first-in-class EZH2 inhibitor, is currently under Priority Review by the FDA with a PDUFA target action date of January 23, 2020. Epizyme’s NDA submission is based primarily on data from the 62 patient epithelioid sarcoma cohort of its ongoing Phase 2 study of tazemetostat, which were reported at the 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting.

About Epizyme, Inc.
Epizyme, Inc. is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to rewriting treatment for cancer and other serious diseases through novel epigenetic medicines. Epizyme is broadly developing its lead product candidate, tazemetostat, an oral, first-in-class EZH2 inhibitor, with investigational studies underway in both solid tumors and hematological malignancies, as a monotherapy and combination therapy in relapsed and front-line disease. The company is also exploring additional molecules in its novel G9a inhibitor program. By focusing on the genetic drivers of disease, Epizyme’s science seeks to match targeted medicines with the patients who need them. For more information, visit www.epizyme.com.

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: whether the FDA will approve the NDA submitted for tazemetostat; whether results from clinical studies will warrant meetings with regulatory authorities, submissions for regulatory approval or review by governmental authorities under the accelerated approval process; whether Fast Track Designation and Orphan Drug Designations will provide the benefits for which tazemetostat is eligible; expectations for regulatory approvals, including accelerated approval, to conduct trials or to market products; whether the company’s cash resources will be sufficient to fund 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; and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the company’s most recent Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and in the company’s 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 and should not be relied upon as representing the company’s views as of any date subsequent to 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.

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