Oxford, UK, 12 September 2016 – Summit Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: SMMT, AIM: SUMM), the drug discovery and development company advancing therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (‘DMD’) and Clostridium difficile infection, today launches www.utrophintrials.com as an online resource for the DMD community. This website is dedicated to providing up to date information on utrophin and Summit’s utrophin modulator clinical trials.
Utrophin modulation has the potential to treat all patients with DMD, regardless of their underlying dystrophin gene mutation. Summit’s most advanced candidate is called ezutromid and is being tested in a Phase 2 proof of concept clinical trial called PhaseOut DMD.
“We recognise the dedication and engagement of the DMD community in the search for solutions for this fatal muscle wasting disease, and with this website, seek to provide this community with access to important information about our utrophin modulator programme and clinical trials,” said Glyn Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of Summit. “We are committed to broadening our relationship with the DMD community as we advance ezutromid and other utrophin modulators, which may have the potential to treat all patients with DMD.”
More information about utrophin modulation and Summit’s clinical trials is available at www.utrophintrials.com.
About DMD and Utrophin Modulation
DMD is a progressive muscle wasting disease that affects around 50,000 boys and young men in the developed world. The disease is caused by different genetic faults in the gene that encodes dystrophin, a protein that is essential for the healthy function of all muscles. There is currently no cure for DMD and life expectancy is into the late twenties. Utrophin protein is functionally and structurally similar to dystrophin. In preclinical studies, the continued expression of utrophin has a meaningful, positive effect on muscle performance. Summit believes that utrophin modulation has the potential to treat all patients with DMD, regardless of the underlying dystrophin gene mutation. Summit also believes that utrophin modulation could potentially be complementary to other therapeutic approaches for DMD. The Company’s lead utrophin modulator, ezutromid, is an orally administered, small molecule. DMD is an orphan disease, and the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency have granted orphan drug status to ezutromid. Orphan drugs receive a number of benefits including additional regulatory support and a period of market exclusivity following approval.
About Summit Therapeutics
Summit is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialisation of novel medicines for indications for which there are no existing or only inadequate therapies. Summit is conducting clinical programmes focused on the genetic disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the infectious disease C. difficile infection. Further information is available at www.summitplc.com and Summit can be followed on Twitter (@summitplc).
Utrophin modulation has the potential to treat all patients with DMD, regardless of their underlying dystrophin gene mutation. Summit’s most advanced candidate is called ezutromid and is being tested in a Phase 2 proof of concept clinical trial called PhaseOut DMD.
“We recognise the dedication and engagement of the DMD community in the search for solutions for this fatal muscle wasting disease, and with this website, seek to provide this community with access to important information about our utrophin modulator programme and clinical trials,” said Glyn Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of Summit. “We are committed to broadening our relationship with the DMD community as we advance ezutromid and other utrophin modulators, which may have the potential to treat all patients with DMD.”
More information about utrophin modulation and Summit’s clinical trials is available at www.utrophintrials.com.
About DMD and Utrophin Modulation
DMD is a progressive muscle wasting disease that affects around 50,000 boys and young men in the developed world. The disease is caused by different genetic faults in the gene that encodes dystrophin, a protein that is essential for the healthy function of all muscles. There is currently no cure for DMD and life expectancy is into the late twenties. Utrophin protein is functionally and structurally similar to dystrophin. In preclinical studies, the continued expression of utrophin has a meaningful, positive effect on muscle performance. Summit believes that utrophin modulation has the potential to treat all patients with DMD, regardless of the underlying dystrophin gene mutation. Summit also believes that utrophin modulation could potentially be complementary to other therapeutic approaches for DMD. The Company’s lead utrophin modulator, ezutromid, is an orally administered, small molecule. DMD is an orphan disease, and the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency have granted orphan drug status to ezutromid. Orphan drugs receive a number of benefits including additional regulatory support and a period of market exclusivity following approval.
About Summit Therapeutics
Summit is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialisation of novel medicines for indications for which there are no existing or only inadequate therapies. Summit is conducting clinical programmes focused on the genetic disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the infectious disease C. difficile infection. Further information is available at www.summitplc.com and Summit can be followed on Twitter (@summitplc).
