Devimistat (CPI-613®) to be Explored in a New Combination for T-Cell Lymphoma Treatment as Part of Stand Up To Cancer’s T-...
February 07 2019 - 08:55AM
Rafael Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Rafael” or the “Company”), a leader
in the growing field of cancer metabolism-based therapeutics, today
announced that devimistat will be investigated in a new combination
for the treatment of T-Cell Lymphoma under the ‘Tailoring CAR-based
immunotherapy strategies to T-Cell Lymphoma’ project as a part of
Stand Up To Cancer’s T-Cell Lymphoma Dream Team Research Grant.
In addition to studying the new drug combination, investigators
will perform sophisticated genetic tests to determine potential
responders to the drug and whether this combination may be used
prior to chimeric antigen receptor therapy (CAR-T) under the
direction of Dr. Wei Zhang and Dr. Timothy Pardee.
According to Dr. Zanetta Lamar, a lymphoma specialist and an
investigator on the grant, “We must develop better treatments for
those with T-Cell Lymphomas. Although treatments are available,
many patients who achieve remission will, unfortunately, experience
a relapse. In addition, there is no consensus treatment for
patients with this recurrent and difficult to treat disease.” She
added that this new combination therapy of devimistat is a unique
way to treat cancer and does not have some of the common
chemotherapeutic side effects such as hair loss.
Sanjeev Luther, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rafael
Pharmaceuticals, commented, “Our motto, ‘To Save A Life Is To Save
A Universe,’ illustrates our desire to develop potential treatments
for patients with significant unmet clinical need. Research under
this grant will explore devimistat in a new combination for T-Cell
Lymphoma, and we believe this will help in identifying new
therapeutic options.”
About devimistat (CPI-613®):Devimistat is a
first-in-class drug developed based on Rafael’s Altered Metabolism
Directed (AMD) platform. Devimistat targets the altered regulation
of metabolic processes specific to cancer cells. It is highly
specific, simultaneously attacks multiple targets, minimally toxic
and has broad spectrum activity across a wide variety of cancers.
Devimistat has been evaluated in 19 ongoing or completed trials as
a single agent, as well as in combination with standard drug
therapies for hematological malignancies and solid tumors. To date,
over 330 patients have received one or more doses of devimistat and
the drug has exhibited a very good signal of efficacy with
excellent response rates and extended durations of response in
several tumor types. In pancreatic cancer, devimistat in
combination with modified FOLFIRINOX exhibited an objective
response rate of 61%, median overall survival of 19.9 months and
median progression free survival of 9.9 months. In elderly patients
with AML, devimistat in combination with high dose cytarabine and
mitoxantrone exhibited a 52% CR+CRi and 12.4 months median overall
survival. In both of these trials, the efficacy of devimistat
combinations was substantially higher than standard therapy. In
T-Cell Lymphoma, devimistat in combination with bendamustine
exhibited a 75% objective response rate. Devimistat also showed a
very good safety profile both as a single agent and in combination
with other standard-of-care drugs. The U.S. FDA has granted
devimistat orphan drug designations for Pancreatic Cancer, AML,
MDS, Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma and Burkitt’s Lymphoma. The EMA has
granted devimistat orphan drug designations for Pancreatic Cancer
and AML.
About Rafael Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Rafael
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage, metabolic oncology
therapeutics company committed to the development and
commercialization of therapies that exploit the metabolic
differences between normal cells and cancer cells. Rafael’s primary
objective is to develop innovative, highly selective, well
tolerated and highly effective anti-cancer agents by selectively
targeting altered metabolism in cancer cells. Rafael’s
first-in-class clinical lead compound, devimistat is being
evaluated in multiple Phase I, I/II, and II clinical studies.
Devimistat has been granted orphan drug designation for the
treatment of Pancreatic Cancer, Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML),
Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL), Burkitt Lymphoma and
myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Investors in Rafael
Pharmaceuticals include Rafael Holdings, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN:
RFL).
For more information,
visit http://www.rafaelpharma.com/.
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ContactSanjeev Luther
President & CEO Rafael Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
sanjeev.luther@rafaelpharma.com
Jacob Jonas Public Relations, Rafael
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. jacob.jonas@rafaelpharma.com
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