Debiopharm to Present Late Breaking Head & Neck Cancer Abstract at the 2020 European Society of Medical Oncology Congress

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Sept. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Debiopharm, (www.debiopharm.com) a biopharmaceutical company based in Switzerland, today announced data releases on 2 investigational oncology programs including xevinapant (Debio 1143) and their selective WEE1 inhibitor (Debio 0123), at the European Society Of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Virtual Congress taking place virtually from September 19(th) - 21(st). The abstract and poster presentations are a part of Debiopharm's maturing oncology portfolio which evaluates novel, first-in-class oncology and compounds that respond to high unmet needs in a wide range of cancer types.

The virtual late breaking abstract presentation of the 3-year update for the xevinapant phase II study in high-risk previously untreated locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA-SCCHN) patients, will be given by professor Jean Bourhis, lead investigator of the study. The talk will include the statistically significant overall survival data suggesting the reduction of the risk of death by 50% with this phase III (https://patients.debiopharm.com/head-and-neck-cancer/) investigational therapy + chemoradiotherapy (CRT) vs. CRT alone.

In addition, two phase I posters will be made available for xevinapant in combination with nivolumab and for Debio 0123, the oral WEE1 inhibitor in combination with carboplatin for the treatment of solid tumors.

"We are excited to introduce first clinical data with Debio 0123 and provide a number of important updates on xevinapant during the upcoming ESMO meeting. The updated clinical data from our phase II study in Head & Neck cancer will highlight our progress towards developing a novel therapy that could significantly extend the lives of these high risk patients," expressed Angela Zubel - Chief Development Officer, R&D, Debiopharm

"The benefit to patients with xevinapant vs. chemo-radiotherapy alone at 3 years is an improvement that has not been seen in over 30 years of research, " commented Pr. Jean Bourhis, Head of the Radio-Oncology Department CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland, and Lead Investigator of the study. "These results suggest a chemo-radio-enhancing effect, warranting further assessment during an ongoing phase III trial for LA-SCCHN patients."

         ESMO
         2020
         Session
         Details    
      Abstract                         
      Presenting investigator

    ---

                      LBA39 - 3-years follow-up of
                        double-blind randomized phase
                        II comparing concurrent high-
                        dose cisplatin chemo-radiation
                        plus Debio-1143 (xevinapant)
                        or placebo in high-risk
                        patients with locally advanced
                        squamous cell carcinoma of the
        Sept.19th       head and neck                   
      Prof. Jean Bourhis,

        Channel 3                                          Head of Radio-Oncology CHUV,
                                                            Lausanne, Switzerland, Lead
                                                            study author

         12:54
         -
         13:04

         Proffered
         Paper
         -
         Head
         and
         neck
         cancer
         session
         12:30
         -
         14:10

    ---

                      560P - Safety and efficacy of       Analia B. Azaro Pedrazzoli
                        Debio 1143, an antagonist of        (Barcelona, Spain)
                        inhibitor of apoptosis proteins
                        (IAPs), in combination with
                        nivolumab in a phase Ib/II
                        trial in patients (pts) failing
        Available       prior PD-1/PD-L1 treatment

         Sept.
         17th

         Poster
         Display
         Session

    ---

                      601TiP - First-in-human phase       Hans Gelderblom (Leiden,
                        I study of a novel oral Wee1        Netherlands)
                        inhibitor (Debio 0123) in
                        combination with carboplatin in
                        patients with advanced solid
        Available       tumors

         Sept.
         17th

         Poster
         Display
         Session

    ---

         Virtual       Visit the Debiopharm virtual
         Exhibition     booth here                         Questions & Live Chat Available

    ---

About xevinapant

Xevinapant (Debio 1143) is a potential first-in-class oral antagonist of IAPs (inhibitor of apoptosis proteins), that sensitizes tumor cells to radio-chemo-therapy by promoting programmed cell death and fostering anti-tumor immunity. The clinical benefit observed in high risk LA-SCCHN patients suggests that the addition of xevinapant into widely used CRT regimens is a promising investigational approach over a broad range of cancer types. Over 200 patients have been treated so far in various indications and lines of treatment, showing an adequate and consistent safety profile across studies.

About Debio 0123

Debio 0123 is a WEE1 kinase inhibitor. WEE1 is a key regulator of the G2/M and S phase checkpoints, activated in response to DNA damage, to allow cells to repair their DNA before resuming their cycle. Inhibition of WEE1, particularly in combination with DNA damaging agents, induces an overload of DNA breaks, and in conjunction with abrogation of other checkpoints, such as G1 controlled by p53, pushes the cells through cycle without DNA repair, promotes mitotic catastrophe and induces apoptosis of cancer cells.

Debiopharm's commitment to cancer patients

Debiopharm aims to develop innovative therapies that target high unmet medical needs in oncology. Bridging the gap between disruptive discovery products and real-world patient reach, we identify high-potential compounds for in-licensing, clinically demonstrate their safety and efficacy and then select large pharmaceutical commercialization partners to maximize patient access globally.

For more information, please visit www.debiopharm.com

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SOURCE Debiopharm