Galera Announces Oral Presentation at 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting Detailing Results from Phase 3 ROMAN Trial of Avasopasem
May 26 2022 - 05:00PM
GlobeNewswire Inc.
Galera Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GRTX), a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing
a pipeline of novel, proprietary therapeutics that have the
potential to transform radiotherapy in cancer, today announced data
from its Phase 3 ROMAN trial of avasopasem for severe oral
mucositis will be highlighted in an oral presentation at the 2022
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on
Friday, June 3, 2022 from 2:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. CDT during the Head
and Neck Cancer session. Topline data was announced in December
2021. Abstracts are currently available in the ASCO digital
program.
“We are pleased that our Phase 3 trial of avasopasem was
selected for an oral presentation at ASCO, where details of the
clinically meaningful and statistically significant results will be
shared,” said Mel Sorensen, M.D., Galera’s President and CEO. “Our
research shows that radiation oncologists and patients cite SOM as
the most burdensome radiotherapy toxicity in head and neck cancer
treatment, and there are currently no FDA-approved drugs to reduce
the incidence or duration of SOM in solid tumors. Avasopasem has
been granted Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track Designations by
the U.S. FDA for the reduction of SOM induced by radiotherapy, and
we look forward to submitting a New Drug Application to the FDA by
year end in order to bring this potential treatment to patients as
quickly as possible.”
Results from the 455-patient Phase 3 trial demonstrated a
meaningful reduction in patients’ SOM burden across multiple
endpoints, with statistically significant reductions on the primary
endpoint of incidence of SOM and the secondary endpoint of number
of days of SOM, more than halving the median number of days a
patient suffered SOM. Exploratory analyses, such as time to SOM
onset and SOM incidence at various landmarks of radiotherapy
delivered, also demonstrated clinical benefit of avasopasem in
reducing the burden of SOM. Avasopasem also appeared to be
generally well tolerated compared to placebo. These results are
consistent with those from the positive 223-patient Phase 2b trial
(Anderson, J Clin Oncol, 2019) that was the basis for Breakthrough
Therapy Designation.
Additionally, Galera’s Phase 2 GRECO-2 study of rucosopasem
(GC4711) in combination with stereotactic body radiation therapy in
pancreatic cancer will be presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting in a
Trials in Progress poster session on Saturday, June 4, 2022, from
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. CDT. The primary endpoint of this trial is
overall survival.
About Severe Oral Mucositis (SOM)Approximately
42,000 patients with head and neck cancer undergo standard-of-care
radiotherapy every year in the U.S. and are at risk of experiencing
SOM. In patients with head and neck cancer, radiotherapy is a
mainstay of treatment. Approximately 70 percent of patients
receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer develop SOM,
defined by the inability to eat solid food or drink liquids. The
impact on patients who develop SOM is substantial, particularly
when hospitalization and/or surgical placement of PEG tubes to
maintain nutrition and hydration are required. SOM can adversely
affect cancer treatment outcomes by causing interruptions in
radiotherapy, which may compromise the otherwise good prognosis for
tumor control in many of these patients. There is currently no drug
approved to prevent or treat SOM for these patients.
About AvasopasemAvasopasem manganese
(avasopasem, or GC4419) is a selective small molecule dismutase
mimetic in development for the reduction of radiation-induced
severe oral mucositis (SOM) in patients with locally advanced head
and neck cancer (HNC) and for the reduction of radiation-induced
esophagitis in patients with lung cancer. The FDA has granted Fast
Track and Breakthrough Therapy designations to avasopasem for the
reduction of SOM induced by radiotherapy, with or without systemic
therapy.
About Galera TherapeuticsGalera Therapeutics,
Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on
developing and commercializing a pipeline of novel, proprietary
therapeutic candidates that have the potential to transform
radiotherapy in cancer. Galera’s selective dismutase mimetic
product candidate avasopasem manganese (GC4419, also referred to as
avasopasem) is being evaluated for radiotherapy-induced toxicities.
The Company’s second product candidate, rucosopasem manganese
(GC4711, also referred to as rucosopasem), is in clinical-stage
development to augment the anti-cancer efficacy of stereotactic
body radiation therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer
and locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Galera is headquartered in
Malvern, PA. For more information, please
visit www.galeratx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements
contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of
historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements,
including without limitation statements regarding: the potential of
Galera’s product candidates to transform radiotherapy in cancer;
the expectations surrounding the continued advancement of Galera’s
product pipeline; the potential safety and efficacy of Galera’s
product candidates and their regulatory and clinical development;
and the timing of the submission of an NDA for avasopasem for the
treatment of radiotherapy-induced SOM in patients with locally
advanced head and neck cancer with the FDA and the potential for
approval; and the expectations surrounding the progress of the
Phase 2b trial of rucosopasem (GC 4711) in patients with locally
advance pancreatic cancer. These forward-looking statements are
based on management’s current expectations. These statements are
neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause
Galera’s actual results, performance or achievements to be
materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements, including, but not limited to, the following: Galera’s
limited operating history; anticipating continued losses for the
foreseeable future; needing substantial funding and the ability to
raise capital; Galera’s dependence on avasopasem manganese
(GC4419); uncertainties inherent in the conduct of clinical trials;
difficulties or delays enrolling patients in clinical trials; the
FDA’s acceptance of data from clinical trials outside the United
States; undesirable side effects from Galera’s product candidates;
risks relating to the regulatory approval process; failure to
capitalize on more profitable product candidates or indications;
ability to receive or maintain Breakthrough Therapy Designation or
Fast Track Designation for product candidates; failure to obtain
regulatory approval of product candidates in the United States or
other jurisdictions; ongoing regulatory obligations and continued
regulatory review; risks related to commercialization; risks
related to competition; ability to retain key employees and manage
growth; risks related to intellectual property; inability to
maintain collaborations or the failure of these collaborations;
Galera’s reliance on third parties; the possibility of system
failures or security breaches; liability related to the privacy of
health information obtained from clinical trials and product
liability lawsuits; unfavorable pricing regulations, third-party
reimbursement practices or healthcare reform initiatives;
environmental, health and safety laws and regulations; the impact
of the COVID-19 pandemic on Galera’s business and operations,
including preclinical studies and clinical trials, and general
economic conditions; risks related to ownership of Galera’s common
stock; and significant costs as a result of operating as a public
company. These and other important factors discussed under the
caption “Risk Factors” in Galera’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) and Galera’s other filings with the SEC
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press
release. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date
of this press release and are based on information available to
Galera as of the date of this release, and Galera assumes no
obligation to, and does not intend to, update any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
Investor Contacts:Christopher DegnanGalera
Therapeutics, Inc.610-725-1500cdegnan@galeratx.com
William WindhamSolebury
Trout646-378-2946wwindham@soleburytrout.com
Media Contact:Zara LockshinSolebury
Trout330-417-6250zlockshin@soleburytrout.com
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