Torrance-based Emmaus Life Sciences Inc. announced Aug. 31 an option agreement with Beverly Grove-based Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to continue researching the use of Emmaus’ existing drug Endari in treating pancreatic cancer.
The Food and Drug Administration in 2017 approved the L-glutamine oral powder drug to treat pediatric sickle cell disease. The drug has also been approved for this use in several Persian Gulf countries.
“We are incredibly proud to explore the broader potential of our therapies,” Willis Lee, chief executive of Emmaus Life Sciences, said in the company’s announcement. “While Emmaus has historically been recognized for our breakthrough treatment in sickle cell disease, we believe that this agreement represents an important step in exploring new options for patients with pancreatic cancer.”
Specifically, the researchers from both Emmaus Life Sciences and Cedars-Sinai have since 2020 been investigating the use of Endari in combination with chemotherapy to treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, or PDAC for short. According to Emmaus’ statement, PDAC is the most common type of pancreatic cancer and is notoriously difficult to treat, often presenting with late-stage diagnoses and limited therapeutic options.
Clinical trial results
The new research option agreement follows the expected publication of clinical trial results in the journal Nature Cancer, the announcement said.
The announcement said that a 16-patient Phase 1 clinical trial was associated with tumor shrinkage in 94% of patients, including two patients in which all signs of cancer disappeared.
Although a penny stock, shares of Emmaus Life Sciences jumped on these results, reaching a 52-week high of 8 cents on Aug. 28 in the over-the-counter market.
According to a spokesperson for Emmaus Life Sciences, Cedars-Sinai’s Beverly Grove campus will likely be one of the sites for the upcoming large-scale Phase 3 clinical trials that will include at least several hundred patients.
Phase 3 clinical trials are generally regarded as the final clinical trial step before a drug is submitted to the FDA for review.
The spokesperson also shed more light on the option agreement. He said it builds on a 2021 agreement between the two parties and that it grants Emmaus Life Sciences an exclusive period of 18 to 24 months to exercise the option and sign a license agreement.
