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ErgomedAnnouncement

16/07/2015 13:23

RNS Number : 6772R
Ergomed plc
30 June 2015
Ergomed's Co-Development Partner Aeterna Zentaris Completes Patient Recruitment for ZoptEC Phase 3 Study with Zoptarelin Doxorubicin in Advanced Endometrial Cancer
Recruitment completed ahead of schedule
Guildford, UK - 30 June 2015: Ergomed plc, (LSE:ERGO or 'Ergomed') a profitable UK-based company, dedicated to the provision of specialised services to the pharmaceutical industry and the development of new drugs, is pleased to note that its co-development partner Aeterna Zentaris (NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX: AEZ), has completed the recruitment of 500 patients for its Phase 3 ZoptEC (Zoptarelin Doxorubicin in Endometrial Cancer) pivotal study with zoptarelin doxorubicin in women with advanced, recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer.
Miroslav Reljanovic, Chief Executive Officer of Ergomed, commented: "The ZoptEC study is being conducted in over 120 sites in North America, Europe and Israel, and we are pleased that recruitment goals were met ahead of schedule, This is testament to Ergomed's international experience and local knowledge, which enables the most efficient study management structure through our site management model, delivering faster recruitment of quality patients to agreed timelines.
"We believe that zoptarelin doxorubicin has the potential to provide a new treatment for women with endometrial cancer, and look forward to obtaining data and progressing this study with our co-development partner Aeterna Zentaris, who are also advancing their plans for the commercialisation of this product."
The announcement issued by Aeterna Zentaris follows:
Aeterna Zentaris Completes Patient Recruitment for ZoptEC Phase 3 Study with Zoptarelin Doxorubicin in Advanced Endometrial Cancer
Qubec City, Canada, June 30, 2015 - Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX: AEZ) (the "Company") today announced it has reached its goal of recruiting 500 patients for its pivotal Phase 3 ZoptEC (Zoptarelin Doxorubicin in Endometrial Cancer) clinical study with zoptarelin doxorubicin in women with advanced, recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer. The trial is being conducted in over 120 sites in North America, Europe and Israel. The primary efficacy endpoint is improvement in overall survival. 
Following its first pre specified interim analysis last April, a Data and Safety Monitoring Board recommended that the ZoptEC Phase 3 study continue as planned. A second interim analysis is expected during Q4, 2015 at approximately 192 events, with the final analysis planned at an anticipated 384 events. The trial is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.
David Dodd, Chairman and CEO of Aeterna Zentaris, commented: "We are very excited to have completed patient recruitment for our ZoptEC Phase 3 trial in endometrial cancer earlier than expected, and I would like to thank everyone involved in this project for their steadfast commitment. We believe zoptarelin doxorubicin has the potential to become the first FDA approved medical therapy for advanced, recurrent endometrial cancer. This could result in its rapid adoption as a novel core therapy for patient treatment and management, and therefore, could represent a significant market opportunity for the Company. Moving forward, we are continuing to develop our commercialization plans regarding zoptarelin doxorubicin in this indication, including establishing additional partnerships in territories that we do not intend to pursue ourselves. Furthermore, contingent on the success of the ZoptEC program, we have additional areas of interest for further therapeutic development, including ovarian, prostate and triple negative breast cancer. Our commitment is to provide therapies to patients and their physicians that can potentially improve and extend the quality of lives."
About the ZoptEC Phase 3 trial
The ZoptEC Phase 3 trial is an open-label, randomized-controlled study, comparing the efficacy and safety of zoptarelin doxorubicin, a hybrid molecule composed of a synthetic peptide carrier and a well known chemotherapy agent, doxorubicin, to doxorubicin alone. It is being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"). Patients are centrally randomized in a 1:1 ratio and receive either zoptarelin doxorubicin (267 mg/m2) or doxorubicin (60 mg/m2) intravenously, every 3 weeks and for up to 9 cycles. Response will be evaluated every 3 cycles during treatment, thereafter, every 12 weeks until progression. All patients will be followed for survival as the primary efficacy endpoint ("EP"). Secondary EPs include progression free survival, objective response-rate, and clinical benefit rate.
For more information on this trial, please consult (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01767155; EudraCT No: 2012-005546-38; ZoptEC: Zoptarelin doxorubicin in endometrial cancer).
The full announcement can be viewed here. 
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Hume Brophy
Mary Clark, Supriya Mathur and Hollie Vile
Tel: + 44 203 440 5654
ergomed@humebrophy.com
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited 
NOMAD/Broker to the Company
Jonathan Senior, Giles Balleny
Tel: + 44 207 710 7600 
About Ergomed 
Ergomed Plc is a profitable UK-based company, providing drug development services to the pharmaceutical industry and has a growing portfolio of co-development partnerships. It operates in over 40 countries.
Ergomed provides clinical development, trial management and pharmacovigilance services to over 60 clients ranging from top 10 pharmaceutical companies to small and mid-sized drug development companies. Ergomed successfully manages clinical development from Phase I through to late phase programmes.
Ergomed has a wide therapeutic focus, with a particular expertise in oncology, neurology and immunology and the development of orphan drugs. Ergomed believes its approach to clinical trials is differentiated from that of other providers by its innovative Study Site Management model and the use of Study Physician Teams, resulting in a close relationship between Ergomed and the physicians involved in clinical trials.
As well as providing high quality clinical development services, Ergomed is building a portfolio of co-development partnerships with pharma and biotech companies which share the risks and rewards of drug development. Ergomed leverages its expertise and services in return for carried interest in the drugs under development. For further information, visit: http://ergomedplc.com
About Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in developed countries and develops when abnormal cells amass to form a tumour in the lining of the uterus. It largely affects women over the age of 50 with a higher prevalence in Caucasians and a higher mortality rate among African Americans. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be approximately 55,000 new cases of endometrial cancer in the U.S. alone in 2015, with about 20% of recurring disease. 
About Aeterna Zentaris
Aeterna Zentaris is a specialty biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing and commercializing novel treatments in oncology, endocrinology and women's health. For more information, visit www.aezsinc.com
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements contained within the announcement are forward looking statements and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the potential returns of Ergomed plc ("Ergomed") and industry and markets in which Ergomed operates, the Directors' beliefs and assumptions made by the Directors. Words such as "expects", "anticipates", "should", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", "projects", "pipeline" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward looking statements and expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or the ability to identify and consummate investments and involve certain risks, uncertainties, outcomes of negotiations and due diligence and assumptions that are difficult to predict, qualify or quantify. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward looking statements or expectations. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: the general economic climate, competition, interest rate levels, loss of key personnel, the result of legal and commercial due diligence, the availability of financing on acceptable terms and changes in the legal or regulatory environment.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Ergomed expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Ergomed's expectations with regard thereto, any new information or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless required to do so by law or any appropriate regulatory authority.

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