Dr. James Helliwell, CEO of Eupraxia
VICTORIA – Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX: EPRX), a Phase 2 clinical-stage biotechnology company with an innovative drug delivery technology platform, announced the grant of a patent and a notice of allowance for EP-104IAR.
EP-104IAR is the Company’s lead product candidate designed to meet the significant unmet medical need and market demand for long-lasting pain relief for knee osteoarthritis.
The grant of European Patent EP2976062B1 provides compositional and method of use coverage for EP-104IAR. The patent covers major European markets of commercial significance.
“The European market represents an important commercial opportunity for EP-104IAR, and, pending results of the current Phase 2 clinical development program, the Company intends to broaden clinical development investments to address the specific European Union requirements for approval,” said Dr. James Helliwell, CEO of Eupraxia. “We believe the new European patent offers strong protection for EP-104IAR in key European markets until 2034, pending any adjustments or extensions.”
The Company also announced the grant of a Brazilian notice of allowance, which will provide compositional and method of use coverage for EP-104IAR. The Company believes this grant will provide extensive protection for EP-104IAR in the Brazilian market until 2034, also pending any adjustments or extensions.
“The Brazilian and European intellectual property expansion demonstrates that the Company continues to fortify its IP around this high-potential product candidate for knee osteoarthritis,” added Dr. Helliwell. “Moreover, we believe that this expansion of our intellectual property could have utility for our broader IP estate as we evaluate the clinical development of other pipeline candidates.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that knee OA affects more than 30 million people in the U.S. alone. This includes 14 million that suffer with knee pain or some form of disability. Knee OA is also associated with depression and loss of sleep, which can greatly affect quality of life.
EP-104IAR endeavours to provide long-term pain relief with fewer unwanted side effects. It encapsulates a highly potent corticosteroid (fluticasone propionate) within a microns-thin polymer membrane, part of Eupraxia’s patented technology platform.
Injected into the knee, EP-104IAR is intended to diffuse drug slowly into the knee joint providing therapeutic concentrations for up to six months. This has the potential dual advantage of providing long-duration pain relief with fewer systemic side effects. An enhanced safety profile would also benefit the estimated 70% of knee OA patients that experience pain in both knees by allowing simultaneous treatment of both affected joints.
In contrast to immediate release steroids, a non-clinical study of EP-104IAR suggests a cartilage sparing effect, which could provide a safer treatment alternative for those afflicted with chronic OA pain. The product has also been designed with physician convenience in mind – targeting a long shelf life, no refrigeration and easy integration into existing delivery techniques.
About Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Eupraxia is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of locally delivered, extended-release alternatives to currently approved drugs. Each of Eupraxia’s product candidates has the potential to address therapeutic areas with high unmet medical need and strives to provide improved patient benefit by delivering targeted, long-lasting activity with fewer side effects.
Eupraxia’s lead product candidate, EP-104IAR, is currently in Phase 2 development for the treatment of pain due to OA of the knee. In addition to EP-104IAR, Eupraxia is developing a pipeline of earlier-stage long-acting formulations. Potential pipeline candidates include a range of drugs for indications such as postsurgical pain (EP-105), and post-surgical site infections (EP-201), each designed to improve on the activity and tolerability of approved drugs. For further details about Eupraxia, please visit the Company’s website at: www.eupraxiapharma.com.
