Oncopeptides has decided to reduce the activity level in the clinical development program with melflufen (INN melphalan flufenamide) to increase the company’s cash runway and at the same time support the ongoing marketing authorization application process in Europe.

This will have implications on the following studies:

OCEAN study will continue with long-term follow-up and documentation in accordance to previous plans.
Patient recruitment has been completed in both PORT and BRIDGE and the studies can be closed with relevant scientific data sets.
ANCHOR will close without the last 10 previously planned patients in the bortezomib + melflufen study arm – data sets will be large enough to draw relevant scientific conclusions.
ASCENT, COAST and LIGHTHOUSE will close with incomplete number of patients, it will not be possible to draw any relevant scientific conclusions from these data sets.

Oncopeptides is committed to provide patients continued access to melflufen via compassionate use if deemed appropriate by their treating physician and if local rules and regulations allow, the company states.

Keeping the OCEAN study open

Following the recent withdrawal of melphalan flufenamide in the US, Oncopeptides has initiated significant measures to refocus the company on R&D, and dedicate resources to a more focused clinical development program of melflufen as well as to further develop the PDC platform including the next generation of drug candidates, it states.

Read more: Oncopeptides withdraws Pepaxto in the US and scales down its organization

The company continues its committment to fulfil all requirements for the application to the European Medicines Agency, EMA, for a potential Conditional Marketing Authorization of melflufen in the EU, based on the phase 2 HORIZON study in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma, it states.

“By keeping the OCEAN study open we continue to gather long-term data of melflufen, while BRIDGE serves as an important study for appropriate use of melflufen in patients with renal impairment. In addition, we we willl close the PORT study, as we have gathered all the necessary information for the safe and efficacious use of melflufen administered via a peripheral catheter.”

“By keeping the OCEAN study open we continue to gather long-term data of melflufen, while BRIDGE serves as an important study for appropriate use of melflufen in patients with renal impairment. In addition, we we willl close the PORT study, as we have gathered all the necessary information for the safe and efficacious use of melflufen administered via a peripheral catheter,” says Klaas Bakker, MD, PhD, Executive Vice-President and Chief Medical Officer. “We will get full study reports from both BRIDGE and PORT, which are important for our ongoing efforts to obtain Conditional Marketing Authorization of melflufen in Europe.”

Photo of Klaas Bakker: Oncopeptides