UK - Evgen Pharma plc (AIM: EVG), the clinical stage drug development company developing sulforaphane-based medicines for the treatment of multiple diseases and Dr Marjolein Geurts, neuro-oncologist at the Erasmus University Medical Center, announce the formal start of their collaborative project in glioblastoma, supported with a grant awarded by the KWF Dutch Cancer Society.
The grant start conditions and documentation have been satisfied and the project formally commenced on 1 October.
The studies, which are funded by a grant towards total project costs of approx. EUR1.1m awarded by the KWF Dutch Cancer Society, will investigate the use of SFX-01 in pre-clinical glioblastoma models, followed by a clinical Investigator Sponsored Study (ISS), aiming to establish the presence of the drug in human brain tumours and engagement with relevant molecular targets in excised tumour tissue.
The Erasmus University Medical Center team has also appointed a dedicated, grant funded PhD student, who starts in early November. The project is being carried out in the laboratory and clinic of Dr Marjolein Geurts, neuro-oncologist at Erasmus Medical Center, Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, in the Netherlands and will run for three years, generating data continuously throughout the period.
Although classed as a rare disease, cases of glioblastoma are increasing, partly due to improvements in diagnoses and growth of an ever-ageing population. Standard of care for glioblastoma patients is surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, however it is still a disease of significant high unmet need where patient survival rates from diagnosis are between 1 and 3 years and new effective treatment options are sorely needed.
Dr Huw Jones, CEO of Evgen Pharma said: 'Commencing this study is a significant step in determining the potential of SFX-01 as a therapeutic option for glioblastoma patients. Previous preclinical studies with SFX-01 on Glioblastoma have been striking so we look forward to this further validation and entry into the clinic in due course.'
Dr Marjolein Geurts, Erasmus University Medical Center added: 'We are delighted to be working with Evgen Pharma on this important project and hope that we will together find a new option for patients with this disease who have few treatment options currently.'
Name change of Nominated Adviser and Broker
The Company also announces that its Nominated Adviser ('NOMAD') and Broker finnCap Ltd, has changed its name to Cavendish Capital Markets Limited.
Contact:
Dr Huw Jones
Tel: +44 207 457 2020
Email: enquiries@evgen.com
Nigel Birks
Tel: +44 20 7220 0500
About Evgen Pharma plc
Evgen Pharma is a clinical stage drug development company developing sulforaphane based medicines for the treatment of multiple diseases. The Company's core technology is Sulforadex, a method for synthesising and stabilising the highly biologically active compound sulforaphane and novel proprietary analogues based on sulforaphane.
The Company's lead asset, SFX-01, is a patented composition of synthetic sulforaphane and alpha-cyclodextrin and has undergone clinical trials for oestrogen-positive (ER+) metastatic breast cancer and recently a Phase 1b study of the Company's new enteric coated tablet formulation. The FDA has granted Orphan Drug status to SFX-01 in malignant glioma. SFX-01 will be investigated initially in this indication as an investigator sponsored study in the Netherlands.
The Company also has a wide number of collaborations with leading academic centres in the UK, Europe and the US as part of the continuing strategy to build the scientific data for the compound. Recently, Evgen completed an out-licensing transaction with Stalicla SA, a Swiss specialist company in neurodevelopmental disorders, commencing with autism spectrum disorder. The deal, if successful, will generate milestone payments of $160.5m and a double-digit royalty on sales.
The Company has its headquarters and registered office at Alderley Park, Cheshire. It is listed on AIM in London and trades under the ticker symbol EVG.
THERACRYF PLC 
