OncoZenge AB has announced significant advancements in its preparation for the pivotal Phase 3 trial of BupiZenge™, a novel oral lozenge formulation designed to treat pain associated with oral mucositis in cancer patients.
Regulatory Team Expansion
The Stockholm-based pharmaceutical company has appointed Christina Junvik to strengthen its Phase 3 sponsor team through an expanded collaboration with PharmaRelations. Junvik will be responsible for planning and coordinating regulatory activities and documentation for interactions with authorities. She joins the sponsor oversight team led by Anna Asplind, where she will contribute to both operational and strategic decisions.
Junvik brings over 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, with particular expertise in early clinical development, including clinical and regulatory strategy. Her background includes international roles at major pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis Oncology, as well as positions in biotech, CRO, and as an independent consultant. She has also served as Head of Development at several biotech companies.
Scientific Presentation at Major Conference
In a separate announcement, OncoZenge revealed its participation in the 2025 Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) annual meeting, taking place in Seattle from June 26-28, 2025. Board member Christoph Nowak, MD, PhD, will present an abstract on the company's planned European Phase 3 study for BupiZenge™.
"We are excited to participate at MASCC 2025," said Dr. Nowak. "This is a great opportunity to present our registrational study plans and engage with experts, patient advocates and clinicians in the field."
The MASCC conference, centered around the theme 'Informed Decisions in Supportive Cancer Care,' represents a premier gathering of healthcare professionals dedicated to improving quality of life for cancer patients. Notably, Dr. Paolo Bossi, Chair of the Mucositis Study Group at MASCC and Associate Professor at the Humanitas Cancer Center in Milan, Italy, serves on OncoZenge's Advisory Board.
Addressing an Unmet Medical Need
BupiZenge™ targets oral mucositis, an inflammatory condition affecting millions of cancer patients worldwide. This painful condition represents a significant unmet medical need, as current treatment options often provide insufficient pain relief or cause substantial side effects.
The product is a novel formulation of bupivacaine, a local anesthetic with decades of clinical experience, delivered as an oral lozenge. In Phase 2 trials, BupiZenge™ demonstrated substantially better pain relief compared to the standard of care, positioning it as a potential opioid-sparing alternative for patients suffering from this debilitating condition.
Market Potential and Company Outlook
OncoZenge describes BupiZenge™ as having the "potential to be the leading treatment for oral pain," highlighting the company's confidence in the product's market prospects. The advancement to Phase 3 trials represents a significant milestone in the company's development pipeline.
The company is publicly traded on Nasdaq First North Growth Market under the ticker ONCOZ and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. With these recent developments, OncoZenge appears to be strategically positioning itself for the next critical phase in bringing BupiZenge™ to market, potentially transforming pain management for cancer patients suffering from oral mucositis.
