Oxcia AB has achieved a significant regulatory milestone with its lead drug candidate OXC-101 receiving Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), following earlier approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Dual Regulatory Recognition Strengthens Market Position
The dual approvals provide Oxcia with substantial commercial advantages, including up to 10 years of market exclusivity in the EU and 7 years in the US, accelerated regulatory processes, and significant cost savings. According to CEO Ulrika Warpman Berglund, "These dual approvals give us up to 10 years of market exclusivity in the EU and 7 years in the US, accelerated regulatory processes and significant cost savings. EMA's approval also provides support and scientific advice from EMA's expert committee (COMP) for orphan drugs which is a large advantage."
The EMA's evaluation process also assessed whether OXC-101 can offer significant benefit compared to existing treatments, with the positive designation strengthening the company's scientific credibility and differentiation from competitors. This regulatory recognition facilitates venture capital raising and potential licensing agreements with pharmaceutical companies.
Novel Mechanism Targets Cancer Cell Vulnerabilities
OXC-101 is a first-in-class mitotic MTH1 inhibitor with a dual mechanism of action that targets specific weaknesses in cancer cells. The drug induces additional oxidative stress while preventing cancer cells from repairing DNA damage, exploiting their high levels of oxidative stress and propensity for DNA damage.
Preclinical studies have demonstrated that OXC-101 significantly reduces tumor growth and prolongs survival in AML models. The drug shows potential both as monotherapy with better efficacy than cytarabine, a standard AML treatment, and in combination with various standard chemotherapy regimens.
Clinical Development Shows Promising Early Results
Oxcia is currently conducting the MAATEO study, a combined Phase I/II expansion study in patients with relapsed/recurrent AML. The treatment combines OXC-101 with idarubicin, an established standard treatment. The study has received Vinnova grant support and aims to confirm preliminary effects observed and establish the foundation for a pivotal Phase II study that could support regulatory accelerated approval.
In the ongoing clinical trial, several patients have demonstrated clinical benefits with partial responses and stable disease lasting up to 5 months, which represents a significant duration for this aggressive disease in advanced stages. Some patients have also reported improvements in quality of life.
Precision Medicine Approach Guides Patient Selection
In collaboration with Dr. Tom Erkers and Nona Struyf from Scilifelab/Karolinska Institute, Oxcia is conducting precision medicine studies on bone marrow samples from MAATEO study patients. These studies show an encouraging trend where OXC-101 treatment produces responses in cases where standard treatments have failed to affect AML cells from patients' bone marrow samples, indicating potential clinical benefit.
The precision medicine approach aims to identify patients most likely to respond to treatment and may be used to stratify patients in future studies.
Strategic Market Expansion Plans
The dual ODD approvals position Oxcia for development in both major pharmaceutical markets. The FDA designation has already enabled the company to establish contact with MD Anderson, a leading AML clinic in the US. The US market represents approximately two-thirds of the market among the eight largest pharmaceutical markets globally, according to Global Data 2023.
CEO Warpman Berglund noted that the regulatory support from two of the world's largest pharmaceutical authorities reduces commercial risk and facilitates parallel development and launch strategies. The company plans to utilize the regulatory advice offered to optimize study design for maximum efficacy demonstration while minimizing time and costs.
