4SC AG has announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted its Letter of Intent to Submit a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for resminostat for the maintenance treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). The EMA has also accepted the proposed trade name for resminostat, Kinselby.
This acceptance signals a crucial step forward in bringing resminostat to market in the European Union. The company is actively preparing its MAA for Kinselby, with submission anticipated in Q1 2024.
Clinical Significance of Resminostat in CTCL
CTCL is a rare disease characterized by the malignant transformation of T-cells, primarily affecting the skin. Approximately 5,000 new cases are diagnosed in Europe each year. While current treatments can induce responses, these are often short-lived, and there is no cure. Resminostat, an orally administered class I, IIb and IV histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, offers a potential approach to prolonging remission in patients with advanced-stage CTCL who have achieved disease control with prior systemic therapy.
The pivotal RESMAIN study, a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, evaluated resminostat as a maintenance treatment in 201 patients with advanced-stage CTCL across 11 European countries and Japan. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either resminostat or placebo. The primary endpoint of the study was progression-free survival.
Potential Market Impact
If approved, Kinselby (resminostat) would be the first HDAC inhibitor approved in Europe for CTCL and the first and only drug approved for maintenance therapy in this disease. This positions it as a valuable asset for 4SC, potentially leading to commercialization opportunities through partnerships, licensing, or direct sales in select territories (excluding Japan, where Yakult Honsha Co. Ltd. holds exclusive rights).
Management Perspective
Jason Loveridge, CEO of 4SC, stated, "This is another key milestone for 4SC in moving resminostat to market in the EU. Now we have an accepted tradename for resminostat we will continue preparation of our MAA and the commercialisation of Kinselby for the benefit of all stakeholders."
