Oryzon Secures Japanese Patent for Iadademstat Combination Therapy in Cancer Treatment
Key Insights
Oryzon Genomics (search) received patent approval from the Japanese Patent Office for iadademstat combinations with PD-1 (search)/PD-L1 (search) inhibitors in cancer therapy, extending protection until at least 2040.
The patent strengthens Oryzon's intellectual property portfolio for iadademstat combinations with immune checkpoint inhibitors like atezolizumab and durvalumab in small cell lung cancer treatment.
Iadademstat is currently being evaluated in an ongoing Phase I/II trial sponsored by the U.S. National Cancer Institute in first-line extensive-disease small cell lung cancer patients.
Oryzon Genomics (search) announced that the Japanese Patent Office has issued a Decision to Grant for its patent application JP2021-557187, entitled "Combinations of iadademstat for cancer therapy." The patent, which will remain in force until at least 2040 excluding any available patent term extensions, represents a significant expansion of the company's global intellectual property protection for its LSD1 (search) inhibitor iadademstat.
Strengthening Global Patent Portfolio
With this Japanese approval, Oryzon has now secured patent protection for iadademstat combinations in Europe, Japan, Australia and Russia, while corresponding patent applications continue to be prosecuted in other countries. "This Japanese grant represents another important milestone in building a robust patent portfolio around iadademstat," said Neus Virgili, Oryzon's Chief IP Officer.
The patent specifically covers the clinical use of iadademstat in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors such as atezolizumab and durvalumab in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), an approach currently being evaluated as part of iadademstat's ongoing clinical development programs.
Current Clinical Development
Iadademstat is being evaluated in combination with PD-L1 (search) inhibitors (atezolizumab or durvalumab) in first line, extensive-disease SCLC patients in an ongoing Phase I/II trial conducted and sponsored by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Oryzon. The study is carried out at more than 30 clinical sites across the United States, including leading cancer institutions such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins, City of Hope, Yale University and the University of Chicago.
About Iadademstat
Iadademstat (ORY-1001) is a small oral molecule that acts as a highly selective inhibitor of the epigenetic enzyme LSD1 (search). The drug has demonstrated a powerful differentiating effect in hematologic cancers and has shown encouraging safety and clinical activity across multiple trials.
Recent clinical data presented at ASH-2025 showed highly encouraging preliminary safety and efficacy results, including 100% overall response rate (ORR) and 90% strict complete remission (CR) in first-line acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and 67% complete cytogenetic response (CCR) at the dose under expansion in relapsed/refractory AML.
Expanding Clinical Applications
Beyond hematological cancers, LSD1 (search) inhibition has been proposed as a valid therapeutic approach in solid tumors including small cell lung cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, and medulloblastoma. Iadademstat is also being developed for non-oncological hematology indications, with trials in sickle cell disease (approved by EMA, enrolling) and essential thrombocythemia (submitted to EMA).
The drug has received orphan drug designation for SCLC in the US and for AML in both the US and EU, highlighting its potential to address significant unmet medical needs in these challenging cancer types.