Oncopeptides secures fast-track designation for Window-of-Opportunity study in glioblastoma
Oncopeptides today announces that it has achieved key regulatory agreement with both the Swedish and Norwegian Medical Products Agencies (Läkemedelsverket, MPA and Direktoratet for medisinske produkter, DMP) regarding the design of its planned “Window-of-Opportunity” (WoO) study evaluating a Peptide Drug Conjugate (PDC) in glioblastoma. The study will be conducted in Norway, where DMP has granted fast-track designation.
This WoO study represents the first clinical evaluation of a PDC in glioblastoma, marking a significant and strategic milestone for Oncopeptides as the company expands the application of its proprietary PDC platform beyond multiple myeloma.
Fast-track designation, which applies to the assessment of the upcoming Clinical Trial Application, is reserved for therapies that address life-threatening conditions with high unmet medical needs and enables an accelerated regulatory review process.
The study will utilize Oncopeptides’ already approved drug in approximately 10 patients with glioblastoma, to provide rapid human proof-of-concept for brain penetration. This efficient study design aims to validate the mechanism in a cost-efficient manner before advancing a PDC into dose-finding and larger trials, for a global glioblastoma market estimated to be worth more than 8 billion USD in 2035 and with high unmet medical need.
“Reaching regulatory agreement with authorities in both Sweden and Norway is a significant milestone for Oncopeptides” said Sofia Heigis, CEO of Oncopeptides. “The planned Window of Opportunity study is the first time our PDC platform will be evaluated in glioblastoma, and it marks a significant step in expanding the potential of our technology beyond multiple myeloma. The constructive dialogue with MPA and DMP, together with the fast‑track designation granted in Norway, reinforces our confidence in the scientific rationale and clinical relevance of this program. We believe this study will generate important insights and further support our ambition to bring innovative, targeted therapies to patients with high unmet medical need.”
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of brain cancer, characterized by rapid growth, invariable relapse, and lack of curative treatment options. With a median survival of only 12–15 months, there is a profound unmet medical need for therapies capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) – the primary obstacle that causes most drugs to fail in this indication. Agents from the Oncopeptides’ PDC platform can bypass this barrier due to their lipophilicity and enter cells freely. This novel Mode of Action, results in cytotoxic activity directly within tumor cells.
“The Window of Opportunity study is an innovative and strategically designed approach to bridge the common gap between preclinical promise and clinical reality in glioblastoma,” says Prof. Petter Brandal, MD, PhD, Oslo University Hospital, and primary investigator in the WoO study. “By capturing drug activity directly within the tumor tissue, we gain critical insight into the distribution of a PDC in glioblastoma. We welcome DMP’s decision to expedite the review of this application, providing hope to patients with very limited treatment options and a high unmet medical need.”
Questions and Answers for investors
What does a “Window-of-Opportunity” study entail?
It is a focused study of approximately 10 patients that uses Oncopeptides’ approved drug as a “clinical probe” to quickly provide human proof-of-concept for the PDC platform’s ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier.
Why is glioblastoma an important market?
Glioblastoma has a profound unmet medical need, and the global market is estimated to be over $8 billion. Historically, the success rate for new therapies has been very low, often due to the constraints of delivering drugs across the blood-brain barrier.
How does the PDC platform differ from traditional drugs?
Most drugs fail because they cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. Oncopeptides’ PDC molecules are lipophilic, allowing them to enter cells freely without the need for transporter proteins, thereby reaching the tumor more effectively.
What is the next step after this study?
The goal is to validate the mechanism to advance one of the company’s PDC assets into larger clinical trials.