On December 30, 2019 Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) reported that the first patient has been enrolled in the pivotal Phase 2/3 clinical study for JZP-458, a recombinant Erwinia asparaginase molecule that uses a novel Pseudomonas fluorescens expression platform (Press release, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, DEC 30, 2019, View Source [SID1234552637]). The study, conducted in collaboration with the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), is evaluating JZP-458 as a potential treatment for pediatric and adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) who are hypersensitive to E. coli-derived asparaginases. Hypersensitivity reactions affect up to 30 percent of patients with ALL and LBL who are treated with E. coli-derived asparaginase.1

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"We’re pleased to collaborate with Jazz on this important study," said Dr. Mignon Loh, professor of pediatrics at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), Deborah and Arthur Ablin Endowed Chair in Pediatric Molecular Oncology and COG’s Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Disease Committee Chair.

"This clinical trial represents a tremendously important effort as it is investigating a novel asparaginase, JZP-458, which can be critically important for the treatment of some children with ALL, the most common type of childhood malignancy," stated Dr. Luke Maese, assistant professor at the University of Utah, Primary Children’s Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute.

The single-arm, open-label, multicenter, dose confirmation and confirmatory study of JZP-458 will evaluate pediatric and adult patients with ALL or LBL who have silent inactivation or an allergic reaction to E. coli-derived asparaginases and have not previously received asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi. This study is designed to assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of JZP-458 and is expected to enroll patients in approximately 60 COG institutions in the U.S. and Canada. The primary objective of the study is to determine the efficacy of JZP-458 measured by asparaginase activity.

"When undergoing treatment for ALL with asparaginase, it is critically important for patients to receive all of the necessary doses to maintain therapeutic levels throughout their regimen, something not always possible for patients who have an allergy to E. coli-derived asparaginase," said Robert Iannone, M.D., M.S.C.E., executive vice president, research and development of Jazz Pharmaceuticals. "Our ongoing collaboration with COG for this JZP-458 study, and the receipt of Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October, are significant because they could potentially allow us to more quickly address this need with a new asparaginase option. Jazz is committed to addressing unmet needs for patients with hematologic cancers and the continued expansion of our asparaginase franchise is an important component of our development programs."

Additional information about the trial, including eligibility criteria and a list of clinical trial sites, can be found at: View Source (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04145531).

About JZP-458
JZP-458 is a recombinant Erwinia asparaginase that uses a novel Pseudomonas fluorescens expression platform. It is being developed for use as a component of a multi-agent chemotherapeutic regimen in the treatment of pediatric and adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) who are hypersensitive to E. coli-derived asparaginase products. JZP-458 was granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October 2019 for the treatment of this patient population.

About Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that can progress quickly if not treated.2 Leukemia is the most common cancer in children, and about three out of four of these cases are ALL.3 Although it is one of the most common cancers in children, ALL is among the most curable of the pediatric malignancies due to recent advancements in treatment.4,5 Adults can also develop ALL, and about four of every 10 cases of ALL diagnosed are in adults.6 The American Cancer Society estimates that almost 6,000 new cases of ALL will be diagnosed in the United States in 2019.6 Asparaginase is a core component of multi-agent chemotherapeutic regimens in ALL.7 However, asparaginase treatments derived from E. coli are associated with the potential for development of hypersensitivity reactions.8

About the Children’s Oncology Group
The Children’s Oncology Group (www.childrensoncologygroup.org) is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research. The Children’s Oncology Group (COG) unites almost 10,000 experts in childhood cancer at more than 200 leading children’s hospitals, universities, and cancer centers across United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of world in the fight against childhood cancer. Today, more than 90% of the 14,000 children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States are cared for at COG member institutions. Research performed by the COG institutions over the past fifty years has transformed childhood cancer from a virtually incurable disease to one with a combined 5-year survival rate of 80%. COG’s mission is to improve the cure rate and outcome for all children with cancer.