Benzinga | Jan 13, 2021 07:10AM EST

ESSA Pharma Announces Clinical Collaboration With Janssen To Evaluate EPI-7386 Combination For Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

HOUSTON and VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 13, 2021 /CNW/ - ESSA Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ:EPIX) ("ESSA" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for the treatment of prostate cancer, today announced that the Company has entered into a clinical collaboration and supply agreement with Janssen Research & Development, LLC (Janssen) to evaluate ESSA's first-in-class N-terminal domain androgen receptor inhibitor, EPI-7386, in combination with apalutamide as well as the combination of EPI-7386 with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer ("mCRPC").

Under the terms of the agreement, Janssen may sponsor and conduct up to two Phase 1/2 studies evaluating the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of the combination of EPI-7386 and apalutamide as well as the combination of EPI-7386 with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone in patients with mCRPC who have failed a current second-generation antiandrogen therapy. Janssen will assume all costs associated with the studies, other than the manufacturing costs associated with the clinical drug supply of EPI-7386. The parties will form a joint oversight committee for the clinical studies, which are planned to start in 2021. ESSA will retain all rights to EPI-7386.