Benzinga | Jan 18, 2022 08:34AM EST

Rafael Pharmaceuticals Announces Ongoing Successful Enrollment And Opening Of Additional Sites For Phase 2 Clinical Trial Of CPI-613 (Devimistat) In Combination With Gemcitabine And Cisplatin In Patients With Biliary Tract Cancer

Rafael Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Rafael" or the "Company"), a company focused on the growing field of cancer metabolism-based therapeutics, today announced the ongoing successful enrollment rate of its Phase 2 clinical trial for CPI-613(r) (devimistat) in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with biliary tract cancer. The multicenter trial is for patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic biliary tract cancer who have had no prior treatment. The trial is currently open through The University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center as an investigator-sponsored trial. The trial is also open at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and UT Southwestern Simmons Cancer Center. Rafael is also launching additional sites for the trial at Northwestern University Lurie Cancer Center, UH Seidman Cancer Center, The University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Atlantic Health System Cancer Care, and Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute.

"We are pleased that our Phase 2 trial has continued to see a positive enrollment rate, demonstrating devimistat's ability to serve as a catalyst for hope and potential relief to families affected by this harrowing condition," said Sanjeev Luther, President and CEO of Rafael Pharmaceuticals. "We are happy to report a continuation of safety within the trial, as the wellbeing of our patients is our top priority."

"Biliary tract cancer is considered a very rare and aggressive form of cancer, with fewer than 20,000 U.S. cases per year and a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%," said Dr. Vaibhav Sahai, MBBS, M.S., principal investigator on the trial and medical oncologist at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center. "The research community remains engaged towards identifying devimistat's capabilities in biliary cancer which is being reflected through the strong and continued Phase 2 enrollment rate, and we're hopeful that the opening of our additional sites will allow families and their loved ones affected by biliary tract cancer an effective treatment option."

About CPI-613(r) (Devimistat)

CPI-613(r) (devimistat) is a first-in-class clinical lead compound of Rafael, which targets enzymes that are involved in cancer cell energy metabolism and are located in the mitochondria of cancer cells. Devimistat is designed to target the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, a process essential to tumor cell multiplication and survival, selectively in cancer cells. Devimistat substantially increases cellular stress and the sensitivity of cancer cells to a diverse range of chemotherapeutic agents. This synergy allows for potential combinations of devimistat with lower doses of these generally toxic drugs to be more effective with lower patient side effects. Combination with devimistat represents a diverse range of opportunities to substantially improve patients' benefit in many different cancers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated devimistat as an orphan drug for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, peripheral T-cell lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma, Burkitt's lymphoma and biliary tract cancer. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted orphan drug designation to devimistat for pancreatic cancer, acute myeloid leukemia and Burkitt's lymphoma.