Mundipharma acquires rights to a novel pro-drug of anticancer agent etoposide

CAP7.1 is a novel pro-drug of anticancer agent etoposide which is metabolized into an active form by enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract that are particularly active in tumor cells. This innovative drug, invented at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany, enables the focused release of this chemotherapeutic agent into tumor cells in higher doses while maintaining a good safety and tolerability profile.

The treatment will be progressed through Phase III trials by EDO, a company with a worldwide network of clinical connections and expertise in developing cancer therapies.

In Phase II studies CAP7.1 showed efficacy in this difficult to treat patient population, with 56% of patients meeting the primary objective of disease control, including tumour shrinkages. CAP7.1 treated patients displayed an estimated one-year survival rate of 40%, which is approximately 20% higher compared with current standard of care.