Respiratorius reports positive preclinical results for VAL001 for the indication relapsing DLBCL

Respiratorius announces that in a new in vitro study, valproate has shown improved inhibitory effects on cell growth, so-called antiproliferative effects, in combination with bendamustine, gemcitabine or carboplatin which are all cytotoxic substances used in the treatment of relapsing diffuse large cell B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).  A patent application for the new use of VAL001 has been filed.

In newly diagnosed DLBCL, patients are primarily treated with chemotherapy that includes cyclophosphamide,doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP) in combination with immunotherapy, directed against CD20, such as rituximab. This combination treatment, called R-CHOP, is regarded as the standard treatment.  The combination of valproate and R-CHOP has in clinical studies (VALFRID study, Drott et al., 2018) shown significantly improved effects with respect to survival compared to R-CHOP treatment alone.

A recently reported in vitro study investigated the efficacy of etoposide and valproate, in two different lymphatic B cell lines. For the first time, it was shown that etoposide reduced cell proliferation and that the combination of valproate and etoposide further enhanced the inhibitory effect of cell growth in both cell lines. Thus, this suggests that even more seriously ill patients in need of R-CHOEP treatment, in which etoposide is included, and not just patients treated with R-CHOP, would benefit from treatment with valproate, in the form of VAL001, with its tailored formulation.

In the new laboratory study, VAL001 has also shown positive results in combination with substances used in the treatment of patients with relapsing DLBCL after the initial treatment with R-CHOP or R-CHOEP. For the first time it has been shown that bendamustine, gemcitabine and carboplatin reduced cell proliferation and that the combination of valproate and bendamustine, gemcitabine or carboplatin further enhanced the inhibitory effect of cell growth in two different lymphatic B cell lines. Thus, this suggests that also relapsing patients would benefit from treatment with valproate, in the form of VAL001, with its tailored formulation.

The new findings emphasize the potential of VAL001 for the treatment of DLBCL by also confirming efficacy in combination with drugs used in secondary therapy for patients with relapsing disease. The results need to be verified in clinical studies and can in that case add relapsing DLBCL as an additional indication for VAL001, which we consider attractive in the partner process that is ongoing for VAL001," says Johan Drott, CEO of Respiratorius.

This disclosure contains information that Respiratorius is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation (EU nr 596/2014). The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person, on 24-05-2022 09:06 CET.