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First patient dosed in Phase 2 clinical trial with NGC-Cap for metastatic breast cancer

Positive data from preclinical studies support NGC-Iri’s ability to deliver more SN-38 to tumors compared with either irinotecan or Onivyde®

HANOVER, Md., Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Processa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCSA) (Processa or the Company), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing the next generation of chemotherapeutic drugs with improved efficacy and safety, provides updates on its product pipeline, upcoming milestones and business activities, and reports financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.

“We continued to make progress with our programs as we further demonstrate the potential benefits of our oncology therapeutics,” said George Ng, Chief Executive Officer of Processa Pharmaceuticals. “Our NGC-Cap Phase 2 clinical trial in metastatic breast cancer is underway with the first patient dosed. As this is an open-label trial, we anticipate sharing initial data in the second half of 2025. Additionally, we reported positive findings from preclinical studies that support NGC-Iri’s potential for improved efficacy and a superior side effect profile compared with the commonly used FDA-approved chemotherapy drugs irinotecan and Onivyde®. We are pleased with our progress and remain committed to improving the lives of people with cancer.”

Key Program Updates
Processa is focused on developing next-generation chemotherapies (NGC) by improving widely used U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs to extend cancer patients’ survival and/or improve their quality of life. This is achieved by altering how drugs are metabolized and/or distributed in the body, including how they reach cancer cells. In addition, Processa utilizes its Regulatory Science Approach, including the principles associated with FDA’s Project Optimus Oncology initiative, in the development of its NGC drug products to achieve a more favorable benefit-risk profile.

• PCS6422: Next-Generation Capecitabine (NGC-Cap)

  • NGC-Cap is a combination of PCS6422 and capecitabine, which is the oral prodrug of the cancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). PCS6422 alters the metabolism of 5-FU, resulting in more 5-FU distributed to cancer cells.

  • Earlier this month, the first patient was dosed in a Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT06568692) evaluating NGC-Cap for the treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer. The Phase 2 study is a global, multicenter, open-label, adaptive-design trial comparing two different doses of NGC-Cap to FDA-approved monotherapy capecitabine in approximately 60 to 90 patients. The trial is designed to evaluate the safety-efficacy profile of NGC-Cap versus monotherapy capecitabine, to determine the potential optimal dosage regimens of NGC-Cap as required by the FDA Project Optimus Initiative and to evaluate the possibility of personalizing NGC-Cap therapy. The Company expects to announce interim data from this trial in the second half of 2025.

• PCS3117: Next-Generation Gemcitabine (NGC-Gem)
  
  

  • NGC-Gem is an oral analog of gemcitabine (Gemzar®) that is converted to its active metabolite by a different enzyme system, with potential for a positive response in gemcitabine patients including those inherently resistant to or who acquire resistance to gemcitabine.

  • Processa is evaluating the potential of NGC-Gem in patients with pancreatic and other cancers, as well as ways to identify patients who are more likely to respond to NGC-Gem than gemcitabine alone. The Company is requesting a meeting with the FDA to discuss potential trial designs, including implementation of the Project Optimus initiative.

• PCS11T: Next-Generation Irinotecan (NGC-Iri)
  
  

  • NGC-Iri is an analog of SN-38, the active metabolite of irinotecan, that is expected to have an improved safety-efficacy profile in every type of cancer where irinotecan is currently used.

  • As announced in August, two studies in a human melanoma xenograft mouse model measured SN-38 in tumors, plasma and other tissues following administration of NGC-Iri, irinotecan and Onivyde®, the liposomal formulation of irinotecan. One study compared NGC-Iri with irinotecan, and the other compared irinotecan with Onivyde®. The results found that mice administered NGC-Iri had greater accumulation of SN-38 in the tumor compared with other tissues and that less SN-38 accumulated in non-cancer tissues, which could lead to improved efficacy with a more favorable adverse event profile compared with irinotecan and Onivyde®.

  • The Company is currently evaluating the manufacturing process and potential sites for NGC-Iri. In addition, Processa is defining the potential paths to approval, which includes defining the target patient population and the type of cancer, and expects to conduct IND-enabling toxicology studies in 2025.