Epizyme regains rights to cancer program from Eisai

13 March 2015

US clinical stage biotech firm Epizyme’s (Nasdaq; EPZM) shares rose 14.7% to $25.45 by close of trading on Thursday, after the company revealed that it has reacquired global rights to its EZH2 program, including EPZ-6438, from its partner, Japanese pharma major (TYO: 4523).

Under the terms of the agreement, Epizyme will be solely responsible for global clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization in all countries outside of Japan, where Eisai will retain rights. EPZ-6438, a first-in-class inhibitor of EZH2, is currently being evaluated in a Phase I/II clinical study for the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and INI1-deficient solid tumors, such as synovial sarcoma and malignant rhabdoid tumor.

Total payments of $110 million to be made to Eisai

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