Ensysce and OncoZenge to co-develop BupiZenge in USA

US clinical-stage drug developer Ensysce Biosciences (Nasdaq: ENSC) and Sweden’s OncoZenge (STO: ONCOZ) have signed a letter of intent (LoI) to explore a strategic collaboration to accelerate the commercialization of BupiZenge in the USA.

BupiZenge is OncoZenge’s novel approach to treating pain caused by oral mucositis, an often severely debilitating condition of painful swelling and ulcerations of the mouth that commonly results from head and neck radiation and/or chemotherapy used to treat cancer. Left untreated, oral intake of food or fluids may be severely impeded and may adversely impact a patient’s prognosis and quality of life.

BupiZenge is a non-opioid oral formulation of the well-established local anesthetic bupivacaine. OncoZenge has successfully progressed BupiZenge through Phase II in the European Union (EU) and is currently in planning for the registrational Phase III program. Results from the Phase II study conducted in head and neck cancer patients with oral mucositis demonstrated strong efficacy in relieving pain with good safety and tolerability.