John Weinstein, principal investigator of the project, said: “L-ASP is a standard component of leukemia chemotherapy regimens, but it’s not used yet against solid tumors due to erratic activity. We’ve identified a candidate biomarker, asparagine synthetase (ASNS) that may predict L-ASP activity against solid tumors.”
Philip Lorenzi, who leads the project, said: “We’re very interested in studying Graspa because of its reported reduction of L-asparaginase side effects.”
Yann Godfrin co-founder and CEO of ERYtech, said: “Collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center provides us the opportunity to develop a clinically-compatible biomarker assay and to rationally prescribe Graspa to patients who are most likely to respond. Toward that end, the MD Anderson’s researchers will analyse patient samples from ERYtech’s clinical trials.”
ERYtech Pharma develops therapeutic solutions based on its proprietary technology and expertise in the physiological properties of erythrocytes. The company addresses serious pathologies, orphan indications or sub-populations of patients, particularly in the fields of haematology, cancer and metabolic diseases.