Debiopharm International SA and EORTC Announce a Collaboration to Investigate Triptorelin for Treatment of Salivary Gland Cancers

Lausanne, Switzerland (ots/PRNewswire) -

Debiopharm International SA (Debiopharm), part of Debiopharm
Group(TM), a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical company, today
announced a collaboration in order to supply triptorelin pamoate 3.75
mg 1-month formulation for patients suffering from salivary gland
cancer participating in a clinical study sponsored by the European
Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC).

The EORTC intergroup trial 1206:"A randomised phase II study to
evaluate the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy vs androgen
deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with recurrent and/or
metastatic, androgen receptor expressing, salivary gland cancer" is
coordinated by the EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Group in collaboration
with the International Rare Cancer Initiative UK Salivary Gland
Cancer Group. This study will accrue 152 patients at approximately 30
sites in 10 countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom. The
clinical study is expected to last until mid-2021.

Dr. Lisa Licitra of the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei
Tumori in Milan, Italy, and Coordinator of this study says,
"androgen, estrogen and progesterone play a key role in the growth
and development of several cancer types, e.g. breast, endometrium and
prostate, and since the discovery of androgen receptors in salivary
gland tumors, it is thought that androgen deprivation therapy might
be beneficial for patients with androgen receptor expressing,
salivary gland cancer. The EORTC 1206 intergroup trial will evaluate
the efficacy and safety of androgen deprivation therapy versus
chemotherapy in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic, salivary
gland cancer."

Salivary gland cancers are a rare and heterogeneous group of
tumors. There is currently no standard of care for treating these
cancers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and
safety of chemotherapy versusandrogen deprivation therapy (ADT) in
patients with recurrent and/or metastatic androgen
receptors-expressing salivary gland cancers.

"Androgen deprivation therapy with triptorelin may slow
progression of salivary gland cancers expressing androgen receptors",
says Dr Eija Lundstrom, Medical Director at Debiopharm. "We are
committed to support the clinical investigation of this promising
treatment option of these rare cancers."

In addition to the support provided by Debiopharm, this phase II
study is supported by a grant from Fonds Baillet Latour covering part
of the EORTC operational cost and by Cancer Research UK for drug
supply, as well as by AIRC (Associazione Italiana Ricerca Cancro)
entirely covering the expenses of the translational research
associated with the clinical protocol.

About Triptorelin

Triptorelin is an agonist analogue of the natural
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Debiopharm has developed three
sustained-release formulations (1, 3 and 6 months) of triptorelin
pamoate. The 1-, 3- and 6-month formulations have been registered in
numerous countries in several indications, mainly for advanced
prostate cancer and endometriosis, and are available under different
brand names: Trelstar®, Decapeptyl® and Pamorelin®.

About Debiopharm International SA

Debiopharm Group(TM) is a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical
group of four companies active in drug development, GMP manufacturing
of proprietary drugs, diagnostics, and investment management.
Debiopharm International SA is focused on the development of
prescription drugs that target unmet medical needs. The company
in-licenses, develops promising drug candidates. The products are
commercialized by pharmaceutical out-licensing partners to give
access to the largest number of patients worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.debiopharm.com

We are on Twitter. Follow us @DebiopharmNews at
http://twitter.com/DebiopharmNews

About EORTC

The European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer
(EORTC) brings together European cancer clinical research experts
from all disciplines for trans-national collaboration. Both
multinational and multidisciplinary, the EORTC Network comprises more
than 2,500 collaborators from all disciplines involved in cancer
treatment and research in more than 300 hospitals in over 30
countries. Through translational and clinical research, the EORTC
offers an integrated approach to drug development, drug evaluation
programs and medical practices. EORTC Headquarters, a unique pan
European clinical research infrastructure, is based in Brussels,
Belgium, from where its various activities are coordinated and run.

For more information, please visit www.eortc.org

Debiopharm International SA Contact Christelle Tur Communication
Coordinator christelle.tur@debiopharm.com Tel: +41(0)21-321-01-11

Additional Media Contacts In London Maitland Chiara Valsangiacomo
cvalsangiacomo@maitland.co.uk Tel: +44(0)20-7379-5151

In New York Russo Partners, LLC Lena Evans Assistant Vice
President lena.evans@russopartnersllc.com Tel: +1-212-845-4262

ots Originaltext: Debiopharm Group
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