Sparks - Oryzon Genomics

Oryzon Genomics has received new ‘decision to grant’ communications from the European Patent Office. This is for its patent application ‘Combinations of iadademstat for cancer therapy’. Importantly, this covers the use of Oryzon’s lead oncology candidate in combination with PD1 or PD-L1 inhibitors for the treatment of various cancers, including small cell lung cancer (SCLC), in which the company currently has an active programme. Once granted, this patent will remain in force until at least 2040, excluding any potential patent term extensions. This latest update also noted that corresponding patents had already been allowed/granted in Australia and Russia, with further applications pending in the US, Japan, China and other key geographies.

Iadademstat is being evaluated in combination with PD-L1 inhibitors in an ongoing Phase I/II trial, targeting the first-line setting in SCLC patients. This is being conducted and sponsored by the US National Cancer Institute under a cooperative research and development agreement. Patient recruitment commenced in April 2025, and the programme ultimately aims to enrol 45–50 patients. Primary objectives are focused on safety, tolerability, dose-finding and efficacy. Multiple leading US-based cancer centres are involved in this trial (expected to include over 30 sites), including the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as one of the main sites. Should the results of this programme be positive, they may support Oryzon’s plans for its STELLAR programme, a randomised, multi-centre Phase II study of iadademstat in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor for first-line extensive-stage SCLC.