Spain’s PharmaMar partnered with the Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) on Nov. 5 to support the 8th National Race to End Women’s Cancer in Washington, D.C.
The race featured a 5k run and a one-mile walk along Pennsylvania Avenue, as well as other activities involving patients and families.
Established in 2009, the race is open to anyone wishing to participate, including physicians and healthcare professionals.
“We’re very excited and appreciative to have PharmaMar join the movement by sponsoring the 8th National Race to End Women’s Cancer,” Karen Carlson, executive director of the FWC, said in a press release. “We look forward to building upon our new partnership as we strive to increase public awareness of gynecologic cancer risk awareness, prevention, early detection and optimal treatment.”
Added Pascal Besman, chief operating officer of PharmaMar USA: “It is a wonderful opportunity for us to partner with the ‘National Race to End Women’s Cancer’ given their tremendous reach in the entire women’s cancer community of patients, caregivers, physicians, advocates and others, and given our extensive clinical trials for Zepsyre in three of these cancers. I am honored to represent PharmaMar as a proud participant in this important event.”
PharmaMar is currently awaiting data, expected in 2018, from its pivotal Phase 3 CORAIL clinical trial (NCT02421588) evaluating the efficacy and safety of Zepsyre (lurbinectedin) in platinum relapsed ovarian cancer.
Zepsyre works by inhibiting the RNA polymerase II, an enzyme essential for protein production. This kills cancer cells and stops the growth of tumors. In a Phase 2 clinical study of ovarian cancer patients who did not respond to platinum-based chemotherapy, Zepsyre induced an overall response rate of 22 percent and a disease control rate of 71 percent. Zepsyre was also found to reverse IRF-1-dependent resistance to Platinol (cisplatin) in ovarian tumors.
The company plans to start registrational trials for Zepsyre in both second-line endometrial cancer and BRCA2-mutated breast cancer next year. Zepsyre is currently awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.