Oslo, 20 December 2017 – PCI Biotech (OSE: PCIB), a cancer focused biopharmaceutical company, today announced preliminary outcome of regulatory interactions with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the development of fimaporfin in combination with gemcitabine for treatment of inoperable cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). The purpose of the interactions is to discuss the development programme for fimaporfin, including the design of a pivotal study to support future marketing authorisation applications in EU and the USA.
A common understanding has been reached on several important factors for a pivotal study with fimaporfin in inoperable cholangiocarcinoma, including the sufficiency of a single randomised two-arm study and importantly, the potential for accelerated/conditional approval based on interim results. The required randomised study will provide the opportunity to generate robust comparative data of importance for market acceptance of fimaporfin as a first line treatment of inoperable cholangiocarcinoma. The implications of an interim analysis for the final pivotal study design will require further discussions with regulators.
Dr Per Walday, CEO of PCI Biotech, said: “With promising efficacy results generated so far, orphan drug designations granted and guidance from regulators and key opinion leaders, we are focused on finalising the preparations for the pivotal randomised adaptive study. Patients with inoperable cholangiocarcinoma have no approved treatment alternatives today and fimaporfin has the potential to play a role in this area of high unmet medical need. We are therefore pleased that the regulators are open to a potential approval based on interim results“.