FDA removes clinical hold of Oncopeptides’ pipeline drug OPD5

Oncopeptides announces the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has lifted the clinical hold previously placed on Oncopeptides’ next-gen drug OPD5.

Based on the company’s proprietary Peptide Drug Conjugate (PDC) platform, OPD5 is a follow-on molecule to Oncopeptides’ flagship drug melflufen (branded in Europe as Pepaxti) with a potentially improved risk/benefit profile and enhanced intellectual property protection. OPD5 would initially target multiple myeloma and could potentially be expanded with other indications and diseases over time.

“We continue to see a strong medical need for a PDC in the U.S. confirmed by leading experts in the country,” says Sofia Heigis, CEO of Oncopeptides. “With the go-ahead from the regulator, we are now able to move ahead with plans for clinical development.”

As a next step, Oncopeptides will continue to prepare for a new clinical study, OP-502, to assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of OPD5. Given its similarities to melflufen and the experience gained from its’ U.S. approval process, Oncopeptides believes that OPD5 can fulfill an important medical need in U.S. as well as in the EU. To support continued development including a phase 1 study, the company is assessing various financing options, including partnerships.