Positive Preclinical Data of ORY-4001 for the Treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Disease Presented at the 2023 Peripheral Nerve Society (PNS) Annual Meeting

  • Comprehensively reversed disease progression symptoms in a CMT mice model
  • Selected for an oral presentation
  • A highly selective and safe HDAC-6 inhibitor
  • To start IND-enabling studies soon

MADRID, Spain and BOSTON, June 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oryzon Genomics, S.A. (ISIN Code: ES0167733015, ORY), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging epigenetics to develop therapies in diseases with a strong unmet medical need, presented yesterday positive preclinical efficacy data of ORY-4001, a selective histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC-6) inhibitor, in an oral communication at the 2023 Peripheral Nerve Society annual meeting (PNS-2023) held in Copenhagen from 17-20 June 2023. ORY-4001 treatment was able to reverse disease progression symptoms in a Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) mice model.

The presented results are the fruit of a collaboration agreement between Oryzon and the CMT Research Foundation (CMTRF), a U.S.-based patient-led, non-profit organization focused on delivering treatments and cures for CMT, which was entered in 2022 to explore the therapeutic potential of Oryzon’s HDAC-6 inhibitors. ORY-4001 was able to reverse in a dose-dependent manner the CMT1A phenotypes. Notably, ORY-4001 was able to improve myelination and restore axon integrity in the sciatic nerve, and improved compound muscle action potential and nerve conduction in comparison with untreated animals. Remarkably, ORY-4001-treated animals displayed a significant body weight recovery, suggesting an overall physiological improvement. The doses used in this study were safe and below the maximal tolerated dose, which allows room for dose increases in additional studies to further deepen the therapeutic benefit.

ORY-4001 is an HDAC6 inhibitor with excellent pharmacology and very high selectivity against other HDAC classes, resulting in a remarkable safety profile avoiding hematotoxicity. The compound exhibits also strong anti-inflammatory properties and positive in-vivo data in inflammatory models. ORY-4001 will enter now into IND enabling studies to prepare the compound for clinical studies.

ORY-4001 was recently nominated as a clinical development candidate for the treatment of certain neurological diseases such as CMT, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and others. HDAC6 inhibitors have been previously proposed as potentially effective treatments for CMT, ALS and other neurological disorders that lack effective treatments.

Dr. Jordi Xaus, Oryzon’s CSO, said: “We are honored to have been selected for an oral presentation. This highlights the interest of the scientific community in the study results, which strongly suggest a clear therapeutic potential in peripheral neuropathies such as CMT, where there is an enormous medical need. We are exploring with the CMT community how we can expedite this program to the clinic.”

CMT is a progressive, degenerative disease involving the peripheral nerves. It affects 150,000 Americans and more than 3 million people around the world. It is one of the most prevalent conditions among rare diseases and currently lacks effective treatments or cures. CMT is caused by a variety of genetic mutations. CMT1A is the most prevalent form, accounting for approximately half of all people with CMT.

About Oryzon
Founded in 2000 in Barcelona, Spain, Oryzon (ISIN Code: ES0167733015) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company and the European leader in epigenetics, with a strong focus on personalized medicine in CNS disorders and oncology. Oryzon’s team is composed of highly qualified professionals from the pharma industry located in Barcelona, Boston, NYC and San Diego. Oryzon has an advanced clinical portfolio with two LSD1 inhibitors, vafidemstat in CNS and iadademstat in oncology, in several Phase II clinical trials. The company has other pipeline assets directed against other epigenetic targets. In addition, Oryzon has a strong platform for biomarker identification and target validation for a variety of malignant and neurological diseases. For more information, visit www.oryzon.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This communication contains, or may contain, forward-looking information and statements about Oryzon, including financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, capital expenditures, synergies, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally identified by the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates” and similar expressions. Although Oryzon believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and holders of Oryzon shares are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Oryzon that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in the documents sent by Oryzon to the Spanish Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV), which are accessible to the public. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and have not been reviewed by the auditors of Oryzon. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to Oryzon or any of its members, directors, officers, employees or any persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. All forward-looking statements included herein are based on information available to Oryzon on the date hereof. Except as required by applicable law, Oryzon does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward‐looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Oryzon’s securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. Any public offering of Oryzon’s securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from Oryzon or the selling security holder, as applicable, that will contain detailed information about Oryzon and management, as well as financial statements.

IR, US IR & Media, Europe Spain Oryzon
Ashley R. Robinson Sandya von der Weid Patricia Cobo/
Daniel Foley
Emili Torrell
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