Neurocutaneous Syndromes

Taylor Tieden for BioSpace On the FDA’s docket this month are two expansion bids, one for GSK’s asthma drug Nucala into COPD and another for Merck’s oral cancer drug for a pair of rare tumors. Amid the growing macro-level headwinds in the vaccine space, the FDA this month is expected to decide on Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 shot, alongside a handful of other big verdicts. Read below for more. GSK Asks FDA to Approve Asthma Injection Nucala for COPD GSK is proposing its subcutaneous biologic Nucala to treat adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with an eosinophilic phenotype. The FDA’s decision is due on May 7. A pulmonary disease, COPD is characterized by inflammation in the lungs, manifesting as breathlessness, coughs and airflow obstruction. According to GSK, some 40% of patients suffer from disease exacerbations caused by type 2 inflammation, which in turn is linked to high eosinophil counts in the blood. Nucala , a monoclonal antibody, targets and blocks the IL-5 cytokine, which is crucial to maintain the activity of eosinophils. GSK is supporting Nucala’s COPD application with data from the Phase III MATINEE trial. The pharma released a topline readout from the study in September 2024, noting that Nucala elicited a “statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction” in yearly rates of moderate or severe disease exacerbations as opposed to placebo. Nucala is currently approved for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis and hypereosinophilic syndrome, and as an add-on maintenance treatment for asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Arcutis Seeks Zoryve Expansion into Body and Scalp Psoriasis By May 22, the FDA will release its verdict on Arcutis Biotherapeutics’ proposed expansion for Zoryve into body and scalp psoriasis. Arcutis is backing its expansion bid with data from the Phase III ARRECTOR trial, which found that 66.4% of Zoryve-treated patients achieved clear or almost-clear skin, as opposed to 27.8% in placebo patients. Results also showed that 65.3% of patients in the Zoryve arm saw significant improvements in itch, versus 30.3% in the placebo group. Arcutis also filed findings from a Phase IIb study as well as long-term efficacy and safety data for Zoryve in plaque psoriasis. Zoryve is a topical phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor that works by helping to suppress inflammation in the skin. The drug won FDA approval in 2011 for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in patients aged 12 years and up. If approved for body and scalp psoriasis, Zoryve would be a “truly meaningful innovation” for patients who suffer from inadequately controlled symptoms, Arcutis CEO Frank Watanabe said in a September 2024 release. Sanofi Eyes Extension of Meningococcal Disease Shot to Infants, Toddlers Sanofi’s meningococcal disease vaccine MenQuadfi is currently approved for the primary immunization of children aged two years and up. As a booster, it can be used in those 13 years and older who continue to be at risk of meningococcal disease. Sanofi is seeking to expand MenQuadfi’s label to also include infants and toddlers from six weeks to 23 months of age. The FDA is currently reviewing this proposal and is due to release its decision on May 23. If approved, MenQuadfi could protect this younger population from the A, C, W and Y serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis . In an April presentation before the CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, Sanofi presented data from several trials, including the Phase III MET42 study. Results showed that MenQuadfi was safe to use in infants and toddlers, with most side effects being mild or moderate in severity. Efficacy-wise, MenQuadfi was able to match a commercially approved vaccine in immune response and seroprotection. Liquidia Awaits Final Yutrepia Approval in Interstitial Lung Disease On May 23, Liquidia is expecting to win final approval of its inhalation powder Yutrepia for the treatment of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD). The FDA gave the drug tentative approval in August 2024, indicating that it had cleared all efficacy and safety hurdles and satisfied regulatory standards of product quality. However, Liquidia still needed to wait out regulatory exclusivity for a competing product. Yutrepia is Liquidia’s inhalable version of treprostinil, a vasodilator that has known activity against pulmonary hypertension. Yutrepia is backed by data from the Phase III INSPIRE study, which found that the drug was both safe and well-tolerated in patients who were naïve to treprostinil or who were switching to Yutrepia from nebulized treprostinil. The INSPIRE trial found that patients treated with Yutrepia saw symptoms stabilize or improve over one year of dosing. Merck Hopes to Tack Two Rare Cancers Onto Welireg’s Label Merck is hoping to expand its oral cancer drug Welireg into advanced pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL). The FDA’s decision deadline is May 26. PPGL refers to two types of rare tumors of the adrenal gland. Diagnosed in some 2,000 patients per year, they are typically caused by specific genetic mutations. Symptoms include high blood pressure, palpitations and headaches. According to Merck, up to 25% of PPGL cases are already at the metastatic stage at diagnosis. Merck is supporting Welireg’s PPGL bid with data from Cohort A1 of the Phase II LITESPARK-015 study. The pharma did not provide specific data in a January news release , revealing only that the application is based on objective response rate and duration of response in PPGL patients after Welireg treatment. The FDA has granted the drug priority review in this indication. Welireg is an orally available inhibitor of the HIF-2α transcription factor, which is involved in oxygen sensing and in the body’s response to hypoxia. The drug is indicated for patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and those with von Hippel-Lindau disease—a rare genetic disease involving the formation of tumors across various organs—who also require treatment for associated RCC. If approved, Welireg will become the only drug for advanced PPGL in the U.S., Merck said. After Delay, Eton Nears Approval for Oral Hydrocortisone By May 28, the FDA will release its verdict on Eton Pharmaceuticals’ ET-400, an oral formulation of hydrocortisone, for the treatment of adrenal insufficiency in infants. This new target action date comes after the FDA in February announced that it needed more time to review Eton’s data package for ET-400. Eton submitted supplemental information in December last year, in response to a request from the regulator. ET-400 is a proprietary oral formulation of hydrocortisone that, according to the biotech, is stable at room temperature. If approved, ET-400 will follow in the footsteps of Eton’s Alkindi Sprinkle, which also has hydrocortisone as an active ingredient, but is formulated as oral granules. Alkindi Sprinkle, approved in 2020 , is designed to rapidly deliver glucocorticoids to children with adrenocortical insufficiency. In a July 2024 announcement , Eton CEO Sean Brynjelsen said that the approval of ET-400 would allow the biotech to “capture a greater percentage of the oral hydrocortisone market” and, alongside Alkindi Sprinkle, would open up a peak opportunity of “more than $50 million annually.” Moderna Seeks Approval for Next-Generation COVID-19 Shot The FDA’s last big milestone for the month belongs to Moderna and its investigational next-generation COVID-19 vaccine mRNA-1283. The regulator is expected to release its decision on May 31. In June 2024, the company released Phase III data for the experimental shot, touting better efficacy than Spikevax, its currently approved COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna did not provide specific data, only claiming that mRNA-1283 elicited a “higher immune response” against SARS-CoV-2 than Spikevax. Of note, Moderna emphasized at the time that mRNA-1283 could induce robust responses against Omicron and original strains of the virus—a benefit the company claimed was most evident in seniors over 65 years of age. The CDC’s vaccine advisors were supposed to convene in late February to discuss various vaccines, including mRNA-1283, before the meeting was postponed . The panel finally convened last month.

EPIDIOLEX has significant market potential due to the growing demand for alternative therapies and its effectiveness in treating rare seizure disorders like Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. As awareness around the benefits of CBD in treating neurological conditions increases, EPIDIOLEX stands to benefit from expanding indications and market reach. LAS VEGAS, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's ' EPIDIOLEX Market Size, Forecast, and Market Insight Report' highlights the details around EPIDIOLEX, the first FDA-approved prescription cannabidiol (CBD) to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), Dravet syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in patients 1 year of age or older. The report provides product descriptions, patent details, and competitor products (marketed and emerging therapies) of EPIDIOLEX. The report also highlights the historical and forecasted sales from 2020 to 2034 segmented into 7MM [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan]. Jazz Pharmaceuticals' EPIDIOLEX (cannabidiol) Overview EPIDIOLEX (formerly known as GWP42003-P and marketed as EPIDYOLEX in Europe) is the first plant-based, prescription cannabis-derived oral medication developed by GW Pharmaceuticals. It represents a new category of antiepileptic drugs with a unique mechanism of action. The active compound, cannabidiol (CBD), is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in the Cannabis sativa L. plant. While the exact way EPIDIOLEX works to reduce seizures in humans remains unclear, it is distinct from traditional anticonvulsants. CBD does not act through CB1 receptors or by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels, which are typical pathways for other antiepileptic drugs. Instead, CBD is thought to work by influencing multiple internal pathways, potentially producing a combined anticonvulsant effect. These include enhancing neuronal inhibition (through synaptic and extrasynaptic GABA channels), affecting intracellular calcium levels (via TRPV channels, VDAC, and GPR55), and reducing inflammation, possibly via adenosine modulation. Importantly, CBD does not directly bind to or activate the CB1 or CB2 receptors at levels relevant to its seizure-reducing effects. Ongoing research is examining other possible mechanisms such as interactions with adenosine, glycine, GABAergic systems, and serotonin receptors. EPIDIOLEX has received regulatory approval in numerous countries, including the U.S. (FDA), Europe (European Commission), Great Britain (MHRA), Australia (Therapeutic Goods Administration), Switzerland (Swissmedic), Israel (Ministry of Health), and New Zealand (Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority). It is formulated as an oral solution containing highly purified CBD. In the U.S., it is approved to treat seizures linked to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), Dravet syndrome (DS), and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in patients aged one year and older. In the European Union, under the name Epidyolex, it is approved as an add-on treatment with clobazam for LGS and DS in patients two years and older, and for TSC-associated seizures as well. Both the FDA and EMA have granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for EPIDIOLEX/EPIDYOLEX for these conditions. EPIDIOLEX/EPIDYOLEX net product sales rose by 15% to USD 972.4 million in 2024 and by 14% to USD 275.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to the corresponding periods in 2023. Learn more about EPIDIOLEX/EPIDYOLEX projected market size for DEE @ EPIDIOLEX Market Potential Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) encompass a group of severe neurological conditions marked by developmental delays and persistent epilepsy. These disorders typically present early in life and are linked to significant cognitive deficits. According to DelveInsight's analysis, there were approximately 287K diagnosed prevalent cases of DEE across the 7MM in 2024. This number is projected to increase due to the rise in neurological disorders, including epilepsy, as well as environmental and maternal health factors contributing to a higher DEE prevalence throughout the forecast period (2025−2034). The US FDA has approved a range of medications for conditions like LGS, Dravet Syndrome, and CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder, including various drug classes such as sodium channel modulators, GABA receptor modulators, calcium channel blockers, receptor blockers, and others. Some of the available anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) include FINTEPLA, EPIDIOLEX, TOPAMAX, BANZEL, LAMICTAL, FELBATOL, ONFI, KLONOPIN, DIACOMIT, SABRIL, and more. In 2024, the total market size for DEE in the 7MM was around USD 2.3 billion, and this figure is expected to grow by 2034, driven by wider adoption of approved therapies due to label expansions and the introduction of emerging treatments. Discover more about the DEE market in detail @ Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy Market Report Emerging Competitors of EPIDIOLEX Some of the drugs in the pipeline include EPX-100 (Harmony Biosciences), Bexicaserin (Lundbeck), Zorevunersen (Stoke Therapeutics/Biogen), Relutrigine (Praxis Precision Medicines), and others. In August 2024, the FDA removed a partial clinical hold as the company advances toward a Phase III registrational study of zorevunersen (STK-001) in children and adolescents with Dravet syndrome. In July 2024, Longboard Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA had granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for its investigational drug bexicaserin for the treatment of seizures associated with DEEs for patients 2 years of age or older. To know more about the number of competing drugs in development, visit @ EPIDIOLEX Alternatives Key Milestones of EPIDIOLEX In August 2024, Jazz Pharmaceuticals reported top-line results from a Phase 3 open-label, single-arm study conducted in Japan, assessing the safety and effectiveness of its cannabidiol oral solution (marketed globally as EPIDIOLEX/EPIDYOLEX) as an add-on therapy for seizures linked to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), Dravet syndrome (DS), or tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). While the trial did not achieve its primary efficacy goal—defined as a pre-specified percentage reduction in seizure frequency during the up-to-16-week treatment period compared to baseline in Japanese pediatric patients—numerical improvements were noted in both the primary and several secondary measures. The study did not identify any new safety concerns. In May 2021, Jazz Pharmaceuticals acquired EPIDIOLEX as part of the acquisition of GW Pharmaceuticals plc, or GW, which expanded its growing neuroscience business with a global, high-growth childhood-onset epilepsy franchise. In April 2021, EPIDYOLEX was approved for adjunctive therapy of seizures associated with TSC for patients 2 years of age and older in the EU. In July 2020, EPIDYOLEX was approved for the treatment of seizures associated with TSC in patients one year of age and older. FDA also approved the expansion of all existing indications, LGS and DS, to patients one year of age and older. In September 2019, the European Commission approved EPIDYOLEX for use as adjunctive therapy of seizures associated with LGS or DS, in conjunction with clobazam, for patients two years of age and older. In June 2018, EPIDIOLEX was approved in the US for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare and severe forms of epilepsy, LGS and DS, in patients two years of age and older. EPIDIOLEX Launch Status EPIDIOLEX was launched on November 1, 2018, in the US market after FDA approval for the treatment of seizures associated with LGS or Dravet syndrome in patients two years of age and older. EPIDYOLEX was launched in 2019 in Germany and the UK market for use as adjunctive therapy for seizures associated with LGS or Dravet syndrome, in conjunction with clobazam, for patients two years of age and older (GW Pharmaceuticals, 2019b). In 2021, EPIDYOLEX was launched in Spain. In the first quarter of 2022, the company launched EPIDYOLEX for LGS, Dravet syndrome, and TSC in Ireland, for TSC in Scotland and Wales. In the third quarter of 2022, the company launched EPIDYOLEX for TSC in Italy and Switzerland. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the company successfully completed the pricing and reimbursement process and commercial launch of EPIDYOLEX in France. Discover how EPIDIOLEX/EPIDYOLEX is shaping the DEE treatment landscape @ EPIDIOLEX CBD EPIDIOLEX Market Dynamics EPIDIOLEX, the first FDA-approved cannabidiol (CBD)-based medication for the treatment of rare forms of epilepsy, has had a significant impact on the pharmaceutical market since its approval in 2018. The drug is primarily used to treat seizures associated with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, two rare and severe forms of epilepsy. The market dynamic for EPIDIOLEX is shaped by several factors, including increasing awareness of its therapeutic potential, the expanding medical cannabis industry, and the growing demand for alternative treatments to traditional anti-epileptic drugs. One of the main drivers of the EPIDIOLEX market is the rising acceptance of CBD-based therapies. As medical cannabis becomes more mainstream and research into its medicinal properties continues to grow, patients and healthcare providers are increasingly turning to EPIDIOLEX as a treatment option. The growing body of clinical evidence supporting its effectiveness and safety has reinforced this trend. Additionally, as the stigma around cannabis-derived medications continues to fade, it opens up more opportunities for EPIDIOLEX in both pediatric and adult patient populations. However, the market for EPIDIOLEX is not without its challenges. High treatment costs and insurance coverage issues can limit accessibility for some patients, especially in markets outside the United States. Despite its clinical efficacy, the price point for EPIDIOLEX remains a point of contention, as it may not be affordable for all families, especially when compared to other conventional anti-epileptic drugs. Furthermore, competition from other cannabinoid-based therapies, as well as new developments in the broader epilepsy drug market, could impact the drug's market share over time. Looking ahead, the market dynamics for EPIDIOLEX will likely continue to evolve as the global regulatory landscape changes and new clinical trials further establish its benefits in other neurological conditions. With increasing research into CBD's potential applications, there may be opportunities for EPIDIOLEX to expand its indications, providing a solid foundation for its continued growth. However, market growth will also depend on the ability to address pricing concerns, improve insurance coverage, and navigate potential competitive pressures from both traditional and emerging therapies. Dive deeper to get more insight into EPIDIOLEX/EPIDYOLEX's strengths & weaknesses relative to competitors @ EPIDIOLEX Market Drug Report Table of Contents Related Reports Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies Market Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast – 2034 report deliver an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key DEE companies, including vid Therapeutics, Stoke Therapeutics, Biogen, Harmony Biosciences, Lundbeck (Longboard Pharmaceuticals), Praxis Precision Medicines, SK Life Science, Cerecin Neurosciences, Encoded Therapeutics, Praxis Precision Medicines, among others. Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies Pipeline Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies Pipeline Insight – 2025 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key DEE companies, including Denovo Biopharma, Cantex Pharmaceuticals, CNS Pharmaceuticals, CANbridge Pharmaceuticals, Vaximm, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Mustang Bio, Bullfrog AI Holdings, Cantex, Chimeric Therapeutics, Philogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Photonamic GmbH, Berg Pharma, Beyond Bio, Genenta Science, Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Telix Pharmaceuticals, Shanghai Simnova Biotechnology, NEONC Technologies, among others. Dravet Syndrome Market Dravet Syndrome Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast – 2034 report deliver an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key Dravet syndrome companies including Biocodex, GW Pharmaceuticals, Zogenix, Ovid Therapeutics, PTC Therapeutics, among others. Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Market Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast – 2034 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key Lennox-Gastaut syndrome companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, Meda Pharmaceuticals, Roche, Lundbeck, Greenwich Biosciences, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Eisai, Zogenix, Takeda, Ovid Therapeutics, among others. About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Get hassle-free access to all the healthcare and pharma market research reports through our subscription-based platform PharmDelve . Contact Us Shruti Thakur [email protected] +14699457679 Logo: SOURCE DelveInsight Business Research, LLP WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

MIAMI, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pasithea Therapeutics Corp. (NASDAQ: KTTA) (“Pasithea” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing PAS-004, a next-generation macrocyclic MEK inhibitor, for the treatment of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and other MAPK pathway driven cancer indications, today announced the Company has completed enrollment and initial dosing of three subjects in Cohort 6 with 30 mg capsules of PAS-004. “We are pleased to have recruited, enrolled and commenced dosing of the initial three subjects in Cohort 6 more rapidly than anticipated and we currently expect to complete enrollment of all patients in the trial by the end of 2025,” said Dr. Tiago Reis Marques, Chief Executive Officer of Pasithea. The ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial is a multi-center, open-label, dose escalation 3+3 study design to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and preliminary efficacy of PAS-004 in patients with MAPK pathway driven advanced solid tumors with a documented RAS, NF1 or RAF mutation or patients who have failed BRAF/MEK inhibition (NCT06299839). About Pasithea Therapeutics Corp. Pasithea is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery, research and development of innovative treatments for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, RASopathies and MAPK pathway driven tumors. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company’s ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of PAS-004 in advanced cancer patients, the Company’s planned Phase 1/1b clinical trial of PAS-004 in adult NF1 patients, and the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD) and preliminary efficacy of PAS-004, as well as all other statements, other than statements of historical fact, regarding the Company’s current views and assumptions with respect to future events regarding its business, as well as other statements with respect to the Company’s plans, assumptions, expectations, beliefs and objectives, the success of the Company’s current and future business strategies, product development, pre-clinical studies, clinical studies, clinical and regulatory timelines, market opportunity, competitive position, business strategies, potential growth opportunities and other statements that are predictive in nature. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to the Company on the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including risks that future clinical trial results may not match results observed to date, may be negative or ambiguous, or may not reach the level of statistical significance required for regulatory approval, as well as other factors set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this release, except as required by law. Pasithea Therapeutics Contact Patrick Gaynes Corporate Communications pgaynes@pasithea.com Released April 29, 2025