SynOx Therapeutics secures $75m to fund tenosynovial giant cell tumor trial

The proceeds will be used to generate registrational phase 3 clinical and CMC data for emactuzumab, SynOx’s CSF-1(R) inhibiting monoclonal antibody (mAb) for the treatment of tenosynovial giant cell tumour (TGCT).

Ray Barlow, CEO of SynOx Therapeutics, said: “This is a transformational time for SynOx. This substantial funding will allow us to generate registrational data for emactuzumab in TGCT.

“As a highly effective, next-generation therapy with a short treatment cycle, rapid onset and long duration of response, we believe that emactuzumab is differentiated from other agents in development and will provide a much needed and valuable option for patients suffering from this grievous disease.”

TGCT is a type of tumour that affects the soft tissue lining of joints and tendons and is a highly debilitating disease often impacting large, important joints such as the knee, hip and ankle.

The chronic disease can seriously impact quality of life by causing significant loss of function of the affected joints, pain, stiffness, and limiting range of motion.

According to SynOx, while most patients receive surgical intervention, more than 50% of with diffuse disease experience tumour recurrence within three years of surgery.

SynOx is aiming to change this landscape with emactuzumab, a novel, next-generation CSF-1R mAb with a potentially best-in-class profile.

In earlier studies, the therapy demonstrated ‘substantial’ clinical activity with an objective response rate (ORR) of 71%, rapid and robust tumour reduction, a long duration of effect, and improvements in functional ability.

These studies also indicated that the treatment has good tolerability and a manageable safety profile.

Moving forward, the company is initiating a phase 3 trial to assess the efficacy and safety of emactuzumab in patients with localized and diffuse TGCT.

As part of the Series B financing, Dr Carlo Incerti and Jon Edwards have joined the company’s board of directors.

Commenting on both appointments, Ton Logtenberg, non-executive chair of SynOx Therapeutics, said: “Their broad experience and knowledge, particularly in driving forward cutting-edge therapies for rare diseases, and executing deals at the highest level, complement the expertise of our existing directors and will be instrumental as we accelerate the late-stage clinical development of emactuzumab.”

“The support of our existing and new investors is validation of SynOx’s strategy and its great potential as a company.”