Novo Nordisk Gets CDSCO Panel Nod To Study Etavopivat
New Delhi: The drug major Novo Nordisk has got approval from the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) functional under the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to conduct the Phase III clinical trial of Etavopivat.
This came after the drug maker Novo Nordisk presented Phase III clinical trial protocol No. NN7535-7807 version No.1.0 dated 18.04.2024.
Etavopivat is an investigational, oral, small-molecule activator of erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (PKR) in development for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD) and other hemoglobinopathies.
PKR activation is proposed to ameliorate the sickling of SCD red blood cells (RBCs) through multiple mechanisms, including reduction of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), which consequently increases hemoglobin (Hb)-oxygen affinity; increased binding of oxygen reduces sickle hemoglobin polymerization and sickling. In addition, PKR activation increases adenosine triphosphate (ATP) produced via glycolytic flux, which helps preserve membrane integrity and RBC deformability.
Etavopivat, a small molecule activator of the glycolytic enzyme erythrocyte pyruvate kinase, decreased 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in red blood cells (RBCs) from nonhuman primates and healthy subjects and significantly increased hemoglobin (Hb)-oxygen affinity in healthy subjects. Using ex vivo RBCs from donors with sickle cell disease (SCD) (homozygous hemoglobin S or hemoglobin S and C genotype), etavopivat increased Hb-oxygen affinity and reduced sickling under deoxygenation.
At the recent SEC meeting for Hematology held on 8th August 2024, the expert panel reviewed the Phase III clinical trial protocol No. NN7535-7807 version No.1.0 dated 18.04.2024.
After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended a grant of permission to conduct the trial as presented by the firm.
