Epizyme Wins Patent Covering Diagnosis, Treatment of Cancers with EZH2 Mutation

Epizyme, Inc. EPZM, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company creating innovative personalized therapeutics for patients with genetically defined cancers, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted U.S. Patent No. 8,691,507 with claims that cover the identification of patients carrying EZH2 oncogenic mutations as candidates for treatment with EZH2 inhibitors. EZH2 is a histone methyltransferase (HMT) that can become oncogenic due to genetic alterations and cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma and solid tumors. The patent, entitled "Inhibitors of Human EZH2 and Methods of Use Thereof," expires in 2033. "We believe the issued claims, which cover detecting the presence of an EZH2 mutation and treatment with an EZH2 inhibitor, are the first instance of patented diagnostic applications for EZH2 cancers," said Zoran Zdraveski Ph.D, J.D., Chief Patent Counsel, Epizyme. "These diagnostic and treatment claims complement our issued composition of matter claims that expire in 2032. Our growing patent estate reflects the potential of our product platform to create personalized therapeutics for patients with genetically defined cancers." Epizyme's small molecule inhibitor of EZH2, EPZ-6438 (E7438), is currently being developed in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in patients with advanced solid tumors or relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphoma. In 2014, Epizyme plans to initiate two proof of concept studies with EPZ-6438 pending Phase 1 completion, one in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients with EZH2 point mutations and one in synovial sarcoma patients. EPZ-6438 is being developed in collaboration with Eisai, Inc.