NESS ZIONA, Israel — Sol-Gel Technologies, Ltd. (Nasdaq: SLGL) (“Sol-Gel”), a dermatology company leveraging innovative approaches to develop pioneering treatments for patients with severe skin conditions, and with two approved large-category dermatology products, TWYNEO® and EPSOLAY®, today announced that it has begun Phase 3 testing of SGT-610 (patidegib gel, 2%) for Gorlin syndrome with the first patient screened. SGT-610 is a new topical hedgehog inhibitor being developed to prevent the new basal cell carcinoma (BCC) lesions in patients with Gorlin syndrome that is expected to have an improved safety profile compared to oral hedgehog inhibitors. Patidegib was acquired by Sol-Gel from PellePharm and is currently the only therapy in development to prevent the development of new BCC lesions in Gorlin syndrome patients.
“We are pleased to initiate patient screening in this Phase 3 trial that has been long awaited by the Gorlin syndrome patient community,” said Alon Seri-Levy, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Sol-Gel. “To increase the probability of success of this trial we have refined screening criteria to enroll subjects with more severe disease at baseline in terms of a higher baseline number of facial BCC lesions. This may help to better demonstrate the preventive effect of the medication. Other insights that we are using in our Phase 3 trial design strategy are to pre-screen patients for a specific genetic mutation associated with Gorlin syndrome and to ease patient study compliance by reducing the number of study visits over the 12-months of treatment. We hope that our learnings to optimize this trial’s design will help Sol-Gel advance this important drug candidate to Gorlin syndrome patients with no approved therapies.”
“We anticipate SGT-610, with Orphan- and Breakthrough designation from FDA, could have a market potential of over $300 million. We look forward to discussing the experience of the Gorlin syndrome patient, the market opportunity for SGT-610, and the Phase 3 trial design during a Key Opinion Leader investor day that we are hosting on December 6th,” added Dr. Seri-Levy.
Sol-Gel will conduct the Phase 3 study to investigate SGT-610 in approximately 140 subjects at approximately 40 experienced clinical centers in North America, United Kingdom and Europe. For more information about the trial and study design, visit NCT06050122.
Register for Sol-Gel’s KOL event
Sol-Gel will host a virtual KOL event featuring Julie Breneiser (Executive Director, Gorlin Syndrome Alliance) and Ervin Epstein Jr, M.D. (Co-Founder of PellePharm). The event will highlight the patient’s experience through the eyes of a Gorlin syndrome patient as well as discuss the therapeutic potential of SGT-610 to prevent new BCCs in Gorlin syndrome patients and Sol-Gel’s Phase 3 trial.
About Gorlin Syndrome and SGT-610
SGT-610, a topical hedgehog signaling pathway inhibitor, has the potential to be the first ever preventive treatment for Gorlin syndrome, if approved. Gorlin syndrome, an autosomal dominant genetic disorder affecting approximately one in 27,000-31,000 people in the U.S., is mostly caused by inheritance of one defective copy of the tumor suppressor patched homolog 1 (PTCH1) gene. Normally, the PTCH1 gene blocks the smoothened, frizzle class receptor (SMO) gene, turning off the hedgehog signaling pathway when it is not needed. Mutations in the PTCH1 gene may cause a loss of PTCH1 function, release of SMO, and may allow basal cell carcinoma (BCC) tumor cells to divide uncontrollably. Patidegib, the active substance in SGT-610, is designed to block the SMO signal, thus, allowing cells to function normally and reducing the production of new tumors.
About Sol-Gel Technologies
Sol-Gel Technologies, Ltd. is a dermatology company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing or partnering drug products for the treatment of skin diseases. Sol-Gel developed TWYNEO which is approved by the FDA for the treatment of acne vulgaris in adults and pediatric patients nine years of age and older; and EPSOLAY, which is approved by the FDA for the treatment of inflammatory lesions of rosacea in adults. Both drugs are exclusively licensed to and commercialized by Galderma in the U.S.
The Company’s pipeline includes Orphan- and Breakthrough designated dug candidate, SGT-610, under investigation for the prevention of new basal cell carcinomas in Gorlin syndrome patients, and also includes topical drug candidate SGT-210 under investigation for the treatment of rare skin keratodermas.
Contact
Sol-Gel Technologies
Gilad Mamlok
Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]