Torrance-based Emmaus Life Sciences Inc. announced Aug. 31 an option agreement with Beverly Grove-based Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to continue researching the use of Emmaus’ existing drug Endari in treating pancreatic cancer.
The Food and Drug Administration in 2017 approved the L-glutamine oral powder drug to treat pediatric sickle cell disease. The drug has also been approved for this use in several Persian Gulf countries.
“We are incredibly proud to explore the broader potential of our therapies,” Willis Lee, chief executive of Emmaus Life Sciences, said in the company’s announcement. “While Emmaus has historically been recognized for our breakthrough treatment in sickle cell disease, we believe that this agreement represents an important step in exploring new options for patients with pancreatic cancer.”
Specifically, the researchers from both Emmaus Life Sciences and Cedars-Sinai have since 2020 been investigating the use of Endari in combination with chemotherapy to treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, or PDAC for short. According to Emmaus’ statement, PDAC is the most common type of pancreatic cancer and is notoriously difficult to treat, often presenting with late-stage...