COPENHAGEN, Denmark I June 2, 2025
I Zealand Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ZEAL) (“Zealand”) (CVR-no. 20045078), a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of innovative peptide-based medicines, today announced the submission of a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for glepaglutide, a long-acting GLP-2 analog, for the treatment of adult patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS).
The submission of the MAA to the EMA for glepaglutide administered twice weekly for the treatment of SBS is based on results from a pivotal Phase 3 trial (EASE-1), supported by interim results from two ongoing long-term extension trials (EASE-2 and EASE-3) and results from a mechanistic trial (EASE-4).
“We are pleased to bring our potential best-in-class GLP-2 analog, glepaglutide, one step closer to patients in Europe living with short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure, who urgently need more effective and more convenient treatment options,” said David Kendall, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Zealand Pharma. “We believe that glepaglutide, administered twice weekly, offers meaningful potential to reduce both the burden of parenteral support and the inconvenience of daily dosing required with the only currently available GLP-2 therapy. Looking ahead, we expect to initiate the EASE-5 Phase 3 trial in the second half of the year to obtain further confirmatory safety and efficacy data on the twice weekly dosing regimen, supporting regulatory submission in the U.S.”
About glepaglutide
Glepaglutide is a long-acting GLP-2 analog in development as a potential treatment option for short bowel syndrome (SBS). Glepaglutide is developed as a liquid product in an autoinjector designed for subcutaneous administration by twice weekly dosing, aimed to reduce, or eliminate, the need for parenteral support in people living with SBS. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation for glepaglutide for the treatment of SBS.
About the EASE Clinical Trial Program
The Phase 3 program, named EASE, is designed to evaluate the potential for glepaglutide to reduce or eliminate the need for parenteral support in SBS patients with intestinal failure.
EASE-1 (NCT03690206) was a randomized, double-blind Phase 3 trial that enrolled a total of 106 SBS patients with intestinal failure who were dependent on parenteral support for at least three days per week. Patients were evenly randomized to receive treatment with 10 mg glepaglutide administered either once or twice weekly, or placebo. The primary endpoint in the trial was the absolute change in weekly parenteral support volume from baseline at 24 weeks. At 24 weeks, glepaglutide administered twice weekly significantly reduced the total weekly volume of PS by 5.13 liters/week, compared to a reduction of 2.85 liters/week in the placebo group (p=0.0039). When administered once weekly, glepaglutide treatment resulted in a reduction in weekly PS of 3.13 liters/week, however this did not achieve statistical significance. A total of 9 patients treated with glepaglutide were completely weaned off PS (achieving enteral autonomy), while no placebo-treated patients were able to discontinue PS. For patients treated with glepaglutide twice weekly, 14% of patients (n=5) achieved enteral autonomy.
In total, 102 of 106 participating patients completed EASE-1, of which 96 continued into the ongoing two-year, long-term safety and efficacy extension trial, EASE-2.
EASE-2 (NCT03905707) is a randomized, double-blind trial in which SBS patients continued their randomly assigned treatment from EASE-1 with glepaglutide 10 mg once- or twice-weekly. Patients who received placebo in EASE-1 were re-randomized to treatment with either glepaglutide 10 mg once- or twice-weekly. In an interim analysis conducted after at least six months of treatment, clinical response to glepaglutide across the key efficacy endpoints was generally maintained or showed continued improvement, including additional patients on both doses weaning off PS.
Patients who complete EASE-2 are eligible to participate in EASE-3 (NCT04881825), evaluating glepaglutide administered once weekly using an autoinjector. An interim analysis of EASE-3, conducted with the first 57 patients rolled over from EASE 2, showed that the reduction in prescribed PS was generally maintained.
EASE-4 (NCT04991311) was a Phase 3b trial to assess mechanistic effects of glepaglutide on intestinal fluid and energy uptake. The trial provides evidence of the pharmacodynamic effects of glepaglutide in improving intestinal absorption.
In the second half of 2025, Zealand Pharma expects to initiate EASE-5, a single Phase 3 clinical trial that is anticipated to provide further confirmatory evidence for a regulatory submission in the U.S.
About Zealand Pharma A/S
Zealand Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ZEAL) (“Zealand”) is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of peptide-based medicines. More than 10 drug candidates invented by Zealand have advanced into clinical development, of which two have reached the market and three candidates are in late-stage development. The company has development partnerships with a number of pharma companies as well as commercial partnerships for its marketed products.
Zealand was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a presence in the United States. For more information about Zealand’s business and activities, please visit
www.zealandpharma.com
.
SOURCE:
Zealand Pharma