Eton Adds ASN-001 to Expand Hemangioma Franchise
The drug candidate cleared or nearly cleared lesions in 56% of twice-daily patients.
Eton Pharmaceuticals (ETON) licensed U.S. rights to ASN-001, expanding its infantile-hemangioma franchise into moderate cases beyond its HEMANGEOL treatment.
The late-stage topical timolol gel candidate would address an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 patients annually. HEMANGEOL serves a separate market of roughly 10,000 to 15,000 patients who receive systemic therapy.
The transaction gave Eton a potential treatment for patients who may not require systemic therapy. More than 10,000 patients with infantile hemangiomas are treated annually with off-label ophthalmic timolol.
ASN-001 completed a 168-patient Phase II/III trial. At week 24, elimination or near-elimination was reported in 42% of patients treated three times daily, compared with 15% of patients receiving placebo.
Eton plans to conduct a bioavailability bridging study and submit a new drug application for ASN-001 in the second half of 2027. Potential approval and launch are scheduled for 2028.
The candidate has patent protection through 2044, with another patent application pending, giving Eton a long commercial window if the product reaches the market.