Ensysce Biosciences, Inc. and OncoZenge AB announced that they have signed a letter of intent (LOI) to explore a strategic collaboration to accelerate the commercialization of BupiZenge in the United States. BupiZenge is OncoZenge's novel approach to treating pain caused by oral mucositis, an often severely debilitating condition of painful swelling and ulcerations of the mouth that commonly results from head and neck radiation and/or chemotherapy used to treat cancer. Left untreated, oral intake of food or fluids may be severely impeded and may adversely impact a patient's prognosis and quality of life.

BupiZenge(TM) is a non-opioid oral formulation of the well-established local anesthetic bupivacaine. OncoZenge has successfully progressed BupiZenge through Phase 2 in the European Union (EU) and is currently in planning for the registrational Phase 3 program. Results from the Phase 2 study conducted in head and neck cancer patients with oral mucositis demonstrated strong efficacy in relieving pain with good safety and tolerability.

The proposed collaboration aims to leverage the expertise and resources of both companies to accelerate the path to market in the United States for this innovative therapy that addresses critical unmet needs in the fields of analgesia and oncology.