VANCOUVER, British Columbia, August 13, 202
Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. reported new symptom-response data from the ongoing Phase 1b/2a portion of its RESOLVE clinical trial, highlighting improvements in odynophagia (painful swallowing) and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) among patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) treated with investigational EP-104GI. In an analysis of patients from Cohorts 7-9 who received 20 injections of EP-104GI, the proportion experiencing moderate to severe odynophagia declined from 62% at baseline to 25% at 24 and 52 weeks after treatment. The proportion reporting moderate to severe dysphagia decreased from 77% at baseline to 25% at both 24 and 52 weeks. The company said the findings add to previously reported evidence suggesting that EP-104GI may provide sustained symptom improvement following local administration.
EP-104GI Shows Reduction in Painful and Difficult Swallowing
The new analysis focused on the severity distribution of odynophagia and dysphagia, two important symptoms that can substantially affect daily life for people with EoE. Odynophagia was measured using an 11-point patient-reported scale, with scores categorized from no pain through severe symptoms. Among the analyzed patients, 62% reported moderate or severe odynophagia at baseline, compared with 31% at weeks 2 through 12 and 25% at weeks 24, 36 and 52. The percentage of patients reporting no odynophagia increased from 15% at baseline to 50% at week 52. Dysphagia showed a similar pattern, with moderate or severe symptoms falling from 77% at baseline to 25% at weeks 24 and 52. Severe dysphagia was reported by 31% of patients at baseline, while no patients reported severe dysphagia at the 24- or 52-week assessments. These results are particularly relevant because dysphagia symptoms are incorporated into the Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ), an established patient-reported measure used in EoE clinical development.
RESOLVE Data Support Extended Duration of EP-104GI
EP-104GI is being developed using Eupraxia’s proprietary Diffusphere™ technology, which is designed to provide localized and extended drug delivery directly within targeted tissue. In the RESOLVE Phase 1b/2a study, EP-104GI was administered through 4 to 20 injections into the esophageal wall, with different cohorts evaluating escalating doses and injection schedules. Cohorts 7-9 received a total dose ranging from 80 mg to 160 mg through 20 injections and were followed for up to 52 weeks. Eupraxia reported that more than 130 patients have been treated with EP-104GI or placebo, representing more than 2,000 individual injection sites, with no treatment-emergent or procedure-related serious adverse events reported to date. The company also stated that it has observed no concerns regarding mean glucose or cortisol levels. While these findings are encouraging, the Phase 1b/2a analysis is based on a relatively small patient population, and the results require confirmation in randomized controlled studies.
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Phase 2b RESOLVE Readout Expected in Q4 2026
Eupraxia is continuing the Phase 2b portion of the RESOLVE trial, a randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluating EP-104GI in adults with EoE. The company is currently recruiting patients at 120 mg and 160 mg dose levels, corresponding to 20 injections of 6 mg or 8 mg, respectively. An interim data readout from the Phase 2b study is expected in Q4 2026. The upcoming randomized data will be important in determining whether the symptom improvements observed in the earlier-stage study translate into a meaningful treatment benefit compared with placebo. EoE is a chronic inflammatory disease in which eosinophils accumulate in the esophagus, potentially causing pain, swallowing difficulties and food obstruction. EP-104GI remains investigational, and the current symptom-response findings do not establish efficacy or regulatory approval. However, the reported durability of improvements through 52 weeks and the absence of reported serious treatment-emergent or procedure-related adverse events provide additional clinical evidence supporting continued development of the localized therapy.
Source: Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals,,press release
