Press Release
HUTCHMED Initiates Phase II/III Trial of the Combination of
Surufatinib and Camrelizumab for Treatment-Naïve Pancreatic Ductal
Adenocarcinoma in Collaboration with Hengrui
- Almost half a million people diagnosed each year
across the globe -
- Collaboration based on synergistic potential of
inhibiting angiogenesis and tumor-associated macrophages with
HUTCHMED's surufatinib and anti-PD-1 activity with Hengrui's
camrelizumab, promoting the immune response against tumor
cells -
Hong Kong, Shanghai
& Florham Park, NJ - Tuesday, May 14,
2024: HUTCHMED (China) Limited ("HUTCHMED") (Nasdaq/AIM:HCM;
HKEX:13) today announces the initiation of a Phase II/III trial to
evaluate the efficacy of a combination of the HUTCHMED drug
candidate surufatinib, the Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd
("Hengrui Pharma") PD-1 antibody camrelizumab, nab-paclitaxel and
gemcitabine as a first-line treatment for patients with metastatic
pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma ("PDAC") in China. PDAC is an
exocrine tumor and the most common form of pancreatic cancer. The
first patient received the first dose on May 8, 2024.
PDAC is a highly aggressive form of cancer,
representing over 90% of pancreatic cancer cases. Globally, an
estimated 511,000 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer,
leading to approximately 467,000 deaths in 2022, with an average
five-year survival rate of less than 10%. In China, an estimated
119,000 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, causing
approximately 106,000 deaths in 2022.[1]
Treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery and radiation are commonly
employed, but have not shown significant improvement in patient
outcomes. Under 20% of metastatic pancreatic cancer patients
survive more than a year.[2]
The trial is a multicenter, randomized, open-label,
active-controlled, Phase II/III trial to evaluate the efficacy and
safety of surufatinib combined with camrelizumab, nab-paclitaxel,
and gemcitabine versus nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine as a
treatment for adults with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have not
been previously treated with a systemic anti-tumor therapy. After
an initial safety run-in stage, the Phase II/III stage of the study
may enroll a further 500 patients, with a primary endpoint of
overall survival (OS). Other endpoints include objective response
rate (ORR), progression free survival (PFS), disease control rate
(DCR), safety, quality of life, duration of response and time to
response. Additional details may be found at clinicaltrials.gov,
using identifier NCT06361888.
Dr Weiguo Su, Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Scientific Officer of HUTCHMED, said, "Emerging data including
those from an investigator-initiated study presented at the ASCO
Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, demonstrated that combinations
of surufatinib, camrelizumab and chemotherapy have promising
efficacy in comparison with existing chemotherapy-based treatments
in metastatic PDAC.[3] We hope that this
partnership will enable us to bring new, potentially life-changing
treatment options to patients."
About Surufatinib
Surufatinib is a novel, oral angio-immuno kinase
inhibitor that selectively inhibits the tyrosine kinase activity
associated with vascular endothelial growth factor receptors
(VEGFRs) and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), which both
inhibit angiogenesis, and colony stimulating factor-1 receptor
(CSF-1R), which regulates tumor-associated macrophages, promoting
the body's immune response against tumor cells. Its unique dual
mechanism of action may be very suitable for possible combinations
with other immunotherapies, where there may be synergistic
anti-tumor effects.
Surufatinib is marketed in China by HUTCHMED under the
brand name SULANDA®, and was first included in the China
National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) in January 2022 for the
treatment of non-pancreatic and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
(NETs).
About Camrelizumab
Camrelizumab (SHR-1210) is a humanized monoclonal
antibody targeting the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor. Blockade
of the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway is a therapeutic strategy
showing success in a wide variety of solid and hematological
cancers. Currently, more than 10 clinical trials are underway
worldwide in a broad range of tumors and treatment
settings.
Camrelizumab, under the brand name
AiRuiKa®, is currently approved for nine indications in
China, including hepatocellular carcinoma ("HCC") (second-line and
first-line), relapsed/refractory classic Hodgkin's lymphoma
(third-line), esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (second-line) and
nasopharyngeal carcinoma (third-line or further) and in combination
with chemotherapy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer
(non-squamous and squamous), esophageal squamous cell carcinoma,
and nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the first-line setting. All
indications have been included in China's national medical
insurance catalog, making it the leading domestic PD-1 product in
terms of approved indications and tumor types covered. The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") granted Orphan Drug
Designation to camrelizumab for advanced HCC in April 2021, and
accepted a New Drug Application (NDA) for camrelizumab and
rivoceranib as a first-line therapy for unresectable HCC, with FDA
Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) dates in May 2024.
About Hengrui Pharma
Hengrui Pharma is a leading global pharmaceutical
company headquartered in China with a focus on research,
development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative and
high-quality healthcare products. Innovation is the core
development strategy. Hengrui Pharma ranked 24th among
top 1,000 global pharmaceutical companies in 2021. Hengrui Pharma
has been on the Pharma Exec's annual listing of the top 50 global
pharmaceutical companies for the fifth consecutive year.
About HUTCHMED
HUTCHMED (Nasdaq/AIM:HCM; HKEX:13) is an innovative,
commercial-stage, biopharmaceutical company. It is committed to the
discovery, global development and commercialization of targeted
therapies and immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and
immunological diseases. It has approximately 5,000 personnel across
all its companies, at the center of which is a team of about 1,800
in oncology/immunology. Since inception, HUTCHMED has focused on
bringing cancer drug candidates from in-house discovery to patients
around the world. Its first three medicines are marketed in China,
the first of which is also marketed in the U.S. For more
information, please visit: www.hutch‑med.com or follow us on
LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of
the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements reflect HUTCHMED's current expectations
regarding future events, including its expectations regarding the
therapeutic potential of surufatinib for the treatment of patients
with PDAC and the further development of surufatinib in this and
other indications. Forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other
things, assumptions regarding the timing and outcome of clinical
studies and the sufficiency of clinical data to support an NDA
submission of surufatinib for the treatment of patients with PDAC
or other indications in China or other jurisdictions, its potential
to gain approvals from regulatory authorities on an expedited basis
or at all, the efficacy and safety profile of surufatinib,
HUTCHMED's ability to fund, implement and complete its further
clinical development and commercialization plans for surufatinib
and the timing of these events. In addition, as certain studies
rely on the use of other drug products such as camrelizumab as
combination therapeutics with surufatinib, such risks and
uncertainties include assumptions regarding the safety, efficacy,
supply and continued regulatory approval of these therapeutics.
Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date hereof. For further discussion of these and other
risks, see HUTCHMED's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and on AIM.
HUTCHMED undertakes no obligation to update or revise the
information contained in this press release, whether as a result of
new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
Medical Information
This press release contains information about
products that may not be available in all countries, or may be
available under different trademarks, for different indications, in
different dosages, or in different strengths. Nothing contained
herein should be considered a solicitation, promotion or
advertisement for any prescription drugs including the ones under
development.
CONTACTS
Investor Enquiries
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+852 2121 8200 /
ir@hutch-med.com
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Media Enquiries
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Ben Atwell / Alex Shaw,
FTI Consulting
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+44 20 3727 1030 /
+44 7771 913 902 (Mobile) /
+44 7779 545 055 (Mobile) / HUTCHMED@fticonsulting.com
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Zhou Yi, Brunswick
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+852 9783 6894 (Mobile) /
HUTCHMED@brunswickgroup.com
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Nominated Advisor
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Atholl Tweedie /
Freddy Crossley / Daphne Zhang,
Panmure Gordon
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+44 (20) 7886 2500
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