London: Wednesday, 22 February 2012: Hutchison MediPharma Limited (“HMP”), an R&D company majority owned by Chi-Med, today announces the initiation of the first-in-human Phase I clinical trial of Volitinib (HMPL-504) in Australia. Volitinib is a novel targeted therapy and a highly selective inhibitor of the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase for the treatment of cancer. This is one of several oncology compounds discovered and developed by HMP and the first oncology compound from HMP to enter into clinical study in Australia. On 21 December 2011, AstraZeneca PLC and HMP announced they had entered into a global licensing, co-development and commercialisation agreement for Volitinib.
The Phase I study of Volitinib has been approved by the Bellberry Human Research Ethics Committee in Australia. It is being conducted initially at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH) under the direction and supervision of Dr. Michael Millward, Winthrop Professor of Clinical Cancer Research and Head of Medical Oncology Department at SCGH and University of Western Australia. The primary objectives of the Phase I study of Volitinib are to evaluate its safety and tolerability in patients with advanced cancer and to determine its maximum tolerated dose. The study will also evaluate Volitinib’s preliminary efficacy against various tumours, including lung cancer and gastric cancer. The c-Met gene amplification status and protein expression level will be used subsequently to direct patient selection.
Professor Michael Millward said: “Volitinib is a novel oral anti-cancer therapy that selectively targets the c-Met signalling pathway. We are excited to conduct this first-in-human Phase I study in Australia and to play an important role in the global efforts of developing this potential personalised new medicine.”
Volitinib is a potent ATP-competitive c-Met inhibitor with high selectivity over a 274 kinase panel. Pre-clinical studies of Volitinib have demonstrated tumour growth inhibitory activity in a series of human tumour xenografts, especially for those tumours with c-Met gene amplification or c-Met over-expression.
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Chi-Med Christian Hogg, CEO |
Telephone: +852 2121 8200
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Citigate Dewe Rogerson Anthony Carlisle David Dible |
Telephone: +44 20 7638 9571 Mobile: +44 7973 611 888 Mobile: +44 7967 566 919 |
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Lazard & Co., Limited Paul Gismondi Nick Fowler |
Telephone: +44 20 7187 2000 |
The c-Met (also known as HGFR) signalling pathway has specific roles particularly in normal mammalian growth and development. However, this pathway has been shown to function abnormally in a range of different cancers. Volitinib is a potent and highly selective c-Met inhibitor, which has been demonstrated to inhibit the growth of tumours in a series of pre-clinical disease models, especially for those tumours with aberrant c-Met signalling such as gene amplification or c-Met over-expression. In addition these biomarkers provide the potential to explore patient selection strategies in later stage clinical trials.
HMP is a novel drug R&D company focusing on discovering, developing and commercialising innovative therapeutics in oncology and autoimmune diseases. With a team of around 200 scientists and staff, its pipeline is comprised of novel oral compounds for cancer and inflammation in development in North America, Europe, Australia and Greater China.
HMP is majority owned by Chi-Med.
Chi-Med is the holding company of a healthcare group based primarily in China and was listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange in May 2006. It is focused on researching, developing, manufacturing and selling pharmaceuticals and health oriented consumer products.
Chi-Med is majority owned by Hutchison Whampoa Limited, an international company listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.