Henlius New Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor — Henlius Receives IND Approval from NMPA for Novel Anti-LAG-3 mAb
Lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) is an immune checkpoint receptor and is regarded as a new generation of immunotherapy target after PD-1/L1 and CTLA-4. Currently, there is no LAG-3 targeted product on the market around the globe. A number of clinical studies have shown that LAG-3 inhibitors have obvious disease control effects in many solid tumors and hematological malignancy such as lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, head and neck cancer. A Phase III clinical study suggests that targeting the LAG-3 pathway in the combination with PD-1/L1 pathway effectively activates immune response, demonstrating the promising prospect of this product.
LAG-3 is an immune checkpoint receptor that is mainly expressed on human immune cells including activated T cells and part of NK cells, and negatively regulats the proliferation, activization and homeostasis of T cells-1. HLX26 is a human mAb targeting LAG-3 extracellular domains, can block the LAG-3-mediated signaling pathway to restore the killing function of T-cell. Pre-clinical studies have proved that HLX26 has anti-tumor effect and favourable tolerability and safety. Particular in in vitro and animal model studies, HLX26 combined with Henlius’ proprietary anti-PD-1 mAb HLX10 creates synergistic effects in anti-tumor. These results lay the foundation for further clinical studies. HLX26 is expected to play an important role in the treatment of solid tumors and lymphomas, and expand the Company’s therapeutic area.
At present, Henlius has built an all-round layout of the immune checkpoint products of PD-1/L1, CTLA-4 and LAG-3, etc., creating more opportunities for the exploration of combination immunotherapy. Looking forward, the Company will rely on extensive target development experience and integrated R&D platform actively developing more innovative products for patients, and build a high-quality, affordable and differentiated innovative product pipeline.
About Henlius
Henlius (2696.HK) is a global biopharmaceutical company with the vision to offer high-quality, affordable and innovative biologic medicines for patients worldwide with a focus on oncology, autoimmune diseases and ophthalmic diseases. Up to date, 3 products have been launched in China, 1 in the European Union (EU), the New Drug Applications (NDA) of 2 products accepted for review in China. Since its inception in 2010, Henlius has built an integrated biopharmaceutical platform with core capabilities of high-efficiency and innovation embedded throughout the whole product life cycle including R&D, manufacturing and commercialisation. It has established global R&D centers and a Shanghai-based manufacturing facility certificated by China and the EU Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).
Henlius has pro-actively built a diversified and high-quality product pipeline covering over 20 innovative monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and has continued to explore immuno-oncology combination therapies with proprietary HLX10 (anti-PD-1 mAb) as backbone. Apart from the launched products 汉利康® (rituximab), the first China-developed biosimilar, 汉曲优® (trastuzumab, Zercepac® in the EU), the first China-developed mAb biosimilar approved both in China and in the EU and 汉达远® (adalimumab), the Company's first product indicated for autoimmune diseases, the NDA of HLX04 (bevacizumab) and HLX01 (rituximab) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis are under review. What's more, Henlius has conducted over 20 clinical studies for 10 products and 8 combination therapies worldwide, expanding its presence in major market as well as emerging market.
【参考文献】
[1] Ruffo E, Wu R C, Bruno T C, et al. Lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG3): the next immune checkpoint receptor[C]//Seminars in immunology. Academic Press, 2019, 42: 101305.
[2] Solinas C, Migliori E, De Silva P, et al. LAG3: the biological processes that motivate targeting this immune checkpoint molecule in human cancer[J]. Cancers, 2019, 11(8): 1213.