Hutchison China MediTech (Chi-Med) (AIM/Nasdaq: HCM) has initiated a Phase Ib/II proof-of-concept study of epitinib in glioblastoma patients with epidermal growth factor receptor ("EGFR") gene amplification in China. Glioblastoma is a primary brain cancer that harbors high levels of EGFR gene amplification. Epitinib is a potent and highly selective oral EGFR inhibitor that has demonstrated penetration of the blood-brain barrier and encouraging efficacy in clinical studies in other indications.
This proof-of-concept study is a multi-center, single-arm, open-label study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of epitinib as a monotherapy in patients with EGFR gene amplified, histologically confirmed glioblastoma. The primary endpoint is objective response rate ("ORR"). Additional details about this study may be found at clinicaltrials.gov, using identifier NCT03231501.
In addition to this glioblastoma study, epitinib is being developed for non-small cell lung cancer ("NSCLC") patients with activating EGFR mutations that have developed brain metastases. Epitinib has demonstrated brain penetration and encouraging efficacy in these clinical studies and in preclinical studies.
About glioblastoma and epitinib
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive of the gliomas, which are tumors that arise from glial cells or their precursors within the central nervous system ("CNS"). Glioblastoma is classified as Grade IV under the World Health Organization grading of CNS tumors1and is the most common brain and CNS malignancy, accounting for 47% of such tumors. In 2017, there were approximately 12,000 new glioblastoma cases in the United States, according to the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States.2 In 2015, there were approximately 101,600 new brain or CNS cancer cases in China.3The standard of care for treatment is surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Median survival is approximately 15 months, and the five-year survival rate is 5.5%.2,4 There are limited treatment options for glioblastoma patients, particularly for patients with recurrent glioblastoma.
EGFR gene amplification has been identified in about half of glioblastoma patients, according to The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network, and hence is a potential therapeutic target in glioblastoma.5 However, currently marketed first generation EGFR inhibitors cannot penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively, leaving patients without an effective targeted therapy.6 In contrast, epitinib (HMPL-813) is designed for optimal blood-brain barrier penetration, allowing for higher drug exposure in the brain than the currently marketed first generation EGFR inhibitors.
About epitinib in NSCLC with brain metastasis
In December 2016, preliminary results were presented from a Phase Ib trial of epitinib in first-line NSCLC. Epitinib has been shown to be well tolerated with encouraging efficacy with an ORR (lung and brain) of 62% in all patients not previously treated with an EGFR inhibitor, and an ORR of 70% (including both confirmed and unconfirmed partial responses) in such patients who also had measurable brain metastasis and were c-MET negative (clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02590952). Based on further data from that Phase Ib and driven by the major unmet medical need, we are preparing to initiate a Phase III pivotal study of epitinib in EGFR mutant NSCLC patients with brain metastasis in China in 2018.
About Chi-Med
Chi-Med is an innovative biopharmaceutical company which researches, develops, manufactures and sells pharmaceuticals and healthcare products. Its Innovation Platform, Hutchison MediPharma Limited, focuses on discovering and developing innovative therapeutics in oncology and autoimmune diseases for the global market. Its Commercial Platform manufactures, markets, and distributes prescription drugs and consumer health products in China.
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