RemeGen’s Novel ADC Drug RC278’s Clinical Trial Application Accepted

On May 12, 2025 RemeGen Co., Ltd. (688331.SH/9995.HK) reported that the Clinical Trial Application (CTA) for its novel ADC Drug RC278 has been submitted recently and accepted by National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Center for Drug Reevaluation (CDE) on May 8th (Press release, RemeGen, MAY 12, 2025, View Source;cid=115&id=2650 [SID1234656125]).

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RC278, independently designed and developed by RemeGen, emerges as a potentially First-in-Class/Best-in-Class ADC molecule. RC278 can specifically recognize a new tumor target and contains an innovative linker-cytotoxicity system, showing broad-spectrum antitumor activity, manageable safety and pharmacokinetic characteristics in the pre-clinical study.

As an important drug candidate in RemeGen’s ADC pipeline, RC278 boasts unique target and differentiated molecule design, demonstrating RemeGen’s progress in ADC technology. RC278 will bring new treatment option for the advanced solid tumor patients.

Alligator Bioscience to attend ASCO 2025 Annual Meeting

On May 12, 2025 Alligator Bioscience (Nasdaq Stockholm: ATORX) reported that data from its OPTIMIZE-1 clinical trial will be presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (Press release, Alligator Bioscience, MAY 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234652861]). The presentation, titled "Biomarkers associated with outcomes from OPTIMIZE-1: CD40 agonist mitazalimab with mFOLFIRINOX in patients with untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer," will take place during the Developmental Therapeutics—Immunotherapy session, focusing on tissue-based biomarkers. The presentation will be available at Poster Board #271.

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The ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting is the premier event for advancing clinical oncology, where professionals connect and collaborate. It also offers valuable business development opportunities, supporting Alligator’s efforts to expand mitazalimab’s potential and explore strategic collaborations.

Abstract Details:
• Title: Biomarkers associated with outcomes from OPTIMIZE-1: CD40 agonist mitazalimab with mFOLFIRINOX in patients with untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer
• First Author: Philippe Cassier
• Date and time: 2nd June 2025, 1.30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m CDT.
• Session Title: Developmental Therapeutics—Immunotherapy
• Sub Track: Tissue-Based Biomarkers
• Abstract Number: 2624
• Poster Board Number: 271
• Abstract link

FibroGen Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

On May 12, 2025 FibroGen, Inc. (NASDAQ: FGEN) reported financial results for the first quarter 2025 and provided an update on the company’s recent developments (Press release, FibroGen, MAY 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234652879]).

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"We continue to focus on our most important strategic priority of advancing our lead asset, FG-3246, with the initiation of the Phase 2 monotherapy dose optimization study in mCRPC, expected to start in the third quarter of 2025," said Thane Wettig, Chief Executive Officer, FibroGen. "In addition, we have filed a Type C meeting request with the FDA to discuss the potential Phase 3 development program for roxadustat in the treatment of anemia associated with LR-MDS, an indication with significant unmet medical need. As we look to finalize the sale of FibroGen China in the third quarter of 2025, we remain highly focused on driving significant shareholder value by supporting our US development initiatives with our strong balance sheet and extended cash runway into the second half of 2027."

Recent Developments and Key Highlights of First Quarter 2025:

Sale of FibroGen China to AstraZeneca now expected to be for a total consideration of approximately $185 million, representing an enterprise value of $85 million plus estimated net cash held in China at closing of approximately $100 million. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025.
Upon closing, FibroGen will repay its term loan to Morgan Stanley Tactical Value, further simplifying the Company’s capital structure.
FibroGen maintains its rights to roxadustat in the U.S. and in all markets outside of China, South Korea, and those licensed to Astellas.
Publication of results from Phase 1 Monotherapy Study of FG-3246 titled, "A Phase 1, First-in-Human Study of FOR46 (FG-3246), an Immune-Modulating Antibody-Drug Conjugate Targeting CD46, in Patients with Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer", in the peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO). The trial results provide key insights into the clinical impact of targeting CD46 and its potential to become the next generation target in the prostate cancer treatment paradigm.
Upcoming Milestones:

FG-3246 (CD46 Targeting ADC) and FG-3180 (CD46 Targeting PET Imaging Agent)

Anticipate initiation of Phase 2 monotherapy dose optimization study of FG-3246 in mCRPC in the third quarter of 2025.
Phase 2 trial will include FG-3180 to enable assessment of its diagnostic performance and the potential correlation between CD46 expression and response to FG-3246.
Topline results from the Phase 2 portion of the investigator-sponsored Phase 1b/2 study conducted by UCSF of FG-3246 in combination with enzalutamide in patients with mCRPC expected in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Phase 2 portion of the study will include data on FG-3180.
Roxadustat

Filed a Type-C meeting request with the FDA for roxadustat in anemia associated with LR-MDS. The Company expects feedback on a potential path forward in the third quarter of 2025.
Financial:

Total revenue from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2025 was $2.7 million, as compared to $25.4 million for the first quarter of 2024.
Net loss from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2025 was $16.8 million, or $0.16 net loss per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $49.0 million, or $0.49 net loss per basic and diluted share, one year ago.
At March 31, 2025, FibroGen reported $33.8 million in cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable in the U.S. and $128.4 million in total consolidated cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable.
Upon closing of the announced sale of FibroGen China, the Company expects its cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable to be sufficient to fund our operating plans into the second half of 2027.
Conference Call and Webcast Presentation
The FibroGen management team will host a conference call and webcast presentation to discuss the financial results and provide a business update. A live Q&A session will follow the brief presentation. Interested parties may access a live audio webcast of the conference call here. To access the call by phone, please register here, and you will be provided with dial in details. A replay of the webcast will also be available for a limited time on the Events & Presentations page on FibroGen’s website.

About FG-3246
FG-3246 (FOR46) is a potential first-in-class fully human antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), exclusively in-licensed from Fortis Therapeutics, and is being developed by FibroGen for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and potentially other tumor types. FG-3246 binds to an epitope of CD46, a cell receptor target, that induces internalization upon antibody binding, is present at high levels in prostate cancer and other tumor types and demonstrates very limited expression in most normal tissues. FG-3246 is comprised of an anti-CD46 antibody, YS5, linked to the anti-mitotic agent, MMAE, which is a clinically and commercially validated ADC payload. FG-3246 has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in both preclinical and clinical studies.

FG-3246 is currently in an ongoing Phase 1b/2 study being conducted at UCSF as an investigator-sponsored trial to evaluate FG-3246 in combination with enzalutamide. An additional investigator-sponsored radiopharmaceutical marker trial using a zirconium-89 positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for CD46 that utilizes the YS5 antibody is also underway at UCSF. The initiation of the Phase 2 monotherapy dose optimization trial for FG-3246 in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is anticipated in the third quarter of 2025. FG-3246 is an investigational drug and not approved for marketing by any regulatory authority.

About Roxadustat
Roxadustat, an oral medication, is the first in a new class of medicines comprising HIF-PH inhibitors that promote erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production, through increased endogenous production of erythropoietin, improved iron absorption and mobilization, and downregulation of hepcidin. Roxadustat is in clinical development for chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) and a Supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) has been accepted by the China Health Authority.

Roxadustat is approved in China, Europe, Japan, and numerous other countries for the treatment of anemia of CKD in adult patients on dialysis (DD) and not on dialysis (NDD). FibroGen has the sole rights to roxadustat in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and in all markets not held by AstraZeneca or licensed to Astellas. Astellas and FibroGen are collaborating on the commercialization of roxadustat for the treatment of anemia in territories including Japan, Europe, Turkey, Russia, and the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East, and South Africa.

Abbisko Therapeutics to Present Updated Results from the Phase 2 Study of Irpagratinib in Combination with Atezolizumab for the Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma at the 2025 ESMO GI Congress

On May 12, 2025 Abbisko Therapeutics Co., Ltd. (02256.HK) reported that updated results from the phase 2 study of irpagratinib (ABSK011) in combination with atezolizumab for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) will be presented at the 2025 ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) GI Congress, taking place in Barcelona, Spain from July 2 to July 5 (Press release, Abbisko Therapeutics, MAY 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234652895]). The oral presentation will highlight the regimen’s favorable safety and promising anti-tumor activity in both treatment-naive and previously treated FGF19+ HCC patients. The evident objective response rate (ORR) and progression free survival (PFS) benefit underscores the potential of irpagratinib-based combinations in the treatment of HCC.

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Event Details:

Session: Mini Oral session – Innovation in GI cancers
Presentation Format: Oral Presentation

Title: Irpagratinib (ABSK-011) plus Atezolizumab in First-line (1L) and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) Treated Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) with FGF19 Overexpression (+): Updated Results of the Phase 2 ABSK-011-201 Study

Presentation number:149MO

Presenter: Qi Cheng
Date and Time: Beijing Time 2Jul2025 23:15-23:20
Local time 2Jul2025 17:15-17:20

About Irpagratinib (ABSK-011)

Irpagratinib is a highly-selective FGFR4 small molecule inhibitor designed to target overexpression of the FGF19 signaling pathway. Several epidemiological studies indicate that approximately 30% of HCC patients worldwide exhibit FGF19 overexpression. Development of targeted therapies against FGFR4 represent an innovative and novel approach to the treatment of HCC.

To date, no FGFR4 inhibitor has been granted regulatory approval globally. According to Frost & Sullivan, irpagratinib is expected to become the first breakthrough treatment for the treatment of aHCC patients with FGF19 overexpression.

In addition to monotherapy, Abbisko Therapeutics is exploring irpagratinib in combination with atezolizumab, an anti-PD-L1 antibody manufactured by F. Hoffmann-La Roche and Roche (China), in a Phase II study. At the previous 2024 ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) GI Congress, Abbisko presented clinical data demonstrating 220mg irpagratinib BID in combination with atezolizumab achieved a 50% objective response rate (ORR) in FGF19+ HCC patients who had previously received immune checkpoint inhibition therapy.

A Phase 3 Clinical Trial on Disitamab Vedotin as a First-Line Therapy for HER2-Expressing Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma Reached its Primary Endpoints of PFS and OS

On May 12, 2025 RemeGen Co., Ltd. ("RemeGen", stock symbols: 688331.SH/09995.HK) reported that its phase 3 clinical trial (NCT05302284, study ID: RC48-C016) on disitamab vedotin (DV, brand name: Aidixi), an anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in combination with the PD-1 inhibitor toripalimab versus the standard chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for HER2-expressing locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (la/mUC) has reached its primary endpoints of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (Press release, RemeGen, MAY 12, 2025, View Source;cid=115&id=2596 [SID1234656126]). Statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefits were observed from the strongly positive results of a prespecified interim analysis by Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC). The primary subgroup analysis showed that DV combined with toripalimab significantly improved PFS and OS compared with the standard chemotherapy of la/mUC, irrespective of cisplatin eligibility or HER2 expression level. Furthermore, this regimen exhibited manageable safety profile and tolerable adverse reactions. Detailed data of this study will be presented at major international academic conferences later this year. RemeGen plans to file Biologic License Application (BLA) submission for this indication to the Center of Drug Evaluation of National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China.

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RC48-C016 is a randomized, active-control, multi-center phase 3 clinical trial evaluating efficacy and safety of DV plus toripalimab versus gemcitabine in combination with cisplatin/carboplatin in systemic-treatment-naive patients with HER2-expressing (defined as IHC 1+, 2+ or 3+) la/mUC. The study was initiated in June 2022 and conducted in 74 sites across China with 484 patients enrolled, the contribution of the investigators and patients is greatly appreciated.

"The strongly positive results of DV in combination with toripalimab as a first-line treatment for advanced urothelial carcinoma are encouraging. DV combined with toripalimab significantly improved PFS and OS, irrespective of cisplatin eligibility or HER2 expression level, which proves the success of HER2-ADC plus immunotherapy and represents a major breakthrough in the treatment of urothelial carcinoma worldwide. It is expected that the excellent performance of disitamab vedotin in subsequent studies will provide better decision-making basis for clinicians, bring more benefits to patients, and reshape the global treatment landscape of urothelial carcinoma with the Chinese regimen,"said Dr. Jun Guo, principal investigator of the study and professor at Peking University Cancer Hospital.

About Disitamab Vedotin

DV is the first novel ADC initially developed by a Chinese company and have been granted conditional approval by NMPA for treatment of gastric cancer and la/mUC in China.