Hutchison MediPharma achieves primary endpoint in POC Phase II study to treat NSCLC patients

Sep 4 2015

Hutchison China MediTech Limited ("Chi-Med") (AIM: HCM) today announces that Hutchison MediPharma Limited ("HMP"), its drug R&D subsidiary, successfully achieved the primary endpoint in the second proof-of-concept ("POC") trial of fruquintinib in patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer ("NSCLC") in China. The top-line results demonstrated that the trial clearly succeeded in meeting the primary efficacy endpoint of progression free survival ("PFS").

Assessment of secondary efficacy endpoints, including objective response rate, disease control rate, and overall survival is ongoing, with all appearing in-line with expectations at the August 2015 five-month data cut-off. The adverse events demonstrated in this POC study are consistent with the known safety profile for fruquintinib without major unexpected safety issues. Full detailed results from this trial will be disclosed in due course.

This is the second POC Phase II study for fruquintinib aimed at comparing the efficacy and safety of fruquintinib plus best supportive care ("BSC") versus placebo plus BSC in patients with NSCLC as a third-line therapy. It is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre, POC Phase II study to treat NSCLC patients who have failed second-line chemotherapy. A total of 91 patients were randomised to receive fruquintinib plus BSC or placebo plus BSC at a 2:1 ratio. The trial was initiated in June 2014 and completed patient enrolment in March 2015.

The first POC Phase II study for fruquintinib, targeted at patients with metastatic third-line colorectal cancer, clearly met its primary endpoint of superior median PFS versus placebo in March 2015 and detailed results will be presented at the upcoming 2015 European Cancer Congress later this month.

About fruquintinib

Fruquintinib is designed to selectively inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor ("VEGF") receptors, namely VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and VEGFR3. Angiogenesis is an important mechanism in tumour pathogenesis, and inhibition of VEGF-mediated angiogenesis has been important in the treatment of a variety of cancers.

In October 2013, HMP entered into a licensing, co-development and commercialisation agreement with Eli Lilly for fruquintinib. Other on-going clinical studies, beyond NSCLC, include:

First POC Phase II Study in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer - In April 2014, HMP initiated the first POC Phase II study of fruquintinib, which was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre Phase II clinical trial targeted at patients with third-line metastatic colorectal cancer ("mCRC") who had failed at least two prior lines of treatment. This first POC study clearly met the primary endpoint of superior median PFS versus placebo without major unexpected safety issues in March 2015. Detailed results from this trial will be presented at the upcoming 2015 European Cancer Congress meeting in late September in Vienna, Austria.

Phase III Study in mCRC - In December 2014, HMP initiated FRESCO, a Phase III registration study in patients with mCRC who have failed at least two prior systemic cancer therapies, including flouropyrimidine, oxaliplatin and irinotecan. Top-line results are expected in 2016.

Phase Ib Study in Combination with Paclitaxel - In early 2015, HMP initiated a Phase Ib dose-finding study of fruquintinib, in combination with paclitaxel, in second-line gastric cancer patients.

SOURCE Hutchison China MediTech Limited