Hutchison MediPharma (HMP) has started the first-in-human (FIH) Phase I clinical trial of HMPL-689 in Australia.
HMPL-689 is a new, highly selective and strong small molecule inhibitor targeting the delta isoform of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase or PI3Kd, which is a main element in the B-cell receptor signalling pathway.
B-cells is one of the main cellular components of the immune system, plaing crucial roles in various immune system-related diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and allergy, as well as hematological cancers including lymphoma and leukemia.
The FIH trial seeks to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics properties of HMPL-689.
Chi-Med stated that the randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalating phase I study of HMPL-689 will be conducted in healthy adult volunteers.
Following completion of FIH Phase I trial, HMP is planning to examine HMPL-689 in hematological malignancies.
In pre-clinical studies, HMPL-689 showed a more potency and better kinase selectivity, as well as efficacy and a positive safety profile compared with drugs in the same class.
Separately, HMP started SANET-p, a Phase III registration trial of sulfatinib (HMPL-012) last month in China in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (NETs).
The company has also treated the first NETs patient as part of the trial.
With a team of nearly 290 scientists and staff, HMP’s current pipeline includes new oral compounds for cancer and inflammation in development in North America, Europe, Australia and Greater China.
