Lee’s Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd (HKG: 0950) has secured in-licensed rights for socazolimab, a treatment for recurrent-metastatic cervical cancer, according to the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) website. This drug marks the first programmed-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) monoclonal antibody (mAb) for cervical cancer in China. Socazolimab, originally developed by US-based Sorrento Therapeutics (OTCMKTS: SRNE), was the subject of a USD 46 million licensing agreement between Lee’s Pharma and Sorrento in October 2014. The drug is involved in multiple clinical studies targeting various cancers, including recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer, high-grade osteosarcoma, urothelial carcinoma, and others. It received a breakthrough therapy designation (BTD) in China for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer in February 2021.
Domestically, other drugs in development for cervical cancer in China include Akeso Biopharma’s (HKG: 9926) cadonilimab (AK104), a bispecific antibody targeting PD-1 and CTLA-4, and Harbin Gloria Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd’s (SHE: 002437) PD-1 inhibitor zimberelimab. Additionally, Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd’s (SHA: 600276) PD-1 inhibitor camrelizumab in combination with famitinib, a multi-kinase inhibitor, and CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd’s (HKG: 1093) PD-1 mAb enronsubaimab are awaiting regulatory decisions in China for cervical cancer treatment.- Fineline.com
