Hangzhou-based biotech HighField Biopharmaceuticals has revealed the publication of an abstract at this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, showcasing preliminary data from a Phase Ia trial for its lead pipeline candidate, HF1K16. The trial, which focused on refractory metastatic cancer patients, indicated that HF1K16 was well tolerated and showed significant improvement in terms of progression-free survival (PFS).
Immuno-Oncology Drug Development with Liposome Technology
HighField specializes in the development of immuno-oncology drugs using lipid-based formulations of small molecules, antibodies, RNA, and DNA. HF1K16 is a unique liposome construct of ATRA, a small-molecule metabolite of vitamin A, administered by infusion. It infiltrates the tumor microenvironment to release ATRA and initiate the maturation of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs), which play a crucial role in the body’s immune response to cancer.
Exciting Early Data and Upcoming Trials
HighField’s CEO is enthusiastic about the early data for the drug. According to the abstract, of the 11 patients treated, three were suffering from recurrent/refractory glioma and continued to experience PFS at 348 days, 94 days, and 52 days, respectively. The HighField Bio abstract is titled “Modulating MDSCs by HF1K16: a monotherapy Phase 1a study examining safety and preliminary efficacy in refractory and metastatic cancer patients”. The company plans to initiate a Phase Ib/II trial in China for patients with refractory glioma in the near future, further expanding on the promising results and exploring the potential of HF1K16 in treating cancer patients.-Fineline Info & Tech
