Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai’s (TYO: 4523) kinase inhibitor Lenvima (Lenvatinib), combined with Swedish partner Medivir’s (STO: MVIR) chemotherapy fostroxacitabine bralpamide (fostrox), has demonstrated positive outcomes in an open-label Phase Ib/IIa trial for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Medivir announced. Following last year’s encouraging early data, these results are expected to pave the way for a registrational Phase IIb study in the coming year.
The drug combination achieved an overall response rate (ORR) of 25%, with a median time to progression recorded at 5.1 months. The treatment was found to be tolerable, exhibiting a favorable safety profile that supports its long-term use, even in patients with impaired liver function, a common characteristic of HCC patients.
According to the public data, Medivir is currently seeking partners for fostrox in China, the country with the largest HCC patient population. The oral nucleotide DNA polymerase inhibitor received a patent in China last year.- Flcube.com
