Dong-A ST introduces SHR-1701 in China

Signed an anticancer drug domestic introduction contract with Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine

Fusion protein in clinical phase I/II

Dong-A ST announced on the 11th that it has signed a contract with Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine to introduce the next-generation immune anticancer drug 'SHR-1701' in Korea.

 

With this contract, Dong-A ST has secured the exclusive domestic development and sales rights of fusion protein, which is undergoing phase I and II clinical trials in China by Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine.

 

The down payment is $2.29 million (about ₩2.5 billion).

 

The technical fee (milestone) according to the stage of development is $8.46 million (about ₩9.5 billion).

 

Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine will supply the finished drug to Dong-A ST.

 

Dong-A ST headquarters

According to the company, SHR-1701 is a fusion protein that suppresses both PD-L1 and TGF-βRII at the same time, and is expected to show anticancer efficacy against various carcinomas.

 

It suppresses immune evasion and metastasis of cancer cells, and suppresses fibrosis of cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment, thereby removing the physical barrier that protects cancer cells from immune cells and therapeutic agents.

 

Currently, TGF-β is known as one of the causes of the low response rate, which is the disadvantage of immuno-anticancer drugs in the mechanism of inhibition of PD-(L)1.

 

Therefore, researches that increase the effectiveness of immuno-anticancer drugs by simultaneously inhibiting PD-(L)1 and TGF-β at home and abroad have been conducted.

 

It is actively in progress.

 

The company said, “SHR-1701 is expected to have improved anti-cancer effect compared to single-dose therapy and combination therapy of PD-L1 inhibitor or TGF-β inhibitor, and it is possible to reduce development cost and secure pharmaceutical price competitiveness compared to combination therapy with one single substance.

 

That's an advantage.” SHR-1701 is currently undergoing phase I and II clinical trials in China for solid cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, biliary tract cancer, and cervical cancer.

 

Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine, established in 1970, is a Chinese longevity pharmaceutical company with strengths in anticancer drugs, anesthesia, and pain relievers.

 

Last year, it achieved ₩3.9 trillion in sales, and invested ₩620 billion, 16% of its sales, as R&D expenses.

 

An official from Dong-A ST explained, "Through the introduction of this next-generation anti-cancer drug, we have secured competitiveness in the anti-cancer drug pipeline and the domestic anti-cancer drug market at the same time." He said, "Based on close cooperation with Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine, we will strive to help patients suffering from cancer through successful domestic development."