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Angel Pharmaceuticals Announces First Patient Dosed in China in Phase I/Ib Clinical Trial of Anti-CD73 Monoclonal Antibody Mupadolimab
Jiaxing, China and Burlingame, Calif., U.S.A. – February 28, 2023 – Angel Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage innovative drug company dedicated to oncology and autoimmune diseases, today announced that the first Chinese patient has been dosed in the Phase I/Ib clinical trial of Mupadolimab, a humanized anti-CD73 monoclonal antibody, as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. The dosing was conducted under the leadership of Professor Guo Ye from the Department of Oncology at Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University. This clinical trial aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profile of Mupadolimab as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors. Angel Pharmaceuticals holds the rights to Mupadolimab in Greater China.
Mupadolimab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD73 with a unique mechanism that activates B cells to generate immune responses against tumor antigens and viruses. In preclinical studies, it has demonstrated immunomodulatory activity leading to lymphocyte activation, induction of antibody production by B cells, and effects on lymphocyte trafficking. Compared to other anti-CD73 antibodies and small-molecule drugs under development, Mupadolimab can stimulate B cells while blocking the production of immunosuppressive adenosine. B-cell activation may enhance immune responses within the tumor microenvironment, thereby improving clinical outcomes. Outside of China, the Phase 1/1b clinical trial of Mupadolimab in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors has been completed.
Dr. Richard Miller, Co-founder of Angel Pharmaceuticals, stated: "We are very excited that the Phase I/Ib clinical trial of Mupadolimab in China has been initiated and the first patient has been enrolled. Mupadolimab has demonstrated unique properties in clinical trials, including its ability to stimulate naïve B cells to differentiate into memory B cells and plasma cells. Clinical data from outside China have preliminarily demonstrated the safety of Mupadolimab and its efficacy in treating advanced solid tumors, showing great potential to bring clinical benefit to patients." Dr. Miller said that together with Chinese clinical experts, they will go all out to accelerate the global development of Mupadolimab.
Dr. Wang Tiefei, Co-founder of Angel Pharmaceuticals, said: "The localized manufacturing of Mupadolimab in China further enhances its accessibility in the country. We will fully advance the development of Mupadolimab, effectively improve its accessibility and affordability, and strive to provide domestically available world-class therapies that are covered by medical insurance or personally affordable for patients with advanced solid tumors in China as soon as possible."
Professor Guo Ye, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), Chairman of the CSCO Head and Neck Tumor Professional Committee, and from the Department of Oncology at Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, commented: "China has millions of patients with advanced solid tumors each year, most of whom have few or no effective treatment options available, representing an urgent and critical unmet clinical need. A growing body of research has demonstrated that targeting CD73 can produce potent antitumor effects, and that CD73 blockade in combination with other immune modulators, such as PD-1 antibodies, represents a highly attractive clinical strategy." Professor Guo expressed his hope that the clinical development of Mupadolimab in China proceeds smoothly and brings benefits to cancer patients in China as soon as possible.
About Corvus Pharmaceuticals
Corvus Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. Corvus's lead product candidate is CPI-818, an oral, selective ITK inhibitor currently being evaluated in a multicenter Phase 1/1b clinical trial in patients with various T-cell lymphomas. Its second clinical program is ciforadenant (CPI-444), an oral small molecule inhibitor of the A2A receptor. Its third clinical program, mupadolimab (CPI-006), is a humanized anti-CD73 monoclonal antibody that has demonstrated immunomodulatory activity and immune cell activation in preclinical studies. For more information, please visit www.corvuspharma.com.
About Angel Pharmaceuticals
Angel Pharmaceuticals is an innovative drug company dedicated to oncology and autoimmune diseases. With the mission of benefiting Chinese patients, Angel is committed to bringing globally top-tier innovative drugs for serious diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders to China. In October 2020, Angel Pharmaceuticals completed its Series A financing round, co-invested by Beta Fund, Hisun Pharmaceuticals, Tigermed, and Puhua Investment, and established a strategic partnership with Corvus Pharmaceuticals (CRVS) of the U.S. For more information, please visit www.angelpharma.com.
