HLB, a Kosdaq-listed anticancer drug developer, said that the combination of the targeted therapy rivoceranib and immunotherapy camrelizumab has proved effective not only in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but also in lung cancer in a phase 2 clinical trial.

HLB reported that Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, which holds the Chinese rights to rivoceranib (known as apatinib in China), presented the results of the trial for patients with non-resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the 2023 ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress, held recently in Geneva, Switzerland, from Dec. 6 to 8.

In the phase 2 clinical trial in 42 patients with non-progressive NSCLC post-chemoradiation therapy at seven hospitals, including the China Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital, complete remission was observed in three patients, and partial remission was confirmed in eight patients.

The company added that the progression-free survival rate (PFS) was 88.8 percent at six months and 68.8 percent at 12 months, with an objective response rate (ORR) of 26.2 percent and a disease control rate (DCR) of 81 percent.

While adverse reactions, including hypertension and hand-foot syndrome, were observed, the company emphasized that these side effects were manageable.

“We planned this trial to establish an appropriate follow-up treatment strategy for patients who had previously received chemoradiation therapy,” said Professor Hui Zhou Guang at the China Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital. “The combination of rivoceranib and camrelizumab could be an optimal alternative."

Meanwhile, HLB received approval earlier this year in China for the combination therapy of rivoceranib and camrelizumab as a first-line treatment for HCC and has also applied to the FDA for product approval as an HCC treatment.