Hanmi Pharmaceutical said that it has presented clinical trial results for two anticancer candidates -- HM43239 and HM97594 -- during the annual conference of 61st American Society of Hematology (ASH) held in Orlando, Fla.

Regarding HM43239, an acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the company presented the phase 1 clinical trial process for the drug. HM43239 is a potent FMS-like receptor tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) inhibitor that targets the FLT3 mutation, which is known to occur most frequently in AML patients.

Hanmi had confirmed the antitumor effect of HM43239 in FLT3 mutation and wild type AML cell lines through preclinical studies. The company is conducting its first-in-human tests in the U.S. and Korea for patients with relapsed and refractory AML.

Besides, the company presented the preclinical trial result for HM97594. HM97594 is an anticancer drug in the research and development stage, which simultaneously inhibits the enzyme enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) involved in the transcription process of tumor suppressor genes, and its complementary allotropy, enhancer of zeste homolog 1 (EZH1).

“We are building a solid new drug pipeline in the blood cancer area,” Hanmi Pharmaceutical CEO Kwon Se-chang said. “Through constant research and development, we will do our best to help patients lead better lives.”