WUXI, China, Sept. 27, 2023 -- September 25th, 2023, BioCity Biopharma and AstraZeneca signed an agreement to  collaborate on a Phase Ib/II clinical study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BioCity's BC3402, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting the T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3, also known as TIM-3, in combination with AstraZeneca's anti-PD-L1 mAb IMFINZI (durvalumab) for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC）in China. BioCity will lead the trial, which has received IND approval by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). The study will be conducted at Zhongshan Hospital with Prof. Jia Fan who is a renowned liver cancer surgeon, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, president of Zhongshan Hospital, and will serve as the principal investigator of the study.

BC3402 is a potential best-in-class anti-TIM-3 mAb that binds to multiple TIM-3 epitopes and has a higher binding affinity than other anti-TIM-3 mAbs in development. BC3402 has also been demonstrated to efficiently block the binding of CEACAM1, PtdSer and Gal-9 to TIM-3, alleviate the inhibitory effects of Tregs, and restore IL-2 production by T cells.  Moreover, BC3402 has shown synergistic anti-cancer activity with mAbs targeting PD-1 and CTLA-4, which are important clinical targets for liver cancer. TIM-3, PD-1, and CTLA-4 are immune checkpoint inhibitors. The unmet medical needs are significant for HCC treatments in China with the 5-year survival rate of patients with advanced disease being about 7%. 

The collaboration between BioCity and AstraZeneca will evaluate the potential for the combination of BC3402 with durvalumab to improve the clinical outcome of subjects with HCC. Both companies may be expected to explore further collaboration opportunities to boost innovation in China in HCC and possibly other types of cancer.

About BioCity

Founded in December 2017, BioCity is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing novel and highly differentiated, modality-independent therapeutics for cancer and autoimmune disorders including chronic kidney diseases (CKD). The company has established a pipeline of more than 10 innovative drug candidates based on diversified modalities including small molecules, monoclonal and bispecific antibodies, as well as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Currently, BioCity Biopharma has 6 oncology assets in Phase 1 development, including the first-in-Class CDH3-targeting ADC, agents targeting the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway via a WEE1 and an ATR inhibitor, and agents targeting the immune system including a T cell engager (CD3/EGFR BsAb), an immune checkpoint inhibitor (TIM-3 mAb), and a T cell activator (4-1BB mAb). In addition, an endothelin A (ETA)-receptor selective antagonist for CKD is in phase 2 randomized trial.