Kelun-Biotech announces that a Phase III clinical trial of core product SKB264 (MK-2870, TROP2-ADC) in patients with unresectable locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic TNBC who have failed second-line or above prior standard of care has met its primary endpoint

CHENGDU, China, Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. ("Kelun-Biotech", HKEX: 6990.HK) announced today that its innovative TROP2-ADC (SKB264, also known as MK-2870) met the primary endpoint in the randomized, controlled, open-label, multi-center Phase III clinical trial of SKB264 for injection versus investigator selected regimens in patients with unresectable locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who have failed second-line or above prior standard of care.

Kelun-Biotech recently held an Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) meeting to review the interim analysis data of the Phase III clinical trial of SKB264. The IDMC resolution indicated that the trial met the primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) as assessed by the Independent Review Committee (IRC), and at a pre-specified interim analysis, SKB264 demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in PFS, compared with the control group receiving standardized chemotherapy. Based on the results from the interim analysis, Kelun-Biotech plans to communicate with the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China regarding the submission of a new drug application (NDA) of SKB264.

Dr. Ge Junyou, Executive Director and General Manager of Kelun-Biotech, commented, "TNBC is one of the most aggressive and prevalent subtypes of breast cancer (BC) with huge unmet medical needs. Patients with TNBC who have received second-line or later treatment have an overall survival of 5.2 to 8.4 months ^[1]. SKB264 has been granted breakthrough therapy designation (BTD) for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic TNBC. For drugs included in the list of BTD, the CDE will prioritize resource allocation for communication and guidance to facilitate drug development. This will help accelerate the development and commercialization of SKB264 to provide high-quality treatment options for patients with advanced TNBC."

SKB264 is one of the core products with independent intellectual property rights of Kelun-Biotech, and will be supported by an extensive development plan. This clinical trial, which met its primary endpoint, is the first registrational Phase III study of SKB264 (MK-2870) in China. In addition, Kelun-Biotech is also advancing a Phase II trial of SKB264 with or without KL-A167 (Kelun's anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody) as a first-line treatment for advanced TNBC, and another randomized, open-label, multicenter Phase III clinical study of SKB264 versus investigator's choice regimens in patients with unresectable locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) BC who had failed at least one line of chemotherapy is expect to be launched in the second half of 2023.

About SKB264 (MK-2870)

SKB264 is an innovative TROP2-directed ADC which was developed by OptiDC, a well-known international ADC R&D platform of Kelun-Biotech, using a proprietary payload-linker strategy (Kthiol design strategy) that achieves an optimized balance of ADC safety and efficacy by combining novel irreversible antibody conjugation chemistry, pH-sensitive payload release mechanisms, and site-specific moderately potent toxin molecules with a DAR of 7.4 (novel topoisomerase I inhibitors) ^[2].

SKB264 has received 3 Breakthrough Therapy Designations (BTDs) from the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer which has failed EGFR-TKI therapy and locally advanced or metastatic hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer which has received at least second-line systemic therapy.

SKB264 is currently conducting Phase II and Phase III clinical trials of monotherapy/combination in multiple solid tumors. In China, the Phase III registrational clinical study of SKB264 monotherapy for patients with advanced or metastatic TNBC who have failed at least second-line therapy is progressing smoothly, and SKB264 is expected to become the first domestic TROP2-ADC approved for the Chinese market. Phase III clinical studies of SKB264 monotherapy in patients with TKI-resistant and EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are also rapidly advancing. Several Phase II clinical studies of SKB264 in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA^®, MSD's anti-PD-1 therapy) or KL-A167 (Kelun's anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody) are ongoing. Kelun-Biotech has licensed the exclusive rights to MSD (the tradename of Merck & Co., Inc, Rahway, NJ, USA) to develop, use, manufacture and commercialize SKB264 in all territories outside of Greater China (includes Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan).

About Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Kelun-Biotech") is a holding subsidiary of Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, which focuses on the R&D, manufacturing, commercialization, and international cooperation of biotechnology drugs and innovative small molecule drugs. The company focuses on serious diseases such as solid tumors, autoimmune, inflammatory, and metabolic disease. Building an international drug R&D and industrialization platform to address the unmet clinical needs of the world and China, the Company is committed to becoming an international leading enterprise in the field of innovation. Significant progress has been made in the field of biotechnological drugs, including ADCs, monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, and sought-after technologies for innovative small molecule drugs. OptiDC, an internationally renowned ADC research and development platform, has been successfully constructed by Kelun-Biotech, and 4 ADCs are in clinical trials (including two in registrational Phase III or NDA filing stage), along with multiple projects in preclinical development. At present, the company has 33 innovative projects for the treatment of serious diseases such as solid tumors, autoimmune, inflammatory, and metabolic disease, and 14 programs are advancing in clinical studies, including multiple global multicenter clinical trials which are being conducted simultaneously in several countries and regions including China, Europe, and the United States. To learn more, please visit https://kelun-biotech.com/.

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