SHANGHAI, Aug. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mabwell (688062.SH), an innovative biopharmaceutical company with entire industry chain, announced that its submission to the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for "a randomized, controlled, open-label, multicenter Phase III clinical study of 9MW2821 in combination with Toripalimab versus standard chemotherapy in first-line locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer" has been approved. The corresponding Phase III clinical study has been initiated and is currently in the enrollment stage. As of the announcement, 9MW2821 has been approved for three pivotal clinical trials.
9MW2821 is a novel Nectin-4-targeting ADC independently developed by Mabwell, and it is the first of its kind in China to initiate clinical trials on the same target, with more than 400 subjects enrolled in the clinical studies for multiple indications. The results of existing clinical studies have demonstrated outstanding therapeutic efficacy and safety profile. The pivotal Phase III clinical study, "an open-label, randomized Phase 3 study to evaluate 9MW2821 vs investigator's choice of chemotherapy in subjects with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who have previously received PD-(L)1 inhibitor and platinum-containing chemotherapy", is currently in the enrollment stage.
About Urothelial Carcinoma
Bladder cancer, a form of urothelial carcinoma, stands out among its various subtypes for its significant impact on public health. The American Society of Clinical Oncology reports that bladder cancer is the ninth most common malignant tumor in incidence and ranks thirteenth in mortality among all malignant tumors. According to The Global Cancer Statistics published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2022, there were approximately 614,000 new cases and 220,000 deaths from bladder cancer worldwide. The Disease Burden of Malignant Tumors in China 2022, released by the National Cancer Center in February 2024, reported 92,900 new cases and 41,400 deaths from bladder cancer in China, placing it eleventh and thirteenth globally in terms of new incidences and mortality, respectively. As a prevalent cancer in China, urothelial carcinoma is characterized by a propensity for metastasis, a high recurrence rate, and a short survival time in its advanced stages. It represents a significant disease burden and poses a serious threat to the survival and quality of life of those affected.
About 9MW2821
9MW2821 is a site-specific conjugated novel Nectin-4 targeting ADC developed by Mabwell using ADC platform, and the first drug candidate to enter clinical study among the Nectin-4-targeting ADCs developed by Chinese companies. As the first therapeutic drug candidate targeting Nectin-4 in the world to reveal clinical efficacy data in cervical cancer (CC), esophageal cancer (EC) and breast cancer, 9MW2821 has been granted Fast Track Designation by FDA in 2024 for the treatment of advanced, recurrent, or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), recurrent or metastatic CC progressed on or following prior treatment with a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen, and locally advanced or metastatic Nectin-4 positive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC); 9MW2821 has also been granted Orphan Drug Designation by FDA for the treatment of EC, and Breakthrough Therapy Designation by CDE of NMPA, for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma that has failed previous platinum-based chemotherapy and PD-(L)1 inhibitor therapy.
9MW2821 achieves site-specific modification of antibody through proprietary conjugation technology linkers and optimized ADC conjugation process. After injection, 9MW2821 can specifically bind to Nectin-4 on the cell membrane surface, be internalized and release cytotoxic drug, and induce the apoptosis of tumor cells.
About Mabwell
Mabwell (688062.SH) is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company with the entire value chain of the pharmaceutical industry. We provide more effective and accessible therapy and innovative medicines to fulfill global medical needs. Since 2017, an advanced R&D system which covers target discovery, early discovery, druggability, preclinical, clinical research and manufacturing transformation was established. Mabwell has 14 pipeline products in different stages based on a world-class and state-of-the-art R&D engine, including 10 novel drug candidates and 4 biosimilars. We focus on the therapeutic areas of oncology, auto-immune diseases, metabolic disorders, ophthalmologic diseases and infectious diseases, etc. Of these, 3 products have been approved and commercialized, 1 product has been filed for MA approval, 3 products are in pivotal trials. We have also undertaken 1 national major scientific and technological special project for "Significant New Drugs Development", 2 projects for National Key R&D Programmes, and multiple provincial and municipal science and technological innovation projects. Mabwell's Taizhou factory possesses robust in-house manufacturing capability compliant with international GMP standards regulated by the NMPA, FDA and EMA, and has passed the EU QP Audit. The large-scale manufacturing base in Shanghai and the ADC commercialized manufacturing base in Taizhou are under construction. Our mission is "Explore Life, Benefit Health" and our vision is "Innovation, from ideas to reality". For more information, please visit www.mabwell.com/en.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, the potential safety, efficacy, regulatory review or approval and commercial success of our product candidates and those relating to the Company's product development, clinical studies, clinical and regulatory milestones and timelines, market opportunity, competitive position, possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, potential growth opportunities and other statements that are predictive in nature. "Forward-looking statements" are statements that are not historical facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking expressions, including, but not limited to, "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would," and similar expressions and the negatives of those terms.
Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, including, but not limited to: environment; politic; economy; society; legislation; our dependence on our product candidates, most of which are still in preclinical or various stages of clinical development; our reliance on third-party vendors, such as contract research organizations and contract manufacturing organizations; the uncertainties inherent in clinical testing; our ability to complete required clinical trials for our product candidates and obtain approval from regulatory authorities for our product candidates; our ability to protect our intellectual property; the potential impact of COVID-19; the loss of any executive officers or key personnel. In case one or more of these risks or uncertainties deteriorate, or any assumptions are incorrect, the actual results may be seriously inconsistent with the stated results.
The Company cautions all the persons not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speaks only as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any obligation, except as specifically required by law and the rules of the applicable Stock authority to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking descriptions, figures and assumptions in this press release are applicable to this statement.
