InnoCare's BCL2 Inhibitor ICP-248 Clinical Trial Approved for AML in China

InnoCare Pharma has announced the approval of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to conduct a clinical trial of their B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL2) inhibitor, ICP-248, in combination with azacitidine for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in China.

Acute myeloid leukemia is a serious hematological disease arising from hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells. It accounts for approximately 80% of acute leukemia cases in adults and is more prevalent among middle-aged and elderly populations. However, AML is also seen in younger individuals, comprising 15-20% of pediatric leukemia cases and 80% of leukemia in neonates and infants.

BCL2 is a critical regulatory protein involved in the apoptosis pathway. Abnormal expression of BCL2 has been linked to the development of various hematologic malignancies. ICP-248 is a novel, orally bioavailable inhibitor that selectively targets BCL2. By inhibiting BCL2, ICP-248 aims to restore programmed cell death mechanisms, thus exhibiting anti-tumor effects.

Dr. Jasmine Cui, co-founder, chairwoman, and CEO of InnoCare, emphasized that the company is committed to developing a robust pipeline in hemato-oncology. She stated that InnoCare aims to create therapeutics with diverse mechanisms of action to provide comprehensive coverage of blood tumor indications. Dr. Cui considers ICP-248 a significant asset for InnoCare in the field of hematology, expressing confidence in accelerating its clinical development to benefit patients with hematological malignancies.

InnoCare is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing first-in-class and best-in-class drugs to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. The company is dedicated to addressing unmet medical needs both in China and globally. InnoCare operates branches in several locations, including Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and the United States.