Tifcemalimab

SHANGHAI, China, March 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd (“Junshi Biosciences,” HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180), a leading innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies, announced its financial results for the full year of 2023 and provided corporate updates. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Total revenue was approximately RMB1,503 million during 2023. The revenue from pharmaceutical products increased by approximately 58% compared to 2022. The sales revenue of TUOYI® (toripalimab) was approximately RMB919 million, representing an increase of approximately 25% compared to the previous year. Total research and development (“R&D”) expenses were approximately RMB1,937 million in 2023, representing a decrease of approximately 19% compared to 2022. The decrease in R&D expenses was mainly due to the strategic management of R&D investments in certain early-stage pipelines, while optimizing resource allocation and focusing on R&D pipelines with greater potential. Loss attributable to owners was RMB2,282 million in 2023, representing a decrease of RMB104 million compared to the previous year. BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS During 2023, we continued to focus on “unmet medical needs” and have made original, innovative and breakthrough progress in discovery, R&D and commercialization of innovative therapies and novel drugs. Here are the notable achievements and milestones: Advancements in the pipeline: Junshi Biosciences’ innovative R&D field has expanded from monoclonal antibodies to the research and development of more drug modalities, including small molecules drugs, polypeptide drugs, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), bi-specific or multi-specific antibodies and nucleic acid drugs, as well as the exploration of next-generation innovative therapies including cancer and autoimmune diseases. The product pipelines cover five major therapeutic areas, including malignant tumors, autoimmune diseases, chronic metabolic diseases, neurologic diseases and infectious diseases. A total of three drugs (TUOYI®, JUNMAIKANG and MINDEWEI) are being commercialized, around 30 assets are undergoing clinical trials, and over 20 drug candidates are at the preclinical drug development stage. In January 2023, the marketing of MINDEWEI (Deuremidevir Hydrobromide Tablets, code: JT001/VV116), an oral nucleoside analog anti-SARS-CoV-2 Category 1 innovative drug, was conditionally approved by the National Medical Products Administration of China (the “NMPA”) for the treatment of adult patients with mild to moderate COVID-19. In February 2023, the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (the “MHRA”) accepted the the marketing authorization application (the “MAA”) for toripalimab combined with cisplatin and gemcitabine for the first-line treatment of patients with locally recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (“NPC”), as well as toripalimab combined with paclitaxel and cisplatin for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced/recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (“ESCC”). In March 2023, the investigational new drug (“IND”) application for JS010 (a recombinant humanized anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody injection) was approved by the NMPA. In April 2023, the NMPA accepted the supplemental new drug application (“sNDA”) for TUOYI® in combination with chemotherapy as perioperative treatment and monotherapy as consolidation therapy after adjuvant therapy for the treatment of resectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (“NSCLC”). This application was later approved for marketing in December 2023, marking the first and only approved perioperative therapy for lung cancer domestically. In April 2023, the new drug application (“NDA”) for ongericimab (a recombinant humanized anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody, code: JS002) was accepted by the NMPA. In April 2023, the IND application for JS401 (a small interfering RNA (“siRNA”) drug targeting angiopoietin-like protein 3 (“ANGPTL3”) messenger RNA (“mRNA”)) was approved by the NMPA. In May 2023, the NMPA accepted the sNDA for TUOYI® in combination with paclitaxel injection (albumin-bound) for the treatment of PD-L1 positive (CPS ≥ 1) untreated metastatic or recurrent metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. In June and August 2023, the IND application for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, international multi-center phase III clinical study of tifcemalimab (a recombinant humanized anti-BTLA monoclonal antibody, code: TAB004/JS004) in combination with toripalimab as consolidation therapy in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (“LS-SCLC”) without disease progression following chemo-radiotherapy was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) and the NMPA, respectively. In July 2023, the sNDA for TUOYI® in combination with axitinib for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (“RCC”) was accepted by the NMPA. In July 2023, the sNDA for TUOYI® in combination with etoposide plus platinum as the first-line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (“ES-SCLC”) was accepted by the NMPA, which marked the tenth marketing application submitted for TUOYI® in China. In August 2023, the IND application for JS207 (a recombinant humanized anti-PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody) was approved by the NMPA. In September 2023, the primary endpoint of progression free survival (“PFS”, based on independent radiological review) of a randomized, controlled, multi-center phase III clinical study (NCT03430297) of toripalimab versus dacarbazine for the first-line treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma had met the pre-defined efficacy boundary. In October 2023, the FDA approved the Biologics License Application (the “BLA”) for toripalimab (U.S. trade name: LOQTORZI™), in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine for the first-line treatment of adults with metastatic or recurrent locally advanced NPC, and as a single agent, for the treatment of adults with recurrent, unresectable, or metastatic NPC with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Toripalimab is the first and only drug approved in the United States for the treatment of NPC, and is also the first innovative biological drug independently developed and manufactured in China that was approved for marketing by the FDA. In December 2023, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (the “TGA”) of the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care accepted the New Chemical Entity (the “NCE”) application for toripalimab in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine for the first-line treatment of adults with metastatic or recurrent locally advanced NPC, and as a single agent, for the treatment of adults with recurrent, unresectable, or metastatic NPC with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Additionally, the TGA also granted an orphan drug designation to toripalimab for the treatment of NPC. In December 2023, TUOYI® and MINDEWEI were successfully added to Category B of the National Drug List for Basic Medical Insurance, Work-Related Injury Insurance and Maternity Insurance (Year 2023) (the “NRDL”) upon negotiations. Notably, three new TUOYI® indications were added, bringing the total to six indications included in the NRDL. TUOYI® is the only anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody included in the NRDL for the treatment of melanoma. The inclusion of the MINDEWEI indication for adult patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 marked its first official listing in the NRDL. Update on external collaborations In March 2023, the company entered into a shareholders agreement with Rxilient Biotech and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Excellmab. The company would subscribe to the newly issued shares of Excellmab by payment in kind to obtain 40% equity interest in Excellmab. Subject to the fulfillment of the conditions precedent as agreed under the Shareholders Agreement, the company would substantially perform its capital contribution obligations, and express its intention to enter into a license agreement with Excellmab in the form agreed upon by the parties at the time of entering into the Shareholders Agreement, thereby granting Excellmab an exclusive license and other relevant rights to develop and commercialize intravenous toripalimab in Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam. According to the R&D progress of toripalimab and other matters, Junshi Biosciences may receive a milestone payment of up to approximately US$4.52 million, plus a percentage of royalties on the net sales. In May 2023, Junshi Biosciences entered into an exclusive license and commercialization agreement with Dr. Reddy’s, pursuant to which the company agreed to grant Dr. Reddy’s a license to develop and exclusively commercialize toripalimab injection in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Panama, Uruguay, India and South Africa. Dr. Reddy elected to expand the scope of the license to cover Australia, New Zealand and nine other countries. About Junshi Biosciences Founded in December 2012, Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. The company has established a diversified R&D pipeline comprising over 50 drug candidates, with five therapeutic focus areas covering cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and infectious diseases. Four of the company’s innovations have already reached the Chinese or international markets, one of which is toripalimab, China’s first domestically produced and independently developed anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody, approved in both China and the US. Additionally, more than 30 drugs are currently in clinical development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Junshi Biosciences actively shouldered the social responsibilities of a Chinese pharmaceutical company through its involvement in developing etesevimab, MINDEWEI®, and other novel therapies for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. With a mission of “providing patients with world-class, trustworthy, affordable, and innovative drugs,” Junshi Biosciences is “In China, For Global.” At present, the company boasts approximately 3,000 employees in the United States (San Francisco and Maryland) and China (Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing, Guangzhou, etc). For more information, please visit: Junshi Biosciences Contact Information IR Team: Junshi Biosciences info@junshipharma.com + 86 021-6105 8800 PR Team: Junshi Biosciences Zhi Li zhi_li@junshipharma.com + 86 021-6105 8800

Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd (“Junshi Biosciences,” HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180), a leading innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has recently agreed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-regional phase 3 clinical study of tifcemalimab (product code: TAB004/JS004), an anti-BTLA monoclonal antibody used in combination with toripalimab, an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody, as consolidation therapy for patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer without disease progression following chemoradiotherapy may proceed. Junshi Biosciences will officially initiate the phase 3 clinical study in the near future. According to GLOBOCAN 2020, lung cancer is a form of malignant tumor with the highest incidence rate and mortality in China. Lung cancer can be broadly categorized into non-small cell lung cancer (“NSCLC”) and small cell lung cancer (“SCLC”), based on cell type. Specifically, small cell lung cancer is the most invasive subtype of lung cancer, accounting for about 15%-20% of all lung cancer cases with characteristics such as rapid progression, early metastasis, and poor prognosis. Small cell lung cancer includes limited-stage small cell lung cancer (“LS-SCLC”) and extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, and LS-SCLC accounts for about one-third of all small cell lung cancer cases. For LS-SCLC patients who are unable to undergo surgery or refuse it, chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) is the standard of care (SOC). However, even after standard cardiac resynchronization therapy, the prognosis remains poor, with a median progression-free survival (mPFS) of approximately 13.5 months, a median overall survival (mOS) of 16-24 months, and a 5-year survival rate of only 15%-26%. There is still a huge unmet medical need for the treatment of LS-SCLC, and there is an urgent need to explore more effective and well-tolerated therapeutic approaches in clinical practice. There are currently no globally approved immune checkpoint inhibitors specifically for LS-SCLC. The study to be initiated by Junshi Biosciences is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-regional phase 3 clinical study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tifcemalimab in combination with toripalimab, toripalimab alone, or placebo as consolidation therapy for LS-SCLC patients without disease progression following CRT. This study serves as the first confirmatory trial of BTLA-targeted drugs, and the principal investigator will be academician Jinming YU, President of Shandong Cancer Hospital & Institute. The study plans to enroll 756 patients from China, the United States, Europe, and other regions across the world. “In recent years, immune-oncology (I-O) therapy has made rapid advancements, particularly in the field of lung cancer, where it has emerged as the standard of care for first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC,” said Dr. Jianjun ZOU, the Global Research and Development President of Junshi Biosciences. “Regarding more aggressive SCLC, however, the progress in I-O therapy has been relatively slow. To date, no immune checkpoint inhibitor has received approval for the treatment of LS-SCLC. Tifcemalimab is Junshi Biosciences’ first independently developed ‘first-in-class’ product, and it bears the potential to be combined with our cornerstone antibody, toripalimab, and enhance patient response to I-O therapy, increase the number of patients who can benefit from I-O therapy, and introduce new breakthroughs in the treatment of LS-SCLC patients!” About Tifcemalimab (JS004/TAB004) Independently developed by Junshi Biosciences, tifcemalimab is the world’s first-in-human recombinant humanized anti-BTLA (B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator) monoclonal antibody against cancer. Tifcemalimab has been agreed to enter phase 3 clinical study, and several phase 1b/2 clinical trials of tifcemalimab in combination with toripalimab in patients with different types of tumors are currently underway in China and the United States. The B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA), the target of tifcemalimab, was discovered in 2003. BTLA is a member of the CD28 receptor family and possesses a single IgSF V extracellular domain. Its sequence is similar to other molecules within the CD28 family (such as PD-1 and CTLA-4). BTLA is expressed in the T lymphocyte, B lymphocyte, and dendritic cell subpopulations. In 2005, the interaction between BTLA and its ligand, Herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM), was discovered. HVEM, a TNF receptor, is extensively expressed in the hematopoietic system and has been confirmed as the ligand of BTLA. BTLA is an immunoglobulin-associated membrane protein; its protein structure is similar to that of the transmembrane receptors (CTLA-4 and PD-1). Under normal physiological conditions, after BTLA binds with its ligand HVEM, it inhibits the over-activation of lymphocytes in the human body, thus preventing autoimmune injuries. By binding with BTLA, tifcemalimab blocks the HVEM-BTLA interaction, thereby obstructing the BTLA-mediated inhibitory signal pathways and activating the tumor-specific lymphocytes. About Toripalimab Toripalimab is an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody developed for its ability to block PD-1 interactions with its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, and for enhanced receptor internalization (endocytosis function). Blocking PD-1 interactions with PD-L1 and PD-L2 promotes the immune system’s ability to attack and kill tumor cells. More than forty company-sponsored toripalimab clinical studies covering more than fifteen indications have been conducted globally by Junshi Biosciences, including in China, the United States, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Ongoing or completed pivotal clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of toripalimab cover a broad range of tumor types, including cancers of the lung, nasopharynx, esophagus, stomach, bladder, breast, liver, kidney, and skin. In China, toripalimab was the first domestic anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody approved for marketing (approved in China as TUOYI®). Currently, there are six approved indications for toripalimab in China: unresectable or metastatic melanoma after failure of standard systemic therapy; recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (“NPC”) after failure of at least two lines of prior systemic therapy; locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma that failed platinum-containing chemotherapy or progressed within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant platinum-containing chemotherapy; in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine as the first-line treatment for patients with locally recurrent or metastatic NPC; in combination with paclitaxel and cisplatin in first-line treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced/recurrent or distant metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ("ESCC"); in combination with pemetrexed and platinum as the first-line treatment in EGFR mutation-negative and ALK mutation-negative, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The first three indications have been included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) (2022 Edition). Toripalimab is the only anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody included in the NRDL for the treatment of melanoma. In the United States, the Biologics License Application (BLA) for toripalimab in combination with gemcitabine/cisplatin for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced recurrent or metastatic NPC and toripalimab monotherapy for the second-line or later treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC after platinum-containing chemotherapy is under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). The FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy designations for toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC as well as for toripalimab monotherapy in the second or third-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC. Additionally, the FDA has granted Fast Track designation for toripalimab for the treatment of mucosal melanoma and Orphan Drug designations for the treatment of esophageal cancer, NPC, mucosal melanoma, soft tissue sarcoma, and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). In Europe, marketing authorization applications (MAA) were accepted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for 1) toripalimab combined with cisplatin and gemcitabine for the first-line treatment of patients with locally recurrent or metastatic NPC and 2) toripalimab combined with paclitaxel and cisplatin for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced/recurrent or metastatic ESCC, in December 2022 and February 2023. About Junshi Biosciences Founded in December 2012, Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. The company has established a diversified R&D pipeline comprising over 50 drug candidates, with five therapeutic focus areas covering cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and infectious diseases. Junshi Biosciences was the first Chinese pharmaceutical company that obtained marketing approval for an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody in China. Its first-in-human anti-BTLA monoclonal antibody for the treatment of various cancers was the first in the world to be approved for clinical trials by the FDA and NMPA and has since entered Phase Ib/II trials in both China and the US. Its anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody was the first in China to be approved for clinical trials by the NMPA. In the face of the pandemic, Junshi Biosciences’ response was strong and immediate, joining forces with Chinese and international scientific research institutions and enterprises to develop an arsenal of drug candidates to combat COVID-19, taking the initiative to shoulder the social responsibility of Chinese pharmaceutical companies by prioritizing and accelerating COVID-19 R&D. In 2021, JS016 (etesevimab), China’s first neutralizing fully human monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2 administered with bamlanivimab, was granted Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) in over 15 countries and regions worldwide. Meanwhile, VV116 (deuremidevir hydrobromide), a novel oral nucleoside analog anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug designed to hinder virus replication, has been approved for marketing in China and Uzbekistan. The JS016 and VV116 programs are a part of the company’s continuous efforts towards innovation for disease control and prevention of the global pandemic. Junshi Biosciences has about 3,000 employees in the United States (San Francisco and Maryland) and China (Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing, Guangzhou, etc.). For more information, please visit: http://junshipharma.com. The content above comes from the network. if any infringement, please contact us to modify.