AsianScientist (Sep. 12, 2014) – ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-based, oncology-focused biotechnology company, has dosed the first patients in a study of its lead compound, ASLAN001, a small molecule, oral pan-HER inhibitor for the treatment of solid tumors including gastric cancer.
The study, which represents ASLAN’s first to be wholly conducted in Taiwan following the opening of the company’s office in Taipei earlier in 2014, will explore the safety and tolerability of ASLAN001 in combination with cisplatin/fluorouracil and cisplatin/capecitabine. The trial is being conducted in two centers in Taiwan, National Taiwan University Hospital and Veterans General Hospital, led by Dr. Wu Ming-Shiang and Dr. Chao Yee, respectively.
In a recent Phase II trial, ASLAN001 was shown to reduce cell proliferation and cell survival in gastric tumours that were either co-expressing EGFR and HER2 or that were HER2 amplified. The trial, conducted in South Korea, also demonstrated ASLAN001’s ability to downregulate signalling pathways responsible for cell proliferation, and reduce cell survival and cell proliferation. The findings of the safety and tolerability study will contribute important insight to the design of the Phase IIb study of ASLAN001 in gastric cancer which is expected to commence shortly.
“The initiation of this study of ASLAN001 represents an important milestone for ASLAN as our first clinical study conducted wholly in Taiwan and in the ongoing development of ASLAN001 to provide an effective treatment for one of the most prevalent malignancies in the world,” said Dr. Alan Barge, chief medical officer of ASLAN.
“Half of the world’s total gastric cancer cases occur in Eastern Asia. In Taiwan alone, it affects around 4,000 people every year, the majority of whom die as a result, however treatment options for patients continue to be very limited.”
“The recent opening of our first office in Taipei supports our regional strategy to leverage rapidly developing clinical research capabilities and high quality clinical centers in Asia, which will play a leading role in the global development of our portfolio.”
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Source: ASLAN Pharmaceuticals.
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