JW Therapeutics (HKEX: 2126), a China-based biotechnology company, announced on Monday that it has started the phase one clinical study of JWATM204 in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

This first-in-human study of the product intends to assess the safety, tolerability, dose limited toxicity and pharmacokinetic profile of JWATM204 in adult patients with advanced HCC, and also to explore the anti-tumour activity of JWATM204 in the target population. The promising preclinical outcomes indicated continued clinical development potential of JWATM204 for the treatment of HCC.

The product is an innovative immune T-cell therapy aimed at glypican-3 (GPC-3). The company in-licensed the rights from Eureka to develop, manufacture and commercialise the product in China (including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) and the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2020, and it has completed technical transfer and renovation of facilities and equipment at its Shanghai Waigaoqiao manufacturing site.