(Alliance News) - Hutchmed (China) Ltd on Tuesday announced upcoming trials for two of its pipeline cancer treatments, both of which it believes could fill significant clinical gaps.

The Hong Kong-headquartered biopharmaceutical company has initiated a phase III clinical trial for HMPL-306 in patients with mutated forms of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia in China.

HMPL-306 targets both forms of isocitrate dehydrogenase mutations in leukaemia patients, which Hutchmed said may help patients who develop resistance to one form during their treatment.

The randomized phase III trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of HMPL-306 as a monotherapy.

The study's primary endpoint is overall survival, and its secondary endpoints including complete remission will be tested in comparison with other chemotherapy regimens.

Hutchmed said the trial follows positive data from a phase I study.

Hutchmed has also initiated a phase II/III trial of the combination of its Surufatinib treatment with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co Ltd's Camrelizumab in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma is a form of cancer that develop in the glands lining the body's organs.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the most form of pancreatic cancer, representing over 90% of cases.

Hutchmed's Chief Executive Officer Weiguo Su said: "Emerging data...demonstrated that combinations of surufatinib, camrelizumab and chemotherapy have promising efficacy in comparison with existing chemotherapy-based treatments in metastatic PDAC. We hope that this partnership will enable us to bring new, potentially life-changing treatment options to patients."

Shares in Hutchmed were down 1.1% at 346.00 pence each in London on Tuesday afternoon.

By Hugh Cameron, Alliance News reporter

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