On August 8, 2018 Beijing time I-Mab Biopharma (“I-Mab”), a Shanghai-based biotech company focused on innovative biologics in oncology and autoimmune disease, and German biopharma company MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX; NASDAQ: MOR) announced today that I-Mab has Submitted an investigational new drug (IND) application to China National Drug Administration (CNDA) for TJ202/MOR202, a human monoclonal antibody directed against CD38 for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer worldwide. The patient number has gradually increased in China in recent years due to an increasingly aging population. Yet there are no effective biologics approved in China for this indication and current therapies have been associated with serious side effects and limited treatment efficacy.
TJ202/MOR202 is a monoclonal antibody derived from MorphoSys’s HuCAL antibody technology. The antibody is directed against CD38 on the surface of multiple myeloma cells, and, according to its suggested mode of action, recruits cells of the body’s immune system to kill the tumor. Scientific research suggest that an anti-CD38 antibody may have therapeutic potential in other cancers, as well as autoimmune diseases.
China recently issued a new round of reform initiatives to accelerate clinical trial approval for new drugs, especially in oncology. “The IND submission was done after a successful pre-submission consultation meeting with Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of CNDA, which is required under China’s new drug regulation, unless waived,” said Dr. Joan Shen, Head of R&D at I-Mab.
“CNDA has endorsed the overall clinical and regulatory strategy, as well as the study designs, which should lead to the biologics license application (BLA),” said Dr. Joan Shen.Through a licensing agreement with MorphoSys AG in November 2017, I-Mab gained exclusive rights to develop and commercialize TJ202/MOR202 in Greater China territory, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
After observing patient responses in an interim analysis from an ongoing Phase I/IIa trial in patients with relapsed/refractory MM in Germany and Austria, MorphoSys decided to support I-Mab to lead clinical development of TJ202/MOR202 in Greater China. MorphoSys will continue to evaluate additional other suitable indications for further global development of TJ202/MOR202.
Dr. Malte Peters, Chief Development Officer of MorphoSys AG commented: “We are delighted that our partner I-Mab has taken this important step in advancing TJ202/MOR202 into clinical development in China. We look forward to supporting I-Mab in developing this investigational compound with the goal of helping Chinese patients in multiple myeloma, an indication with a high unmet medical need”.
“With a fast-to-market strategy under the new drug regulation, we hope to bring this innovative treatment to patients as soon as possible,” Dr. Shen commented. “MorphoSys and I-Mab plan to continuously evaluate the potential and further development of TJ202 in other indications.”
