Taiwan, 9 September 2014 – ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Pte Ltd (“ASLAN” or the “Company”), an oncology-focused biotechnology company, today announced that it 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 tumours 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/FU and cisplatin/capecitabine. The trial is being conducted in two centres in Taiwan, National Taiwan University Hospital and Veterans General Hospital, led by Dr Ming-Shiang Wu and Dr Yee Chao, respectively.
In a recent phase 2 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 2b study of ASLAN001 in gastric cancer which is expected to commence shortly.
Commenting on the announcement, Dr Alan Barge, Chief Medical Officer of ASLAN, said: “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. 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 clinical study of ASLAN001 will be led by our team in Taiwan. The recent opening of our first office in Taipei supports our regional strategy to leverage rapidly developing clinical research capabilities and high quality clinical centres in Asia, which will play a leading role in the global development of our portfolio.”
About ASLAN001
ASLAN001 is a novel, selective and oral HER2 / EGFR inhibitor, and has previously shown clinical activity in both HER2 positive and EGFR positive tumours in US studies. Over 200 patients have received ASLAN001 either as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy. ASLAN001 was discovered by Array BioPharma Inc (NASDAQ: ARRY) and licensed to ASLAN in 2011.
About ASLAN
ASLAN Pharmaceuticals is an oncology-focused biotechnology company developing a portfolio of high-value, differentiated clinical programs. Led by a highly experienced management team with global pharmaceutical expertise, ASLAN is headquartered in Asia with a platform which reaches across the region via its offices in Singapore and Taiwan, enabling the Company to conduct and support regional clinical development programs. The Company’s proprietary pipeline of 4 development-stage candidates addresses multiple indications including gastric and breast cancers and inflammatory diseases. ASLAN001, the Company’s lead program, is entering phase 2b for gastric cancer.
For more information, please visit www.aslanpharma.com or contact:
+886 2757 6700 / media@aslanpharma.com
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