InnoCare Pharma, which focuses on the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, will look to further complete its product pipelines, especially in the field of tumors, with the approval for its novel targeted protein degrader ICP-490.

InnoCare Pharma (9969.HK) recently announced that the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for clinical trial of its novel targeted protein degrader ICP-490 was granted approval from NMPA (National Medical Products Administration) for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). 

ICP-490 is developed from InnoCare’s molecular glue platform. By specifically binding to CRL4-CRBN-E3 ligase complex, ICP-490 induces ubiquitination and degradation of transcription factors including Ikaros and Aiolos, thereby down-regulating the expression of IRF4, an oncogenic transcription factor that drives multiple myeloma to exert direct anti-myeloma effects.

It also has immunomodulatory effects by enhancing the function of effector T cells, resulting from Ikaros and Aiolos degradation and the degradation-mediated releasing of interleukin IL-2. 

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant tumor with clonal abnormal proliferation of plasma cells, which is characterized by abnormal proliferation of bone marrow plasma cells and the overproduction of monoclonal immunoglobulin (M protein). MM is often accompanied by multiple osteolytic lesions, hypercalcemia, anemia, kidney damage, etc.

NHL ranks among the top 10 common malignant tumors in China. Its common types include follicular lymphoma (FL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

In speaking of such successful product pipeline progress, “It all relies on our team members’ profound understanding of the characteristics of product differentiation and sharp eyes for clinical opportunities,” Dr. Jasmine Cui, the co-founder, Chairwoman, and CEO of InnoCare Pharma said.

“We have been dedicated to taking appropriate registration filing strategies to promote our clinical development on a global scale. We ensure that our preclinical candidates with high performance will be effectively assessed in clinical trials.”

Leveraging its integrated pharmaceutical development platform and effective team co-operations, the IND application of ICP-248, an orally bioavailable B cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) selective inhibitor in treating blood cancer has also been accepted by NMPA, Dr. Jasmine Cui added. 

InnoCare Pharma’s competitors include Northland Bio, Carsgen Therapeutics (2171.HK), and JW Therapeutics (2126.HK). 

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