On May 10, 2020, the launch meeting of AMEILE (Almonertinib Mesilate Tablets) independently developed by Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. ("Hansoh Pharma") was held in Shanghai. As the world's second and China's first original 3rd-generation EGFR-TKI innovative drug, the launch of AMEILE has aroused strong interest from well-known experts and scholars in the field of lung cancer in China. At the main venue in Shanghai and the two sub-venues in Beijing and Guangzhou, participating experts and scholars together witnessed the launch of AMEILE in an "offline+online" manner.
Spot of AMEILE Launch Meeting
Demonstrate China's Strength in Scientific and Technological Innovation
AMEILE is used for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, breaking through the major technical barriers of urgently needed drugs in clinical practice. Academician Wang Guangji of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Professor Liao Meilin and Professor Pan Changqing of the Chest Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Professor Wu Yilong of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Professor Cheng Ying of Jilin Cancer Hospital and Professor Wang Jie of the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences delivered speeches at the meeting respectively, congratulating the successful launch of AMEILE.
Academician Wang Guangji noted that, as a landmark innovation achievement under the support of major scientific and technological projects, the advent of AMEILE has filled the drug gap in the domestic lung cancer subdivision. Professor Liao Meilin remarked that AMEILE will provide clinicians with a highly efficacious, safe and accessible new choice, and bring hope for a long-term and high-quality life to more patients. Professor Wu Yilong pointed out that AMEILE has an efficacy comparable to that of similar advanced drugs in the world, which also demonstrates the R&D and innovation strength of Chinese pharmaceutical enterprises.
Bring New Choice to Patients with Excellent Efficacy and Safety
Clinical data show that AMEILE demonstrates excellent efficacy and safety. It is the world's first 3rd-generation EGFR-TKI with a median progression-free survival (mPFS) of more than 1 year (second-line use), and is effective for brain metastases with obvious clinical advantages. As the leading PI in its clinical research, Professor Lu Shun of the Chest Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University presented the phase I and phase II clinical research data of the drug at the launch meeting.
"For the first time, we have obtained stable median PFS data in patients with EGFR T790M positive mutation. The median PFS is more than 1 year and is by far the best PFS for second-line treatment. Clinical data of patients with brain metastases show that the response rate reaches 60%, the efficacy is consistent with that of the general population, and brain metastases are well controlled. Besides, the follow-up time has been extended, and the patient safety data is very good." Professor Lu Shun remarked, "The clinical research of AMEILE is of milestone significance to the research and development of new drugs in China. It fundamentally alleviates the dependence of domestic advanced lung cancer patients on imported drugs and brings new choices and hopes to advanced lung cancer patients.”
Continue to Promote the Development of Lung Cancer Medicine
The launch of almonertinib alleviates the difficult problem of drug accessibility after drug resistance in the treatment of advanced lung cancer. At the launch meeting, Granny Liu, a patient with advanced lung cancer who has been fighting cancer for 7 years, shared her "anti-cancer path". Granny Liu was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in 2013. After the disease progressed in 2015, she was discovered with drug-resistant T790M mutation, but she had no option but to receive chemotherapy after missing the clinical trials of 3rd-generation EGFR-TKI abroad. Due to drug accessibility, Granny Liu has not been able to receive the 3rd-generation EGFR-TKI therapy until the end of 2017 when the recruitment for the first clinical trial of almonertinib began. She participated in the trial. After one month of medication, her tumor was effectively controlled and significantly reduced. It has been two and a half years since then, and the disease is still under control. Granny Liu said that almonertinib rekindled her passion for life.
In order to benefit more patients, Huilan Public Foundation and Hansoh Pharma co-sponsored the "Huilan Public Welfare - Hansoh Pharma Lung Cancer Precision Medicine Research Fund", which is earmarked to fund research in the field of lung cancer precision medicine. The fund is an effective practice of Hansoh Pharma in assisting the development of lung cancer medicine in China, aiming to encourage scientific research innovation, to explore the best practices of 3rd-generation EGFR-TKI, to improve the clinical research capability of lung cancer specialists, and to promote the improvement of medical level and national health level in China.
Lyu Aifeng, President of Hansoh Pharma, noted that the successful launch of AMEILE could not be possible without the efforts of the company's R&D team, the support and cooperation of clinical experts, and the support of the state. In the future, Hansoh Pharma will accelerate the pace of scientific and technological innovation, continue to introduce more, newer and better innovative drugs, and contribute China's innovation strength to improve the health and life quality of patients in China and even in the world, striving to fulfill its corporate mission to “create excellence in pharmaceuticals, enhance innovation in China”.
