Biopharmaceutical company Innovent Biologics Inc (HKEX:01801) reported on Monday the start of treatment of the first patient with advanced malignant tumours under its Phase I clinical trial of anti-cluster of differentiation 47 (anti-CD47) monoclonal antibody drug candidate (IBI188) in the US.

IBI188 is a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting CD47. The IBI188 can bind to the CD47 antigen on the surface of tumour cells, block the CD47-SIRPα signalling pathway, inhibit the "do not eat me" signal and promote the phagocytosis of tumour cells by macrophages, thereby exerting an anti-tumour effect, according to the company.

In the US, the CIBI188A102 study is a Phase I clinical study that will evaluate IBI188 in patients with advanced malignant tumours, added the company.

The company stated that the primary objectives are to evaluate the safety and tolerability and define the Phase II clinical trial recommended doses of IBI188 as monotherapy and as part of combination therapy on subjects with advanced malignant tumours. The Phase 1a study will explore initial and maintenance doses of IBI188 as monotherapy.

Concurrently, CIBI188A102 will be launched simultaneously with the CIBI188A101 study (CIBI188A101) in China, with the aim of evaluating the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) profiles of IBI188 in both the US and China, concluded the company.