Chinese biotechnology company Hanx Biopharmaceuticals Co Ltd announced on Thursday the first patient dosing in Australia on 30 December 2024 for the Phase 1 clinical trial of HX044 in patients with advanced solid tumours.

HX044 is an innovative bispecific antibody independently developed by Hanx Biopharmaceuticals. It is a first-in-class and considered to be a next generation immune-checkpoint inhibitor designed to treat a wide range of malignant tumours, including PD-1-resistant solid tumours such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), melanoma, renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal cancers.

According to Hanx Biopharmaceuticals, HX044 represents a new generation CTLA-4 immunotherapy by expanding the therapeutic window, optimising safety and enhancing antitumour immune responses, showcasing a breakthrough in CTLA-4 immunotherapy.