LSK BioPharma, a US-based biopharmaceutical firm, has entered into a global clinical collaboration with Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co. Ltd. (SHA:600276), an integrated biopharmaceutical company based in China, it was reported on Sunday.

The collaboration is aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of LSK BioPharma's rivoceranib, also known as apatinib or Aitan (brand name) in China, a selective and potent VEGFR-2 inhibitor, in combination with Hengrui's camrelizumab (SHR-1210), a humanised anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody currently under NDA review in China for classic Hodgkin's Lymphoma in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. It is considered that the combination of rivoceranib and camrelizumab may enhance the immune system, aiding the fight against cancer. In addition to the known anti-angiogenic effects of rivoceranib, it may also enhance camrelizumab's anti-tumour activity by normalising tumour vasculature and reversing the tumour suppressive immune microenvironment.

According to the terms of the clinical collaboration agreement, Hengrui will be responsible for administering the clinical trial with all study costs outside China shared equally among both parties. LSK BioPharma will retain full commercial rights for rivoceranib outside China and Hengrui will retain full commercial rights for camrelizumab worldwide.