Swedish biotech company Medivir AB (STO:MVIR) announced on Thursday that updated data from its phase 1b/2a study of fostrox (fostroxacitabine) with Lenvima (lenvatinib) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Barcelona, 13-17 September 2024.

Dr Hong Jae Chon from CHA Bundang Medical Center in Korea will present the abstract titled "Fostrox (fostroxacitabine bralpamide) plus lenvatinib in patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HCC progressed on immunotherapy combinations."

This presentation will cover updated clinical data from the ongoing phase 1b/2a study, focusing on the long-term safety, tolerability, and efficacy of the treatment.

Fostrox targets DNA replication in liver tumors, minimizing harm to normal cells by coupling an active chemotherapy agent with a prodrug tail, allowing for oral administration and localized action in the liver.

Medivir's fostrox, an orally administered drug for various liver cancers, shows promising anti-cancer efficacy with a good safety profile. Primary liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with HCC being the most common and fastest-growing liver cancer in the USA.

Existing therapies for advanced HCC reportedly have a global five-year survival rate below 20% for the approximately 660,000 diagnosed annually. The heterogeneous nature of HCC and lack of specific mutations have hindered the success of molecularly targeted agents, highlighting the significant unmet medical need.