Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc (LSE: HEMO) announced on Monday that it has successfully completed the development of a clinical-grade assay to assess FLT3 protein expression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells.

This assay is crucial for the recruitment of patients for Phase I clinical trials of Hemogenyx's HEMO-CAR-T product candidate.

The trials are set to begin soon at MD Anderson Cancer Center and later expand to the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a common form of adult leukemia, has a poor prognosis with a five-year survival rate below 30%. Current treatments involve chemotherapy, but Hemogenyx's novel therapy offers a potentially more effective and less toxic alternative.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), predominantly affecting children, is another focus area for Hemogenyx. Despite better outcomes than AML, certain subtypes of ALL remain difficult to treat. Hemogenyx's innovative treatments aim to improve patient outcomes, particularly in paediatric cases.

MD Anderson is a renowned cancer research center, known for its cutting-edge treatments and commitment to eliminating cancer through comprehensive patient care and research. The involvement of such a prestigious institution highlights the significance of Hemogenyx's upcoming clinical trials.

This development marks a major step forward in Hemogenyx's mission to advance life-saving therapies for blood cancers.