China-based Inmagene Biopharmaceutical and Hong Kong-based HUTCHMED (China) Limited (Nasdaq:HCM) (AIM:HCM) (HKEX:0013) announced on Tuesday the dosing of the first participant, based in the United States, in a global Phase I trial of IMG-004, a non-covalent, reversible, third-generation Bruton Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitor.

Inmagene is developing the drug candidate for the potential treatment of immunological diseases.

The Phase I study is a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, single and multiple dose escalation study that is being conducted in healthy subjects. It aims to explore IMG-004's safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in healthy participants. IMG-004 is a non-covalent, reversible small molecule inhibitor targeting BTK and is designed specifically for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases that usually need long-term treatment. It is potent, highly selective and brain permeable and was originally discovered by HUTCHMED, with Inmagene assuming development responsibility at the candidate stage.