BAILI-BIOPHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD., a biopharmaceutical company, and its wholly owned US subsidiary, SystImmune, Inc, announced Friday that it has signed a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with United Kingdom-based AstraZeneca (LSE :AZN) (STO: AZN) (NASDAQ : AZN).

The contract has been signed to assess the combination of Baili's cancer therapy, SI-B001, an EGFR x HER3 bispecific antibody, in combination with AstraZeneca's third-generation, irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) TKI, TAGRISSO (osimertinib), in a new Phase 2a study, sponsored and carried out by Baili, for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The product is a bispecific antibody aimed at the proprietary platform technology developed by Baili and SystImmune and can also induce endocytosis of EGFR and HER3, and down-regulate the levels of EGFR and HER3 tumour cells. During preclinical studies, the product is claimed to have showcased superior tumour killing activities. SI-B001 Phase 1 trials have indicated good safety and preliminary efficacy.