San Diego-based Huya holds exclusive rights to the compound worldwide outside of China, while Chipscreen maintains rights in China. The phase I clinical trial is designed to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the compound, the companies said.
Huya said that it will assist Chipscreen with development of chidamide in China and also intends to commence clinical trials of the drug in the US and Europe.
Mireille Gingras Huya's president and CEO said: “The initiation of phase I trials is a significant achievement for us. It represents both an important development milestone for this promising cancer compound and illustrates the benefits of Chinese and American Biotech companies working together to efficiently carry out drug development.”
Chidamide is a histone deacetylase inhibitor, part of a new class of cancer drugs that induce selective regulation of gene expression in cancer cells.