Rznomics Signs Clinical Trial Collaboration Agreement With Celltrion for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

 

Combination of RZ-001, Atezlizumab, and Bevaciuzumab to be evaluated for safety and efficacy in Hepatocelluar Carcinoma clinical trial.

Rznomics and Celltrion announced on the 14th that they have signed a clinical collaboration agreement to evaluate the combination of RZ-001 and Bevacizumab for hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Through this partnership, Celltrion will provide Rznomics with Bevacizumab (product name Begzelma) and, in return, will receive the right of first negotiation for the Korean regional license after Rznomics’ RZ-001 Phase 1b/2a clinical trial.

Rznomics plans to explore the efficacy and safety of adding its RZ-001 to the combination therapy of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab, the first-time standard treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma, in a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial. Last November, Rznomics entered into a clinical collaboration agreement with Roche, including the free supply of Atezolizumab (product name: Ticentric).

By incorporating RZ-001, which employs its proprietary trans-splicing ribozyme-based RNA reprogramming and editing technology, into the combination therapy of atezolizumab and bevacizumab, Rznomics expects to achieve stronger effects and higher response rates.

RZ-001, an RNA trans-splicing enzyme-based cancer gene therapy, targets and cleaves telomerase messenger RNA (hTERT mRNA, replacing it with therapeutic gene RNA. It selectively suppresses hTERT expression in cancer cells expressing hTERT and reprograms the hTERT mRNA to encode HSVtk, inducing cytotoxic effects and anticancer activity.

 

Preclinical studies have shown that when used in combination with atezolizumab and bevacizumab, RZ-001 significantly enhances anticancer efficacy in a dose-dependent manner.

 

Sung-woo Hong, vice president and head of development at Rznomics'  expressed confidence that RZ-001 could overcome the limitations of the atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy.

Seong-wook Lee, CEO of Rznomics, stated, “We are delighted to collaborate with a global biotechnology company like Celltrion,” and added, “We hope this collaboration will help provide new therapeutic options for patients in need.”

Sung-hyun Kim, head of medical affairs at Celltion, also emphasized their commitment to continuous efforts in new drug development through partnerships with biotech companies possessing promising technologies and platforms like Rznomics.