Chengdu, Jan. 18, 2022 –Keymed Biosciences (HKEX: 02162) and InnoCare Pharma (HKEX: 09969) jointly announced today that the first patient in China has been dosed in clinical trial of CM355, a CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody developed by a joint venture between the two companies , for the treatment of CD20+ B-cell malignancies.

CM355 binds to CD20 on the tumor cells and CD3 on the T cells, redirects and activates T cells to eradicate tumor cells through T-cell Directed Cellular Cytotoxicity (TDCC) in the treatment of CD20+ B-cell malignancies.

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are the main type of CD20+ B-cell malignancies, accounting for 80%-90%, which include diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL).

Dr. Chen Bo, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Keymed Biosciences, said: “We are very pleased that we have taken the first step in evaluating the potential clinical benefits of CM355 for lymphoma patients. Preclinical studies have shown the high-potency and manageable safety of CM355. This means good treatment prospects for lymphoma patients. We look forward to working with InnoCare to conduct this clinical study efficiently, and eventually provide more innovative, effective, safe and economic treatment options for patients to extend their survival and improve their prognosis."

Dr. Jasmine Cui, Co-Founder, Chairwoman and CEO of InnoCare, said: “There is still a big gap in term of the 5-year survival rate of lymphoma patients between China and Europe & US. As two innovative biotech companies, we are making every effort to develop more innovative drugs to address unmet clinical needs. We are fully confident that  the CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody has great potential in the clinical development for B-cell lymphoma."