HUTCHMED begins Phase III trial of HMPL-760 for relapsed DLBCL, combining it with R-GemOx in Chinese patients.
Quiver AI Summary
HUTCHMED (China) Limited has announced the initiation of a Phase III clinical trial for HMPL-760 combined with R-GemOx in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in China, with the first patient receiving treatment on March 20, 2026. DLBCL is a prevalent type of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma, making up about 40% of cases in China, where approximately 81,000 new cases were diagnosed in 2022. HMPL-760 is a third-generation Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, and the trial aims to evaluate its efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics compared to a placebo. The study plans to enroll around 240 patients and is led by Professor Weili Zhao. Previous Phase II studies showed promising results for HMPL-760, supporting this larger registrational trial. HUTCHMED retains global rights to HMPL-760 and is focused on developing targeted therapies for cancer.
Potential Positives
- Initiation of a registrational Phase III clinical trial for HMPL-760, which has shown promising results in prior studies, highlights HUTCHMED's commitment to advancing innovative cancer therapies.
- The study focuses on a significant unmet medical need in treating relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a common and aggressive form of lymphoma, potentially positioning HUTCHMED as a key player in this therapeutic area.
- Successful enrollment and execution of this trial could lead to potential market approval and commercialization in China, leveraging the high incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the region.
- Retaining all rights to HMPL-760 worldwide illustrates HUTCHMED's strategic positioning to capitalize on the therapeutic's potential across global markets.
Potential Negatives
- HUTCHMED has not provided specific timelines for the completion of the Phase III trial, which may raise concerns about the potential delays in bringing HMPL-760 to market.
- The press release includes numerous forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which could be viewed as indicators of potential challenges in achieving successful outcomes for the clinical trial and regulatory approval.
- The reliance on R-GemOx as a combination therapy introduces additional risks regarding the efficacy and regulatory status of that treatment, which could impact the overall success of the trial.
FAQ
What is HMPL-760 and its significance in DLBCL treatment?
HMPL-760 is an investigational third generation BTK inhibitor, crucial for treating relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
When did HUTCHMED start its Phase III clinical trial?
The Phase III clinical trial of HMPL-760 began on March 20, 2026, with the first patient receiving the dose.
How many patients will be enrolled in the Phase III trial?
The registrational trial plans to enroll approximately 240 patients diagnosed with relapsed or refractory DLBCL.
What is the goal of the HMPL-760 trial?
The trial aims to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of HMPL-760 in combination with R-GemOx therapy.
Who is leading the Phase III clinical trial?
Professor Weili Zhao, from Ruijin Hospital and the Shanghai Institute of Hematology, is the principal investigator for the trial.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
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Full Release
HONG KONG and SHANGHAI and FLORHAM PARK, N.J., March 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HUTCHMED (China) Limited (“ HUTCHMED ”) (Nasdaq/AIM:HCM; HKEX:13) today announces that it has initiated a registrational Phase III clinical trial of HMPL-760 in combination with R-GemOx (rituximab, gemcitabine and oxaliplatin) in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (“DLBCL”) in China. The first patient received the first dose on March 20, 2026.
DLBCL is the most common form of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (“NHL”) worldwide, accounting for approximately 40% of all NHL cases in China. 1 In 2022, approximately 81,000 new cases of NHL are estimated to have been diagnosed in China. 2 Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (“BTK”) is considered a validated target for drugs that aim to treat certain hematological cancers. HMPL-760 is a highly potent, selective, and reversible inhibitor with long target engagement against BTK, including wild-type and C481S-mutated BTK.
The trial is a randomized, double-blind, positive controlled Phase III study to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics (“PK”) of HMPL-760 in combination with R-GemOx versus placebo in combination with R-GemOx in DLBCL patients who are relapsed or refractory after prior treatment with first-line systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or immunochemotherapy regimens and ineligible for transplantation. Primary outcome measures include investigator-assessed progression-free survival (“PFS”) and overall survival (“OS”). Secondary outcome measures include independent review committee (“IRC”)-assessed PFS, IRC- and investigator-assessed objective response rate (“ORR”), complete response rate (“CRR”), duration of response (DoR), clinical benefit rate (CBR), time to response (TTR), safety and PK characteristics. Additional details may be found at clinicaltrials.gov, using identifier NCT07409428 .
This registrational trial plans to enroll approximately 240 patients and is being led by principal investigator Professor Weili Zhao, Vice President of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Director of the Shanghai Institute of Hematology.
About HMPL-760
HMPL-760 is an investigational, non-covalent, third generation BTK inhibitor. It is a highly potent, selective, and reversible inhibitor with long target engagement against BTK, including wild-type and C481S-mutated BTK. BTK C481S mutation plays an important role in resistance to certain BTK inhibitors . 3 , 4
A randomized, double-blind Phase II study ( NCT06601504 ) evaluating HMPL-760 in combination with R-GemOx in patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL has demonstrated encouraging improvements in ORR, CRR, PFS and OS compared to R-GemOx alone, with a manageable safety profile and no unexpected safety signal. These encouraging results supported the initiation of this registrational Phase III trial.
HUTCHMED currently retains all rights to HMPL-760 worldwide.
About HUTCHMED
HUTCHMED (Nasdaq/AIM:HCM; HKEX:13) is an innovative, commercial-stage, biopharmaceutical company. It is committed to the discovery and global development and commercialization of targeted therapies and immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and immunological diseases. Since inception it has focused on bringing drug candidates from in-house discovery to patients around the world, with its first three medicines marketed in China, the first of which is also approved around the world including in the US, Europe and Japan. For more information, please visit: www.hutch-med.com or follow us on LinkedIn .
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect HUTCHMED’s current expectations regarding future events, including its expectations regarding the therapeutic potential of HMPL-760 for the treatment of DLBCL and the further development of HMPL-760 in this and other indications. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, assumptions regarding the timing and outcome of clinical studies and the sufficiency of clinical data to support a new drug application submission of HMPL-760 for the treatment of DLBCL or other indications in China or other jurisdictions, its potential to gain approvals from regulatory authorities on an expedited basis or at all, the efficacy and safety profile of HMPL-760, HUTCHMED’s ability to fund, implement and complete its further clinical development and commercialization plans for HMPL-760 and the timing of these events. In addition, as certain studies rely on the use of other drug products such as R-GemOx as combination therapeutics with HMPL-760, such risks and uncertainties include assumptions regarding the safety, efficacy, supply and continued regulatory approval of these therapeutics. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. For further discussion of these and other risks, see HUTCHMED’s filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and on AIM. HUTCHMED undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
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| 1 | Li XQ, Li GD, Gao ZF, et al. Distribution pattern of lymphoma subtypes in China: A nationwide multicenter study of 10002 cases. J Diagn Concepts Pract . 2012; 11(02):111-115. |
| 2 | The Global Cancer Observatory, China fact sheet. https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/populations/160-china-fact-sheet.pdf . Accessed December 3, 2025. |
| 3 | Woyach JA, Ruppert AS, Guinn D, et al. BTKC 481S -Mediated Resistance to Ibrutinib in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. J Clin Oncol . 2017;35(13):1437-1443. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2016.70.2282 . |
| 4 | Woyach JA, Huang Y, Rogers K, et al. Resistance to Acalabrutinib in CLL is Mediated Primarily by BTK Mutations. Blood. 2019;134 (Supplement_1): 504. doi: 10.1182/blood-2019-127674 . |