Experimental Drug Slows Progression of Aggressive Bone Cancer in Advanced Chinese Trial

A new experimental drug, HS-20093 (Risrezumab vedotin), has shown promising results in slowing the progression of aggressive bone cancer, specifically recurrent osteosarcoma, in a phase 3 clinical trial conducted in China. The trial involved patients whose cancer had returned or progressed after at least two prior treatment lines, a group with limited existing treatment options. The study was led by Chinese pharmaceutical company Hansoh Pharmaceutical in collaboration with GSK, which holds development and marketing rights outside China.

Results indicated that patients receiving the drug experienced a longer period without disease progression, meeting the trial's primary endpoint and suggesting improved treatment efficacy. HS-20093 is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), a targeted therapy that combines a cancer cell-specific antibody with an anti-cancer agent to deliver treatment directly to tumor cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.

Osteosarcoma is a rare and aggressive bone cancer primarily affecting children, adolescents, and young adults. Standard treatment typically involves surgery and chemotherapy, but options are limited when the disease recurs or advances after initial therapy. The positive findings from this advanced clinical trial have generated significant interest in the medical community.

Currently, the drug is not yet approved for use. The companies plan to first seek regulatory approval in China and subsequently pursue approvals in other countries. There is no information yet on Israeli medical centers' participation in the trial or when the drug might become available to patients in Israel.