GSK, Hansoh Osteosarcoma Drug Significantly Extends Progression-Free Survival in Late-Stage Trial

An experimental therapy for osteosarcoma developed by Hansoh Pharmaceutical and licensed by GSK has demonstrated a significant ability to delay disease progression in a late-stage clinical trial. The results, presented at a medical conference on Monday, show the drug could offer a new option for patients with a difficult-to-treat form of bone cancer.

Key Trial Data

The study, conducted in China, evaluated the drug, known as ris-rez, in patients with relapsed or refractory osteosarcoma. According to the data, the treatment showed a substantial benefit over standard chemotherapy.

• Patients receiving ris-rez had a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 5.5 months.
• This compared to a median PFS of just 1.4 months for patients in the chemotherapy arm.
• The results translate to a 67% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death for patients treated with the experimental drug, according to Lu Xie of Peking University People’s Hospital, the trial's lead investigator.

Study and Drug Profile

The trial enrolled 122 patients aged 12 and older who had previously undergone at least two prior lines of treatment. Ris-rez is a targeted cancer therapy designed to deliver cell-killing agents directly to tumor cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

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This mechanism of action is crucial for heavily pre-treated patient populations who may not tolerate the toxicity of broader-acting chemotherapies. Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that primarily affects children, adolescents, and young adults.

Strategic Importance for GSK

The positive data is a notable development for GSK, which licensed ris-rez from Hansoh as part of a broader strategy to rebuild its oncology pipeline. The British pharmaceutical giant largely exited the cancer drug space a decade ago but has since made a concerted effort to re-establish a significant presence through licensing deals and internal development.

GSK noted it is accelerating the development of ris-rez across several other cancer types. A successful outcome in osteosarcoma could validate the drug's platform and bolster the company's growing cancer drug portfolio.