Chi-Med (Hutchinson Pharma), a Hong Kong-based biotechnology company, and AstraZeneca today announced that they have initiated a global pivotal phase III clinical trial of savolitinib, a highly selective c-MET inhibitor, in c-MET-driven papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) (SAVOIR). This is the first pivotal study ever conducted in c-MET-driven pRCC.
The SAVOIR trial will compare savolitinib to sunitinib (Sutent) in patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) whose tumours are driven by the c-MET cancer-associated mutation. It is intended to support marketing applications for savolitinib in Europe and the US. All 9 clinical trial sites identified for the SAVOIR trial so far are in the US.
In addition to SAVOIR, Chi-Med and AstraZeneca are conducting a number of Phase Ib and II studies of savolitinib in kidney cancer, lung cancer and gastric cancer. These studies involve savolitinib as a monotherapy or in combination with other targeted therapy.
