On March 27, 2022 Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKEX:1672) reported that the latest preclinical research results of the company’s two novel anti-cancer drug candidates, ASC61, an oral PD-L1 inhibitor and ASC60, an oral fatty acid synthase (FASN) inhibitor have been selected for presentations at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2022 (the "2022 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting"), and the abstracts have already been published on AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)’s official website (Press release, Ascletis, MAR 27, 2022, View Source [SID1234611019]).

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The AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting is one of the world’s largest and long-standing scientific gatherings in the field of cancer research. Covering some of the most cutting-edge advances in all areas of oncology research and innovation, the annual event attracts tremendous interest from the global cancer research community. The AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting for this year will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 8 to 13, 2022 CDT.

The abstracts selected for poster presentations at the 2022 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting are as follows:

（1） ASC61

Abstract Title: In vivo efficacy evaluation of ASC61, an oral PD-L1 inhibitor, in two tumor mouse models

Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Abstract Number: 5529
Session Category: Immunology
Session Title: Preclinical Immunotherapy
Presentation time: April 8, 2022, 12:00PM – 1:00 PM CDT
Presenter/Authors: Jinzi J. Wu, Handan He. Ascletis BioScience Co., Ltd.
ASC61 is an oral potent and highly selective PD-L1 small molecule inhibitor and blocks PD-1/PD-L1 interaction through inducing PD-L1 dimerization and internalization. Preclinical studies showed that ASC61 demonstrated significant antitumor efficacies and were well-tolerated in both syngeneic and humanized tumor mouse models. ASC61 was found to have favorably comparable antitumor activities as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved PD-L1 therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb), Atezolizumab. The Phase I study of ASC61 in advanced solid tumors has received the U.S. IND approval by FDA, and the first patient is planned to be enrolled in the second quarter of 2022.

（2） ASC60

Abstract Title: Efficacy of ASC60, an oral fatty acid synthase inhibitor, in two tumor mouse models

Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Abstract Number: 5466
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Small Molecule Therapeutic Agents
Presentation time: April 8, 2022, 12:00PM – 1:00 PM CDT
Presenter/Authors: Jinzi J. Wu, Handan He. Ascletis BioScience Co., Ltd.
ASC60 is a potent, selective and safe oral small molecule inhibitor of FASN. ASC60 can disrupt metabolism and tumor-associated signal transduction in tumor cells through inhibition of de novo lipogenesis (DNL). Preclinical studies showed that ASC60 could suppress tumor growth and enhance the antitumor activities of mPD-1 antibody in tumor mouse models. The application of the Phase I study of ASC60 in patients with advanced solid tumors has been submitted to the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the National Medical Products Administration of China (NMPA).

"It is our great pleasure to have the research results of our drug candidates selected by the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting," said Dr. Jinzi J. Wu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Ascletis. "ASC61, an oral PD-L1 inhibitor, and ASC60, an oral FASN inhibitor, have better patient compliance and are easier to be combined with other oral anti-tumor drugs. These studies deepened our understanding of our drug candidates’ mechanism of actions and anti-tumor activities in animal models as well as advanced our clinical development of Company’s oncology pipelines. As we are advancing the Phase III clinical trial of ASC40, another FASN inhibitor, in combination with Bevacizumab for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM), we are exploring opportunities for all-oral combinations between ASC61 and ASC40 (or ASC60) as well as other oral anti-tumor drugs from our business partners."