Sponsor: Shanghai Henlius Biotech (industry)
Phase: 2
Start date: April 2, 2025
Planned enrollment: 243
HLX43 is an investigational antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) developed by Shanghai Henlius Biotech in collaboration with MediLink Therapeutics. It targets PD-L1 and couples a fully humanized anti–PD-L1 IgG1 to a DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor via a cleavable, tumor microenvironment–activatable linker (approximate drug‑to‑antibody ratio [DAR] ≈ 8). As of October 2025, HLX43 has completed Phase 1 dose escalation/expansion with first efficacy/safety readouts presented at ASCO 2025, and multiple Phase 2 studies (including a multi‑regional NSCLC program) are ongoing. No PD‑L1–targeting ADCs are approved globally. (oncologypro.esmo.org)
Preclinical ESMO‑2023 data showed potent activity in multiple PD‑1/PD‑L1–refractory/resistant xenograft models with favorable tolerability and superiority to a PD‑L1‑DXd comparator in tested models. (oncologypro.esmo.org)
Human data are early and derived from Phase 1 (dose escalation/expansion) with updates at ASCO 2025 and WCLC 2025; Phase 2 MRCTs are ongoing.
Development status:
- Global Phase 2 MRCT in advanced NSCLC (HLX43‑NSCLC201) initiated with first patients dosed in China (June 2025), the US (August 2025), and Australia (September 2025); regulatory clearances for Phase 2 MRCT obtained in China, US, Australia, and Japan. (henlius.com)
- Additional Phase 2 in ESCC initiated (first patient dosed February 2025). (henlius.com)
Phase 1 (ASCO 2025) reported a manageable profile:
- Dose‑limiting toxicity: febrile neutropenia with leukopenia at 4.0 mg/kg; MTD reported at 4.0 mg/kg. Grade ≥3 treatment‑related AEs occurred in 28.6% (Part Ia) and 42.9% (Part Ib 2.0 mg/kg NSCLC cohort). Most common AEs included hematologic toxicities, hyponatremia, and nausea. At 2.0 mg/kg, grade ≥3 anemia and lymphopenia each 14.3%; no grade ≥3 thrombocytopenia or neutropenia reported at that dose. (mediamedic.co)
- Company WCLC 2025 update highlights low rates of high‑grade hematologic toxicity overall; most common grade ≥3 TRAEs included anemia (19.6%), decreased WBC (19.6%), and decreased platelets (3.6%). Peer‑reviewed confirmation pending. (henlius.com)
Disclaimer: Efficacy and safety figures above are interim and primarily sourced from conference materials and company communications; peer‑reviewed publications were not identified at the time of writing. (henlius.com)
Last updated: Oct 2025
Goal: Evaluate the antitumor activity, safety, tolerability, and select a reasonable dose of the anti–PD-L1 antibody–drug conjugate HLX43 in previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Patients: Adults ≥18 years with histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IIIB/IIIC or IV NSCLC not suitable for definitive therapy, who have progressed after standard treatments. For tumors without actionable genomic alterations, prior PD-(L)1 therapy and platinum-based chemotherapy are required; for tumors with actionable alterations, prior appropriate targeted therapy (e.g., EGFR TKI for EGFR-mutant disease) and platinum chemotherapy are required. ECOG PS 0–1, life expectancy >3 months, adequate organ function, and at least one RECIST v1.1 measurable lesion are required. Key exclusions include small cell/neuroendocrine/sarcomatoid components, prior topoisomerase I–targeting agents or ADCs, uncontrolled CNS disease, significant pulmonary comorbidity or prior recent radiation pneumonitis, poorly controlled cardiovascular disease, active infections including HBV/HCV/HIV, significant autoimmune disease requiring immunosuppression, and pregnancy/lactation.
Design: Global, open-label, randomized, multicenter phase II trial with 1:1 allocation to two HLX43 dose levels. Planned enrollment is 243 patients. Treatment continues Q3W until progression, unacceptable toxicity, new anticancer therapy, death, or withdrawal.
Treatments: Two experimental arms of HLX43 administered intravenously every 3 weeks at different dose levels. HLX43 is a PD-L1–targeting IgG1 antibody–drug conjugate carrying a cleavable linker–attached DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor payload (DAR ~8). Binding to PD-L1 facilitates internalization and intracellular release of the cytotoxic payload causing DNA double-strand breaks; the antibody component also blocks PD-L1/PD-1 signaling, potentially augmenting antitumor immunity. Early-phase data showed promising activity: in dose-escalation across solid tumors the ORR was approximately 37%, and in an NSCLC expansion cohort at 2.0 mg/kg the ORR was about 38% with manageable toxicity; grade ≥3 TRAEs ranged from ~29% to ~43% depending on cohort, with hematologic events generally limited and low rates of high-grade thrombocytopenia/neutropenia reported.
Outcomes: Primary: ORR by independent radiology review per RECIST v1.1. Secondary: ORR by investigator, PFS by IRRC and investigator, overall survival, and safety/tolerability including AE incidence and severity per NCI CTCAE v5.0, vital signs, and laboratory parameters. Follow-up for efficacy and safety is up to 24 months.
Burden on patient: Moderate. Participants will receive IV infusions every 3 weeks and undergo serial imaging for RECIST assessments, safety labs, and vital sign monitoring typical of phase II oncology studies. Provision of archival tumor tissue or a new biopsy for PD-L1 testing adds procedural burden if archival tissue is inadequate. While no intensive pharmacokinetic schedules are specified, the open-label ADC therapy and safety monitoring may entail more frequent early visits and labs than standard post-progression care. Travel demands depend on site proximity but are at least Q3W for infusions plus imaging visits, resulting in a moderate overall time and procedural burden.
Last updated: Oct 2025
Inclusion Criteria:
* Have a full understanding of the study content, process, and possible adverse reactions before the study, and sign the informed consent form (ICF); voluntarily participate in the study; be able to complete the study as per protocol requirements;
* Aged ≥ 18 years at the time of signing the ICF, male or female;
* Histologically or cytologically confirmed, locally advanced (stage IIIB/IIIC) or metastatic (stage IV) NSCLC not suitable for radical treatment (complete surgical resection, concurrent/sequential radio-chemotherapy) according to the Union for International Cancer Control and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging system (8th edition), and should meet the following criteria: 1)Subjects without actionable genomic alterations (AGAs):
Prior standard treatment failure, including at least PD-(L)1 and platinum-based chemotherapy; 2) Subjects with AGAs: Prior standard treatment failure, including at least targeted therapy for driver gene alterations (patients with EGFR mutations must be previously treated with EGFR inhibitors) and platinum-based chemotherapy;
* At least one measurable lesion as per RECIST 1.1 within 4 weeks prior to randomization;
* Subjects who agree to provide archived tumor tissue specimens that meets the testing requirements (either from the most recent surgery or biopsy, preferably within 2 years) or agree to undergo a biopsy to collect tumor tissue for PD-L1 expression testing;
* The following conditions must be met in terms of the time of the first administration of the investigational product: at least 3 weeks (or 5 half-lives of the drug, whichever is shorter) from the previous major surgery, medical device treatment, locoregional radiotherapy (except for palliative radiotherapy for bone lesions), cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or biological product therapy; at least 2 weeks from the previous hormone therapy or small molecular targeted therapy; at least 1 week from the administration of the traditional Chinese medicine for anti-cancer indications or minor surgery; and recovery of treatment-induced AEs to Grade ≤ 1 (CTCAE v5.0, except for Grade 2 peripheral neurotoxicity and alopecia);
* ECOG PS score of 0-1 within 1 week prior to randomization;
* Life expectancy \> 3 months;
* Adequate organ functions as confirmed by laboratory tests within 1 week prior to randomization (no blood transfusions or treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is allowed within 14 days prior to the first dose)
* Male and female subjects with child-bearing potential must agree to use at least one highly effective contraception method during the study and within at least 6 months after the last dose of the investigational product; female subjects of childbearing age must be negative for pregnancy test within 7 days prior to enrollment.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Histologically or cytologically confirmed tumor containing components of small cell lung cancer, neuroendocrine carcinoma, or sarcomatoid carcinoma;
* Prior treatment with any medication targeting topoisomerase I, including chemotherapy or ADCs;
* Imaging examination during the screening period shows the following evidence: a. Imaging evidence of tumor invasion of large blood vessels, tumor invasion of vital organs, or risk of esophagobronchial fistula ; b. Imaging evidence of tumor encasement of large blood vessels with vascular stenosis, or cavitation or necrosis in a lung lesion, with a risk of hemorrhage if participating in the study as assessed by the investigator;
* Radical radiation therapy within 3 months prior to the first dose;
* History of any second malignancy within 2 years prior to randomization, except for early-stage malignancies (carcinoma in situ or stage I tumors) that have received radical treatment, such as non-melanoma skin cancer, cervical carcinoma in situ, localized prostate cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast, and papillary thyroid carcinoma;
* Occurrence of Grade ≥ 3 immune-related adverse events (irAEs) during prior immunotherapy;
* Presence of uncontrollable pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, or ascites requiring repeated drainage;
* Presence of spinal cord compression or clinically active metastases to central nervous system (referring to untreated or symptomatic metastases, or metastases requiring corticosteroids or anticonvulsants to control associated symptoms), carcinomatous meningitis. Subjects who have previously received treatment for brain metastases (such as whole brain radiotherapy or stereotactic brain radiotherapy) may be eligible, provided that they are clinically stable for at least 4 weeks with no imaging evidence of brain metastasis progression;
* Subjects with current or prior history of clinically significant pulmonary impairment due to pulmonary comorbidities, including but not limited to any underlying lung disease (e.g., pulmonary embolism within 3 months prior to the first dose, severe asthma, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, restrictive lung disease, interstitial pneumonia, pneumoconiosis, drug-related pneumonitis, and pleural effusion within 3 months prior to the first dose), any autoimmune, connective tissue, or inflammatory disease that may involve the lungs (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, sarcoidosis), prior pneumonectomy that may interfere with the detection and management of suspected drug-related pulmonary toxicity, or history of with radiation pneumonitis within 6 months;
* Patients with any poorly-controlled cardiovascular and cerebrovascular clinical symptoms or diseases, including but not limited to: (1) NYHA Class II or greater heart failure or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \< 50%; (2) unstable angina pectoris; (3) myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident within 6 months (except lacunar infarction, slight cerebral ischemia, or transient ischemic attack); (4) poorly controlled arrhythmia (including QTc intervals ≥ 470 ms) (QTc intervals are calculated by Fridericia's formula); (5) poorly-controlled hypertension (systolic blood pressure \> 150 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure \> 100 mmHg after active treatment);
* Patients with active systemic infectious diseases requiring intravenous antibiotics within 2 weeks prior to randomization;
* Patients who have used moderate or potent CYP2D6 or CYP3A inhibitors or inducers within 2 weeks prior to randomization;
* Patients who have received systemic corticosteroids (prednisone \> 10 mg/d or equivalent dose of similar drug) or other immunosuppressants within 2 weeks prior to randomization; Except: patients treated with topical, ocular, intra-articular, intranasal, and inhaled corticosteroids; short-term prophylactic use of corticosteroids for contrast agents, etc.;
* Patients with known active or suspected autoimmune diseases. Patients with autoimmune-related hypothyroidism and receiving thyroid hormone replacement therapy and those with type 1 diabetes mellitus controlled with insulin therapy are eligible to be enrolled;
* Patients who have received live vaccine or live attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks prior to randomization;
* Patients who are known to have anaphylaxis to macromolecular protein preparations/monoclonal antibodies or are allergic to any component in the formulation of the investigational product;
* Patients with active tuberculosis;
* Patients with a history of immunodeficiency, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive or other acquired or congenital immunodeficiencies, or history of organ transplantation;
* Patients with active HBV or HCV infection or HBV/HCV co-infection;
* Pregnant or lactating women;
* Patients who are not suitable for participating in this clinical study due to any clinical or laboratory abnormalities or other reasons as assessed by the investigator.
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100021, China
[email protected] / +86 10-8778820
Status: Recruiting
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
No email / No phone
Status: Not yet recruiting