ArQule expands drug candidate into HCC

USA-based ArQule and Japan's Daiichi Sankyo have expanded the clinical development of ARQ 197, an orally-administered, small-molecule inhibitor  of the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase, with a new target indication,  hepatocellular carcinoma.

"Following the recent completion of a strategic review of clinical  targets and commercial pathways, as well as discussions with key opinion  leaders and our partner, Daiichi Sankyo, we have added HCC as the fourth  indication in our clinical trial program for ARQ 197," said Brian  Schwartz, chief medical officer of ArQule. "We have dosed the first HCC  patient in a pilot safety study with ARQ 197 as monotherapy. Pending its  successful completion, we will move into a Phase II, single-agent trial  and also explore a Phase I/II combination therapy trial program with  sorafenib," he added.