China-made marine-derived antitumor drug to begin combination therapy trials soon

BG136, a Class 1 innovative marine-derived antitumor drug developed in China, is expected to begin combination therapy clinical trials soon, researchers said recently.

The drug has completed its Phase II monotherapy clinical trial, and preparations are now underway for combination therapy trials, Du Changyu, an executive at Conson Pharmaceutical, a marine pharmaceutical manufacturer, said.

The BG136 was jointly developed by Conson Pharmaceutical, Ocean University of China and Marine Biomedical Research Institute of Qingdao.

After multiple rounds of research and validation, the BG136 has demonstrated significant tumor-growth inhibition and anti-metastatic effects in the treatment of solid tumors, including lung cancer, esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer and melanoma, Du said.

According to Du, the drug's core raw material is derived from polysaccharides extracted from brown algae sourced from Chilean waters.

To secure high-quality raw materials, the company sent a team to Chile, where researchers collected hundreds of seaweed species across a 4,000-kilometer maritime area. Through rigorous component analysis and screening, the team selected premium raw materials and established a comprehensive three-dimensional quality model.

This process helped raise the qualification rate of raw materials from 30 percent to 92 percent, laying a solid foundation for the drug's safety and stability, Du said.

"Our goal is to make BG136 a safe, high-quality and highly effective marine-derived drug, bringing new hope to patients," he added.