Rexahn Pharmaceuticals has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Zhejiang Haichang Biotechnology (Haichang), to develop RX-0201 (Archexin) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer.

Under the terms of the agreement, Haichang will develop a nano-liposomal formulation of RX-0201 using its QTsome technology and conduct certain pre-clinical and clinical activities through completion of a Phase IIa proof-of-concept clinical trial for the treatment of HCC.  Any clinical trials conducted by Haichang will be designed to meet both U.S. and Chinese regulatory requirements.  Haichang will fund all research and development activities through completion of the Phase IIa clinical trial.

The parties will share in an agreed ratio downstream licensing fees and royalties paid by third parties in connection with the further development and commercialization of the nano-liposomal formulation of RX-0201 for the treatment of HCC.

“We are delighted to enter into this collaboration to take RX-0201 forward in hepatocellular carcinoma,” said Peter D. Suzdak, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Rexahn. “We are impressed with Haichang’s QTsome technology.  It has the potential to target RX-0201 to the liver and to promote uptake into cancer cells to enhance efficacy.  We are also very pleased to have non-dilutive funding to take the program through Phase IIa proof-of-concept studies.”

In connection with the agreement with Haichang, Rexahn plans to discontinue the internally funded programs of Archexin and will cease enrollment in the current Phase IIa clinical study of Archexin in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Patients currently enrolled in the trial will continue to be followed.