KeChow Pharma

About KeChow Pharma

KeChow Pharma, Inc. operates as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm, directing its efforts towards the research and commercialization of small molecule therapeutics for oncology. Established in 2014 by Dr. Hongqi Tian, the company is headquartered in Shanghai's Zhangjiang Pharmaceutical Valley. Dr. Tian, who serves as Chairman and CEO, brings over two decades of experience in new drug development, including a tenure at Array Biopharmaceuticals Inc. in the U.S. where he guided four new compounds into clinical studies. His expertise underpins the company's focus on developing novel drugs with independent intellectual property rights.

The company's business model centers on the discovery, clinical development, and eventual sales of its proprietary drug candidates. KeChow's revenue generation is anticipated through drug sales and strategic partnerships. A significant milestone was the March 2024 approval by China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its first in-house developed drug, Tunlametinib (also known as HL-085 and marketed as Kolupin®), for the treatment of patients with NRAS-mutated advanced melanoma. This approval marks the company's transition to a commercial-stage entity. KeChow also engages in collaborations to expand market access, such as its 2021 agreement with Roche to promote the cancer drug Zelboraf® in China and a 2024 partnership with Sinopharm to enhance product accessibility.

KeChow's lead product, Tunlametinib, is a selective, orally administered dual inhibitor of MEK1 and MEK2, crucial components of the MAPK signaling pathway often implicated in cancer cell growth. It is the first targeted therapy approved in China for patients with NRAS-mutated advanced melanoma previously treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Clinical trial data for Tunlametinib demonstrated a 35.8% overall response rate and a 4.2-month median progression-free survival. Beyond Tunlametinib, the company's pipeline includes HL-003, a chemoprotective agent designed to mitigate side effects of radiotherapy, which entered Phase I clinical trials in late 2022. The company has a portfolio of other drug candidates in various stages of development, including KRASG12C and pan-RAF inhibitors. KeChow has secured international patents and has raised significant capital to fund its research, including a $45 million Series C round in 2019.