Clinical study for precision T cell receptor immunotherapy receives approval in Singapore

Singapore-based biotech company, Lion TCR, has received approval from the Health Services Authority (HSA) of Singapore for its Phase I/II multicentre clinical study of its T cell engineered immunotherapy for the treatment of liver cancer.

This approval marks the first for such a trial in Singapore and the region where a precision T cell receptor (TCR) immune cell therapy is used to target hepatitis B-related liver cancer.

LioCyx, the company’s product candidate, has shown results of good safety profile and encouraging signs of efficacy in China and Singapore so far.

“We are very delighted with the approval of Phase I/II clinical trial of our LioCyx, the first engineered TCR-T cell therapy for treatment of liver cancer in Singapore,” stated Dr Victor Li Lietao, founder and CEO of Lion TCR. “It is an utmost encouragement on the recognition of innovative therapy for patients in need. Singapore HSA has been very efficient, transparent and professional in reviewing our application for the clinical trial of this innovative immunotherapy.”

Patient recruitment is set to begin in the National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore and the company is hoping to include more medical centres across Singapore and China.