Tempest Receives Clearance to Proceed with Pivotal Trial of Amezalpat Combination Therapy for First-Line HCC in China

Core Insights - Tempest Therapeutics has received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China to initiate a pivotal trial for amezalpat (TPST-1120) in combination with atezolizumab and bevacizumab for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [1][2][3] Company Overview - Tempest Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing targeted and immune-mediated therapeutics for cancer treatment [8] - The company is headquartered in Brisbane, California, and has a diverse portfolio of small molecule product candidates [8] Drug Development - Amezalpat is an oral, small molecule, selective PPAR⍺ antagonist that shows promise in treating cancer by targeting tumor cells and modulating the tumor microenvironment [7] - The planned Phase 3 study will be a global, blinded, 1:1 randomized trial comparing amezalpat plus atezolizumab and bevacizumab against a placebo combination for first-line treatment of HCC [3] - The company has received agreement from both the FDA and EMA on the study design and statistical plan for the Phase 3 trial [3] Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Insights - HCC is an aggressive cancer with over 900,000 new diagnoses globally each year, and it is projected to become the third leading cause of cancer death by 2030 [4] - The highest incidence and mortality rates of HCC are found in East Asia, with increasing rates in Europe and the US [4] - Chronic liver diseases, including hepatitis B and C, NAFLD, NASH, and cirrhosis, account for 90% of HCC cases [5] Clinical Trial Context - The ongoing global randomized Phase 1b/2 study of amezalpat in combination with atezolizumab and bevacizumab has shown clinical superiority in overall survival compared to the standard of care [7] - Early-stage HCC patients face a 70-80% recurrence rate post-surgery, which is associated with poorer prognosis [6]