Chi-Med begins Phase III trial of fruquintinib for gastric cancer

Hutchison China MediTech Ltd. (LSE:HCM; NASDAQ:HCM) began the Phase III FRUTIGA trial of fruquintinib (HMPL-013) as second-line treatment of advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer in about 544 patients. Patients will receive paclitaxel plus placebo or once-daily 4 mg fruquintinib for 3 weeks of each 4-week cycle.

The double-blind, Chinese trial's primary endpoint is overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), duration of response, quality of life (QOL) and safety...