RC220 Trial Expansion Raises Questions on Recruitment and Regional Impact
Race Oncology has secured key ethics approvals to launch its Phase 1 RC220 trial at two major Hong Kong hospitals, marking a strategic expansion beyond Australia to accelerate patient recruitment and explore cardioprotective benefits.
- Human Research Ethics Committee approvals granted for Prince of Wales and Queen Mary Hospitals
- Trial to assess safety and pharmacokinetics of RC220 combined with doxorubicin in solid tumour patients
- Pending final Department of Health approval and site activations for patient enrolment
- Expansion aims to gather clinical data in East Asian populations and speed recruitment
- Previous approvals secured for Australian sites; further sites expected in South Korea
Race Oncology Advances RC220 Clinical Trial into Hong Kong
Race Oncology Limited has taken a significant step forward in its Phase 1 clinical trial of RC220, a reformulated cancer drug designed to enhance the efficacy of doxorubicin while potentially protecting patients from its well-known cardiotoxic effects. The company announced that Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) approvals have been granted for two prominent Hong Kong hospitals – Prince of Wales Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital.
This regulatory milestone allows these hospitals to begin enrolling patients, subject to final approval from the Hong Kong Department of Health and subsequent site activations expected between late July and mid-August 2025. The trial, known as RAC-010, focuses on evaluating the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of RC220 alone and in combination with doxorubicin in patients with solid tumours.
Strategic Expansion to Accelerate Recruitment and Regional Data
The decision to open trial sites in Hong Kong reflects multiple strategic considerations. Notably, the involvement of highly experienced principal investigators Dr Herbert Loong and Dr Roland Ching-Yu Leung underscores the clinical community’s recognition of the urgent need to address anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Both investigators expressed enthusiasm about the potential of RC220 to offer cardiac protection while enhancing anticancer activity.
Expanding the trial to Hong Kong also aims to accelerate patient recruitment, a critical factor in gathering timely human data to support RC220’s development. Moreover, conducting the trial in a region with distinct clinical practices and patient demographics provides valuable insights into the drug’s safety and efficacy in the commercially important East Asian market, which boasts a robust healthcare infrastructure and regulatory environment aligned with international standards.
Building on Momentum from Australian and Upcoming Asian Sites
This announcement follows earlier HREC approvals for Australian sites including the Southside Cancer Centre in Miranda and Gosford and Wyong Hospitals. Race Oncology anticipates securing additional approvals for up to four trial sites in South Korea in the coming months, further broadening the geographic scope of the study.
Race’s Vice President of Medical, Dr Simon Fisher, highlighted the collaborative spirit driving the trial’s progress and the importance of these approvals in advancing RC220’s clinical evaluation. The company’s broader mission remains focused on addressing unmet needs in oncology by developing therapies that not only improve cancer outcomes but also mitigate treatment-related toxicities.
As the trial progresses, the oncology community will be watching closely for emerging data on RC220’s potential to redefine the therapeutic landscape for patients undergoing anthracycline chemotherapy.
Bottom Line?
Race Oncology’s expansion into Hong Kong signals a pivotal phase in RC220’s development, with regional data and accelerated recruitment poised to shape its clinical future.
Questions in the middle?
- When will the Prince of Wales Hospital receive final Department of Health approval and activate its site?
- How quickly can patient recruitment ramp up across the new Hong Kong and upcoming South Korean sites?
- What early safety and efficacy signals will emerge from diverse patient populations in Asia?
