Zai Lab  today announced the launch of Optune (Tumor Treating Fields or TTFields) in Hong Kong for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) with the treatment of its first patient. Hong Kong is the fourth market after the United States, Europe and Japan to have access to this important new medical technology. Optune is the second product, along with the PARP inhibitor ZEJULA (niraparib) for the treatment of ovarian cancer, commercialized by Zai Lab in an Asian market.

Optune is a cancer therapy that uses electric fields tuned to specific frequencies to disrupt cell division, inhibiting tumor growth and causing affected cancer cells to die. Zai in-licensed the technology from Novocure in September 2018. Novocure markets Optune in the U.S., Europe, Japanand certain other countries for the treatment of GBM and is in advanced clinical development for multiple solid tumor indications. While Optune is not yet approved for commercialization in China, the technology was included and recommended with Level 1 evidence as a treatment for GBM in China'sGlioma Treatment Guideline published in 2016. In December 2018, the national treatment guideline was expanded to include both newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM patients.

Temozolomide (TMZ) is the only therapeutic approved in China for the treatment of newly-diagnosed GBM. Optune will be the second approved therapy.

“Since our initial launch of ZEJULA in Hong Kong we have been building our commercial infrastructure in preparation of launching Optune into that market,” said William Liang, Chief Commercial Officer of Zai Lab. “We have been working with Novocure to incorporate their operational best practices into our commercial procedures. Successfully launching two products in Hong Kongwill also provide us with valuable experience as we prepare to do the same in the larger Chinamarket.”

Dr. Samantha Du, founder and CEO of Zai Lab said, “The launch of Optune in Hong Kong to help GBM patients continues our commercialization momentum that started with the approval and launch of ZEJULA in Hong Kong and the recently-announced China National Medical Product Administration’s acceptance of our NDA submission of niraparib as a Category 1 drug for the maintenance treatment of adults recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal ovarian cancer. 2019 is emerging as a transformational year for the company as we continue our commercial progress in Hong Kong, prepare for commercialization in China and continue to grow and advance our differentiated pipeline.”