# Alebund Pharmaceuticals Announces First Participant Randomized and Dosed in Global Phase IIb Multi-Regional Clinical Trial of AP306 for Hyperphosphatemia

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/alebund-pharmaceuticals-announces-first-participant-randomized-and-dosed-in-global-phase-iib-multi-regional-clinical-trial-of-ap306-for-hyperphosphatemia
- Published: 2026-07-21T18:00:00+07:00
- Author: PR Newswire

SHANGHAI, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Alebund Pharmaceuticals (Jiangsu) Limited("
Alebund" or the "Company"; HKEX: 09637), a renal-focused biopharmaceutical company,
today announced that the first participant has been randomized and dosed in the 
global Phase IIb multi-regional clinical trial of AP306 in patients with hyperphosphatemia
receiving maintenance hemodialysis (NCT06712654). The trial is being conducted at
multiple clinical sites in the United States and China and is co-sponsored by Alebund
and R1 Therapeutics, Inc. ("R1").

AP306 (formerly known as EOS789) is a first-in-class oral pan-phosphate transporter
inhibitor. AP306 was originally discovered and developed by Chugai Pharmaceutical
Co., Ltd. ("Chugai") and was subsequently licensed to the Company, which has obtained
the global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize AP306. Unlike conventional
phosphate binders that bind phosphate in the gut lumen, AP306 broadly inhibits three
key intestinal phosphate transporters — NaPi-IIb, PiT-1 and PiT-2 — to reduce active
intestinal phosphate transport, offering a differentiated approach to the management
of hyperphosphatemia. The randomization and dosing of the first participant marks
a new stage in the multicenter clinical execution of AP306’s global development 
program in the United States and China.

**Trial Design**

The Phase IIb trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
study that plans to enroll approximately 168 participants with hyperphosphatemia
receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Participants will be randomized across six fixed-
dose AP306 regimens or placebo over an eight-week treatment period. The study is
designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and serum phosphate-lowering effect
of fixed-dose AP306.

The primary endpoint is the change in serum phosphate from baseline to the end of
treatment. Secondary endpoints include the proportion of participants reaching the
target phosphate range and the time to phosphate control. Topline results are expected
in the first half of 2027.

The trial has obtained approval from the Human Genetic Resources Administration 
of China (HGRAC). Peking University People’s Hospital, the China leading site, was
recently activated, and participant enrollment is in progress.

**Unmet Medical Need**

Hyperphosphatemia is a common and important complication in patients with chronic
kidney disease (CKD) receiving dialysis, affecting approximately 95% of dialysis-
dependent CKD patients. Persistently elevated serum phosphate is associated with
vascular calcification, secondary hyperparathyroidism, renal osteodystrophy, and
increased risks of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. [1-3] Regular 
dialysis and dietary phosphate restriction are often insufficient to control phosphate
burden, meaning patients frequently require long-term pharmacological treatment.
Even with the widespread use of phosphate binders, approximately 76% of dialysis
patients in China still fail to achieve the target serum phosphate range of 3.5–
5.5 mg/dL, which is significantly higher than that in the U.S. (approx. 52%) and
Japan (approx. 39%). [4-5] The number of dialysis patients in China is expected 
to grow from approximately 1.3 million in 2025 to about 3.4 million by 2035 (a CAGR
of approx. 10.1%),  [6] representing a continuously expanding unmet medical need.
Existing therapies still face challenges such as gastrointestinal tolerability, 
pill burden, and long-term adherence. Innovative treatment options that balance 
efficacy, tolerability, and convenience remain to be further developed.

**Prior Phase II Study of AP306 in China**

In a completed Phase II clinical trial in China (NCT05764590), AP306 monotherapy
demonstrated a mean serum phosphate reduction from baseline of 2.51 mg/dL, compared
with 1.08 mg/dL for the active comparator sevelamer carbonate. At Weeks 7 to 8, 
nearly 95% of patients in the AP306 group had serum phosphate levels below 5.5 mg/
dL, compared with approximately 50% in the sevelamer carbonate group in the trial.

The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal disorders, mainly diarrhea;
all diarrhea events were Grade 1 or 2 and mostly resolved within two weeks. No serious
adverse event was reported in the AP306 group, and the discontinuation rate due 
to adverse events was below 5%. Results were published in _Kidney International 
Reports_. [7]

Based on AP306’s innovative mechanism and clinical results, the National Medical
Products Administration granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to AP306 for the
treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease in June 2024.

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**References**

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[1] KDIGO 2017 Clinical Practice Guideline Update. _Kidney Int Suppl._ 2017;7(1):1–59.
[2] Block GA, et al. _J Am Soc Nephrol._ 2004;15(8):2208–2218.[3] Tentori F, et al. _Am J Kidney Dis._ 2008;52(3):519–530.[4] CIC, _Global and Chinese Hyperphosphatemia Drug Industry Blue Book_, 2023.[5] Guedes M, et al. _Kidney Med._ 2023;5(2):100584. doi:10.1016/j.xkme.2022.100584.[6] Prospectus of Alebund Pharmaceuticals (Jiangsu) Limited dated June 18, 2026[7] Wang L, et al. _Kidney Int Rep._ 2025;10(4):1143–1151. doi:10.1016/j.ekir.2025.01.038. PMID: 40303220.

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**Collaboration with R1**

R1 is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing first-in-
class therapies for patients with kidney disease. In December 2025, Alebund and 
R1 entered into licensing and equity arrangements. Under the collaboration and license
agreement forming part of these arrangements, Alebund granted R1 an exclusive license
to develop, manufacture and commercialize AP306 outside Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong,
Macau and Taiwan, while retaining full rights and control in those four markets.
The parties are co-sponsors of the Phase IIb trial. Each party is responsible for
clinical trial execution and regulatory submissions in its respective territory 
and provides the other party with relevant data and support required for regulatory
purposes.

**About Alebund Pharmaceuticals**

Alebund Pharmaceuticals (09637.HK) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on kidney
disease and related chronic conditions, aiming to bring better therapies to patients
worldwide. It has one of the broadest renal-focused pipelines and an integrated 
platform spanning R&D, manufacturing and commercialization. Its portfolio comprises
seven investigational drug candidates and one commercialized product, Mircera®. 
Three of the candidates are at the clinical stage: AP301 (Phase III; China registrational
Phase III trial completed, global MRCT ongoing), AP306 (Phase II) and AP303 (Phase
I). Together they address chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its complications, including
hyperphosphatemia, renal anemia, IgA nephropathy, diabetic kidney disease, FSGS 
and ADPKD. Alebund has built a manufacturing site in Yangzhou, Jiangsu to support
the future commercial manufacturing of AP301 and other pipeline products and has
obtained a Drug Manufacturing License (Category B) issued by the Jiangsu Provincial
Drug Administration. The Company has also established a dedicated nephrology sales
team responsible for the commercialization of relevant products in China. For more
information, visit [www.alebund.com](https://www.alebund.com/).

**Media and Investor Inquiries**

Media and Investor Relations: [IR@alebund.com](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/IR@alebund.com)

Website: [www.alebund.com](https://www.alebund.com/)

**Forward-Looking Statements**

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited
to, statements regarding clinical development plans, expected timing of data, product
potential and future development. These statements are based on the Company’s judgments
and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to various 
risks and uncertainties; actual results may differ materially from such forward-
looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities.

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