By Colin Kellaher


BeiGene Ltd. on Friday said China's National Medical Products Administration approved expanded use of the company's tislelizumab anti-PD-1 antibody, in combination with chemotherapy, as a first-line treatment for patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer.

The Beijing biotechnology company said tislelizumab is now approved in nine indications in China.

BeiGene said treatment options have been limited for nasopharyngeal cancer, one of the most common head and neck cancers in China and many parts of Asia, with chemotherapy primarily provided for front-line care.

BeiGene early last year partnered with Novartis AG to accelerate the clinical development and marketing of tislelizumab in North America, Europe and Japan.

BeiGene American depositary shares, which closed Thursday at $150.64, were recently up 6.2% in premarket trading Friday.


Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

06-10-22 0744ET