CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the administration of the first dose of FOLOTYN® (Pralatrexate Injection) to a patient in China. This remarks a pivotal step in CASI's commitment to addressing critical medical needs in peripheral T-cell lymphoma in China market. FOLOTYN® (Pralatrexate) is a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma ("PTCL").

Compared with methotrexate, pralatrexate could be more effectively internalized into tumor cells which may translate to a greater anti-cancer effect. Clinical studies have demonstrated that pralatrexate has significant activity against PTCL1. With the results of an overall response rate ("ORR") of 52% and a median progression-free survival ("PFS") of 4.8 months from the Chinese registrational study2, in comparison to an ORR of 29% and a median PFS of 3.5 months from the PROPEL study3 in the US.

Pralatrexate was approved in the United States, Japan and China as treatment for PTCL. Pralatrexate is a promising treatment option for Chinese patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL.