Li Ka-shing’s CK Life unit eyes China fast track for cancer vaccine pipeline

In China, investigator-initiated trials allow drug makers to generate human clinical data “faster” than the conventional regulatory process.

Photo: Shutterstock CK Life Sciences, a unit of Li Ka-shing-backed CK Group, plans to bring its cancer vaccine candidates to mainland China through a “fast track” channel as Beijing moves to accelerate early-stage drug development. “We are planning to run investigator-initiated trials [IITs], hopefully, in the next year,” CK Life Sciences’ vice-president and chief scientific officer Dr Melvin Toh Kean-meng said in a recent interview.

His comments came as CK Life Sciences set up Sequencio Therapeutics in Hong Kong as a subsidiary on March 10 to advance its cancer vaccine pipeline.

Sequencio has about 20 preclinical vaccine projects targeting different cancers, with its two most advanced candidates expected to enter the clinical trials by late 2027 or early 2028.

In China, IITs allowed drug makers to generate human clinical data “faster” than the conventional regulatory process, which typically took one and a half to two years before a single patient could be dosed, Toh said. “The earlier you get in and the faster your drug is approved, the faster you can generate revenue,” he said. “First to market always has an advantage.” Melvin Toh Kean-meng, vice-president and chief scientific officer of CK Life Sciences.

Photo: Dickson Lee Unlike cancer drugs that targeted tumour growth or cell survival, Sequencio’s vaccines aimed to “stimulate” a patient’s immune system to fight existing cancers or prevent recurrence, Toh said.

Patients with cancers that carry a high risk of relapse, such as breast and colorectal cancer – both of which Sequencio is targeting in preclinical studies – could benefit. “If these patients are treated with a vaccine, we hope they could potentially delay or prevent recurrence,” he added.

Sequencio is seeking future funding across Hong Kong, mainland China, the US and Europe.

It is currently conducting preclinical studies in mice and plans to begin clinical trials in Hong Kong and other Greater Bay Area cities, the US and possibly in Australia to collect patient data from diverse populations.

Parent company CK Life Sciences, which reported a net loss of HK$186.8 million in 2025, has been increasing research and development spending as it bets on cancer vaccines as a growth driver.

IITs had become popular among drug makers developing cell and gene therapies in China, as the pathway allowed them t

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