Experimental Liver Cancer Drug Begins Human Trial
Adults with advanced liver cancer may one day have a new option, but ACE723 is only at the earliest stage of testing.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Cancer
Acepodia has dosed the first patient in a phase 1 trial of ACE723, an experimental antibody-drug conjugate for unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. The first dosing took place at a clinical trial site in China, and the trial is designed to assess safety and early anti-tumour activity in patients with advanced liver cancer.
Why it matters
HCC accounts for more than 70% of liver cancer cases worldwide, so new treatment candidates for advanced disease matter to a large patient population. The trial is an early step: it tests whether ACE723 can be given safely and at what dose, and whether it shows preliminary signs of tumour response before any broader efficacy claims can be made.
This is a phase 1 first-in-human trial, the earliest stage of clinical testing, so no efficacy results are available yet. The study will measure safety, dose-limiting toxicities, pharmacokinetics and preliminary anti-tumour activity in patients with unresectable or metastatic HCC.
The players
Acepodia
A biotechnology company developing antibody-drug conjugate therapies, including its AD2C platform, with ACE723 as its first candidate to reach the clinic.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The U.S. federal agency responsible for regulating drugs, which granted IND clearance for ACE723 in September 2026.
National Medical Products Administration (NMPA)
China's national drug regulator, which granted IND clearance for ACE723 in September 2026.
Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA)
Taiwan's drug regulator, which granted IND approval for ACE723 in October 2026.
The details
ACE723 is a dual-payload antibody-drug conjugate: a GPC3-targeting antibody carries two cytotoxic payloads that kill tumour cells through different mechanisms. The dual-payload design is intended to address tumour heterogeneity and the resistance that can limit single-payload antibody-drug conjugates. The dose-escalation portion of the trial is meant to define a recommended dose for later-stage development and potential expansion cohorts. ACE723 is the first candidate from Acepodia's AD2C platform to reach the clinic.
Timeline
September 2026: FDA and NMPA grant IND clearance for ACE723.
October 2026: TFDA grants IND approval for ACE723.
November 6, 2026: Acepodia announces the first patient dosed in the ACE723 trial.
Health Landscape
Antibody-drug conjugates with a single cytotoxic payload already have established roles in treating some solid tumours, but resistance limits their durability in many patients. ACE723 tests whether a dual-payload design can extend that approach to liver cancer, where options for advanced HCC remain limited.
This is an early-stage trial, so it does not change current treatment for liver cancer. Anyone with liver cancer or concerns about it should discuss current options and clinical trial eligibility with their oncologist.
The takeaway
ACE723 is at the earliest stage of clinical testing, so its safety and benefit are unknown until results are reported. Anyone interested in trial participation can ask their oncologist about available clinical trials for advanced liver cancer.
Further reading
For broader context on how new drug candidates are tested, see our Cancer coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pharmabiz.
