SHANGHAI, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hope Medicine Inc., a science-driven, clinical-stage innovative biopharmaceutical company, announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase III clinical trial of HMI-115, its first-in-class monoclonal antibody with global rights, for the treatment of endometriosis. The dosing took place at the leading study site in China, Peking Union Medical College Hospital. This Phase III trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to confirm the safety and efficacy of HMI-115 in treating moderate-to-severe pain associated with endometriosis, with a treatment period of 24 weeks. HMI-115 is currently the first and only non-hormonal therapy globally to have entered Phase III clinical development.
Previously, HMI-115 was granted Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pain associated with endometriosis. Additionally, HMI-115 was granted the Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). These recognitions from global regulatory authorities were primarily based on the results from a previously completed global multicenter Phase II clinical trial for HMI-115 in endometriosis, which demonstrated that HMI-115 achieved statistically significant improvement in moderate-to-severe pain associated with endometriosis, with no significant impact on key female hormones and no menopausal side effects. These findings have been published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health. Furthermore, Hope Medicine was nominated as "Best Startup" for the prestigious Prix Galien Award.
Regarding this significant clinical milestone, Professor Xiao Ruiping, Founder of Hope Medicine, stated:
"The initiation of the Phase III clinical trial for HMI-115 in endometriosis, marks a milestone achievement in our clinical development. Peking Union Medical College Hospital, as the leading site, is at the forefront of this Phase III study. Hope Medicine remains unwavering in its original commitment to bringing truly differentiated first-in-class medicines to patients worldwide."
Mr. Chen Xi, Chief Executive Officer of Hope Medicine, also commented:
"The launch of the Phase III trial signifies that the global development of HMI-115 for endometriosis has entered its final stage. Women's health is a key focus area for Hope Medicine, and we will drive this trial with the best speed and quality to bring this innovative treatment to patients as soon as possible."
About Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease characterized by the implantation of endometrial cells outside the uterine cavity, typically presenting as a chronic inflammatory response. The endometrium is the mucosal tissue lining the uterine cavity, which undergoes hormone-dependent changes during the menstrual cycle. Endometriosis is common in women of reproductive age, with symptoms including lower abdominal and pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, painful intercourse, and infertility. Comprehensive literature reports indicate that approximately 10% of women of reproductive age globally are affected by endometriosis, about 190 million women worldwide; 20%-50% of women with infertility have endometriosis, and 71%-87% of women with chronic pelvic pain have endometriosis. Endometriosis is one of the leading causes of dysmenorrhea, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain. The disease often leads to decreased quality of life, affecting patients' sexual health, psychological well-being, and social behavior. Globally, the disease represents a potential market size of approximately US$200 billion (according to McKinsey report), with significant unmet medical needs.
About Hope Medicine
Hope Medicine Inc. is a science-driven clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with research laboratories and offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, China. HopeMed is established on the in-depth expertise in translational medicine and decades of research of Professor Rui-Ping Xiao's laboratory at the Institute of Molecular Medicine of Peking University. Based on excellent scientific research and to improve the quality of life, HopeMed is committed to the research, development, and commercialization of first-in-class medicines for common and major diseases that threaten human health.
Forward-Looking Statements
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Hope Medicine Announces First Patient Dosed in the Phase III Clinical Trial for Endometriosis
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GUANGZHOU, China, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- "To understand Chinese basketball, one must look to Guangdong." This saying has long circulated widely within China's basketball community. On March 21, the inaugural 2026 Guangdong Provincial City Basketball Association (Guangdong B.A.) tipped off at the Tianhe Sports Center Gymnasium in Guangzhou, where the Zhongshan team defeated the Guangzhou team to claim the opening win. Off the court, fans rushed to secure tickets the moment they were released, underscoring the enduring passion Guangdong locals have for the sport.
Historical records show that as early as the late Qing dynasty (1644–1912), female university students in Guangdong were already playing basketball. During the Republic of China era (1912–1949), schools such as Pui Ching and Pui Ying in Guangzhou became key drivers of the sport's development. From games on dirt courts to the Guangdong Tigers team—the CBA's eleven-time champions—and now to the Guangdong B.A., the province's basketball journey has produced countless defining moments, gradually embedding itself in both urban and rural life as part of Guangdong's shared memory and cultural identity. Ma Shuo, deputy director of the Institute of Cultural Industries at the Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences, noted: "The Guangdong B.A. is not a flash-in-the-pan, traffic-driven event. It is a new IP that has grown organically from Guangdong's long-standing sporting traditions, broad grassroots base, and strong sense of urban identity."
In the early 20th century, shortly after basketball was introduced to Guangdong, it spread rapidly across both cities and the countryside. Shaxi Town in Zhongshan won the national "Village B.A." championship in both 2023 and 2024. Guangzhou also nurtured Li Shaofen, one of the first generation of women's national basketball players in New China, who helped Guangdong secure the women's title at the inaugural National Games. Her chance connection with Academician Zhong Nanshan at the Games has since become a well-known story in sports circles. In Dongguan, the country's first privately run professional basketball club, Guangdong Hongyuan, was established, along with the first township-level arena built to CBA standards. At the inaugural National "Harvest Cup" Farmers' Basketball Tournament in 1984, the Changping men's team from Dongguan and the Jun'an women's team from Shunde swept the men's and women's titles, offering many spectators a vivid glimpse of the spirit and vitality of people in regions at the forefront of reform and opening-up through these grassroots players.
This edition of the Guangdong B.A. explicitly bars professional players, giving "slipper-court kings" and "grassroots stars" from across the province a chance to take center stage—one of the tournament's key draws. According to Du Feng, president of the Guangdong Basketball Association, participants range in age from 16 to 40.
Ma Shuo noted, "A sporting event can become a city's reception hall, a new engine for consumption, and a window for cultural display, with diverse traditions—from Cantonese, Teochew, Hakka, and hometowns of overseas Chinese—naturally woven into the event." This approach allows "watching a game" to extend naturally into "exploring a city."
The Guangdong B.A. will feature 125 games and run through August. The Guangdong Football Super League will kick off in late April, with 123 matches scheduled on weekends through around October. During both competitions, Guangdong plans to roll out dining vouchers and host "Guangdong Products for the World" promotional events, aiming to ignite both the vibrancy of city life and the excitement of the arenas.
GUANGZHOU, China, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- "To understand Chinese basketball, one must look to Guangdong." This saying has long circulated widely within China's basketball community. On March 21, the inaugural 2026 Guangdong Provincial City Basketball Association (Guangdong B.A.) tipped off at the Tianhe Sports Center Gymnasium in Guangzhou, where the Zhongshan team defeated the Guangzhou team to claim the opening win. Off the court, fans rushed to secure tickets the moment they were released, underscoring the enduring passion Guangdong locals have for the sport.
Historical records show that as early as the late Qing dynasty (1644–1912), female university students in Guangdong were already playing basketball. During the Republic of China era (1912–1949), schools such as Pui Ching and Pui Ying in Guangzhou became key drivers of the sport's development. From games on dirt courts to the Guangdong Tigers team—the CBA's eleven-time champions—and now to the Guangdong B.A., the province's basketball journey has produced countless defining moments, gradually embedding itself in both urban and rural life as part of Guangdong's shared memory and cultural identity. Ma Shuo, deputy director of the Institute of Cultural Industries at the Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences, noted: "The Guangdong B.A. is not a flash-in-the-pan, traffic-driven event. It is a new IP that has grown organically from Guangdong's long-standing sporting traditions, broad grassroots base, and strong sense of urban identity."
In the early 20th century, shortly after basketball was introduced to Guangdong, it spread rapidly across both cities and the countryside. Shaxi Town in Zhongshan won the national "Village B.A." championship in both 2023 and 2024. Guangzhou also nurtured Li Shaofen, one of the first generation of women's national basketball players in New China, who helped Guangdong secure the women's title at the inaugural National Games. Her chance connection with Academician Zhong Nanshan at the Games has since become a well-known story in sports circles. In Dongguan, the country's first privately run professional basketball club, Guangdong Hongyuan, was established, along with the first township-level arena built to CBA standards. At the inaugural National "Harvest Cup" Farmers' Basketball Tournament in 1984, the Changping men's team from Dongguan and the Jun'an women's team from Shunde swept the men's and women's titles, offering many spectators a vivid glimpse of the spirit and vitality of people in regions at the forefront of reform and opening-up through these grassroots players.
This edition of the Guangdong B.A. explicitly bars professional players, giving "slipper-court kings" and "grassroots stars" from across the province a chance to take center stage—one of the tournament's key draws. According to Du Feng, president of the Guangdong Basketball Association, participants range in age from 16 to 40.
Ma Shuo noted, "A sporting event can become a city's reception hall, a new engine for consumption, and a window for cultural display, with diverse traditions—from Cantonese, Teochew, Hakka, and hometowns of overseas Chinese—naturally woven into the event." This approach allows "watching a game" to extend naturally into "exploring a city."
The Guangdong B.A. will feature 125 games and run through August. The Guangdong Football Super League will kick off in late April, with 123 matches scheduled on weekends through around October. During both competitions, Guangdong plans to roll out dining vouchers and host "Guangdong Products for the World" promotional events, aiming to ignite both the vibrancy of city life and the excitement of the arenas.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
The "Stories of Guangdong" on and off the Court at the Guangdong Basketball Association
