Inclusion Criteria:

- Ability to take oral drugs

- Diagnosis of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) according to the American
Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) guidelines

- HCC stage B or C according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC)

- No previous systemic therapy for HCC (tamoxifen is allowed as previous systemic
therapy)

- Measurable disease according to RECIST, i.e. at least one measurable lesion; this
lesion should not have been previously treated with local therapy; a treated lesion
may be used where these lesions are the only lesions available for evaluation and
have shown definite progression since their last local treatment; local therapy must
have been completed at least four weeks prior to baseline evaluation

- Patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or
1

- Cirrhotic status of current Child-Pugh class A only (5-6 points) with no
encephalopathy and no ascites (ascites controlled by diuretics is also excluded in
this study); Child-Pugh status should be calculated based on clinical findings and
laboratory results during the screening period

- For patients with positive HBV-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and/or positive of
hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) results, they must be treated with anti-virals,
as prophylaxis at least 1-2 weeks prior to receiving study drug, cycle 1, day 1

- Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1.5 x 10^9/L

- Platelets >= 100000 x 10^6/L

- Hemoglobin (Hgb) >= 9 g/dL

- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =< 5 x upper
limit of normal (ULN)

- Serum creatinine =< 1.5 x ULN

- Total bilirubin =< 3.0 mg/dL

- Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent and to be
able to follow the visit schedule

- Life expectancy of approximately 6 months

- The effects of KD018 and sorafenib on the developing fetus are unknown. For this
reason, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate
contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control or abstinence) prior to
study entry and for three months following duration of study participation. Should a
woman become pregnant, or suspect that she is pregnant while participating on the
trial, she should inform her treating physician immediately

- All subjects must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a
written informed consent

- No previous systemic therapy for HCC is permitted, however, tamoxifen is allowed as
previous systemic therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients currently receiving any anti-cancer therapy or who have received any local
anti-cancer therapy =< 4 weeks prior to baseline computed tomography (CT)/magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) scan, prior to cycle 1 treatment

- Active bleeding during the last 30 days prior to cycle 1 treatment including variceal
bleeding (esophageal varices should be treated according to standard practice e.g.
ligation/banding and procedure completed 30 days prior to cycle 1 treatment

- Patients with a known hypersensitivity to KD018 or known hypersensitivity to
sorafenib or contraindications to sorafenib based on the local sorafenib label

- Known previous/current malignancy requiring treatment within =< 3 years except for
cervical carcinoma in situ, basal cell carcinoma, and superficial bladder carcinoma

- Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity (HIV testing is
not mandatory)

- Unstable angina pectoris, symptomatic congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction
=< 6 months prior to course 1 treatment, serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia,
uncontrolled hypertension

- Previous transient ischemic attack (TIA), cerebral vascular accident (CVA),
symptomatic posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) within last 6 months of cycle 1
treatment

- Congenital long QT syndrome

- Patients with active alcohol intake

- Uncontrolled diabetes as defined by glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) > 8%

- Greater or equal grade 3 hypercholesterolemia/hypertriglyceridemia or >= grade 2
hypercholesterolemia/hypertriglyceridemia with history of coronary artery disease
(despite lipid-lowering treatment if given)

- Acute and chronic, active infectious disorders and nonmalignant medical illnesses
that are uncontrolled or whose control may be jeopardized by the complications of
this study therapy, in the opinion of the investigator, except chronic HBV or HCV

- Impairment of gastrointestinal function or who have gastrointestinal disease that may
significantly alter the absorption of study drug (e.g., ulcerative disease,
uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome)

- Significant deterioration of lung function, defined as any of the following:

- 30% decrease in predicted lung volumes, and/or 30% decrease in diffusion
capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), and/or =< 88% oxygen (O2)
saturation at rest on room air

- Patients receiving chronic treatment with corticosteroids (except for intermittent
topical or local injection or aldosterone) or another immunosuppressive agent

- Patients treated with drugs known to be strong inhibitors or inducers of isoenzyme
cytochrome P450 3A unless the drugs are medically necessary and no substitutes are
available

- Patients who have undergone major surgery =< 2 weeks prior to starting study drug or
who have not recovered from surgery

- Patients who have received an investigative drug or therapy within the last 30 days
prior to cycle 1 treatment

- Pregnant and/or breastfeeding women