Promising Results for New Cancer Therapy Combo in Lung Cancer Treatment

Introduction

The latest findings from a Phase 2 clinical trial have shown promising results for a new treatment combining acasunlimab and pembrolizumab for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) who have previously undergone other treatments. The trial results were announced at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

Study Overview

The Phase 2 trial involved 113 patients with PD-L1-positive mNSCLC who had shown disease progression after receiving at least one previous treatment. The study had three arms, with one group receiving acasunlimab alone and the other two groups receiving a combination of acasunlimab and pembrolizumab, either every three weeks or every six weeks.

Key Findings

The combination treatment administered every six weeks showed particularly encouraging results, with a 12-month overall survival rate of 69% and a median overall survival of 17.5 months. Moreover, a 30% overall response rate was observed, with 17% of these responses being confirmed.

In contrast, the group receiving acasunlimab alone had a median overall survival of 5.5 months, and those receiving the combination every three weeks had a median overall survival of 8.6 months.

Adverse Events

The adverse events observed in the trial were consistent with the known safety profiles of acasunlimab and pembrolizumab. The most common adverse events included fatigue, liver-related issues, and diarrhea. The combination treatment every six weeks resulted in fewer severe adverse events compared to the other treatment regimens.

Implications for Treatment

The positive results of this study suggest that the combination of acasunlimab and pembrolizumab could offer a new therapeutic option for mNSCLC patients who have limited choices following initial treatments. This combination therapy may help enhance survival rates and offer better disease control.

Future Directions

Based on these encouraging results, further studies are planned, including a Phase 3 trial, to confirm these findings and evaluate the long-term benefits and safety of the combination therapy.

About Acasunlimab

Acasunlimab is a bispecific antibody that combines two targets, PD-L1 and 4-1BB, aiming to activate immune cells to fight cancer more effectively. It is being developed collaboratively by Genmab and BioNTech.

About Pembrolizumab

Pembrolizumab is an established immunotherapy drug that works by blocking PD-1, a protein on immune cells, thereby enhancing the body's immune response against cancer cells. It has been used in various cancers, including lung cancer.

Understanding mNSCLC

Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, representing about 85% of cases. At advanced stages, treatment options become limited, making innovative therapies like the acasunlimab-pembrolizumab combination crucial for patient outcomes.

Conclusion

The Phase 2 trial's findings are an essential step towards new, effective treatment strategies for mNSCLC, offering hope to patients who have exhausted other options.