Benzinga | Sep 18, 2020 05:52AM EDT

Agenus Presented Results from Two Large Cervical Cancer Trials at ESMO

Agenus Inc. (NASDAQ:AGEN) today presented preliminary results from two large clinical trials of more than 150 patients each at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Virtual Congress 2020. Both trials were conducted in patients with recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer which has limited effective treatment options and disproportionately affects younger women.

"Balstilimab has shown activity in both PD-L1 positive and negative tumors, suggesting that we may have a potentially differentiated PD-1," said Dr. Garo Armen, Chairman and CEO of Agenus. "Furthermore, we have also shown important expansion in response rates, to near doubling in PD-L1 positive patients, and durability of response when patients receive zalifrelimab in combination with balstilimab."

The presentation was made by Dr. David O'Malley, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and the Director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC James). Dr. O'Malley is the lead investigator of the trials presented.

"These trials represent the largest trials of immuno-oncology therapies in relapsed cervical cancer to date and show that balstilimab and zalifrelimab may present meaningful new therapies for patients with cervical cancer," said Dr. O'Malley. "Advances in these agents offer renewed hope for patients who have limited treatment options."

Summary of Data Presented at ESMO2020

AGEN PD-1

Balstilimab

n=160* AGEN PD-1 + CTLA-4

Balstilimab + Zalifrelimab

n=143*

Response rates (ORR)

PD-L1(+)

PD-L1(-)

14%

19%

10%

22%

27%

11%

ORR by tumor histology

Squamous cell carcinoma

18%

27%

Median duration of response (months)

15.4 months

Not Reached* mITT population; data cut-off: July 31, 2020

Agenus Presentation at ESMO Virtual Congress 2020:

Balstilimab (anti-PD-1) Alone and in Combination with Zalifrelimab (anti-CTLA-4) for Recurrent/Metastatic (R/M) Cervical Cancer (CC). Preliminary Results of Two Independent Ph2 Trials

Author: O'Malley

Session: Mini Oral - Gynecological cancers 2

Session Time: Friday, September 18 at 9:00 am CEST