Benzinga | Jun 17, 2021 10:23AM EDT

Agenus Gains As Balstilimab US Application Accepted For Review In Cervical Cancer

* The FDA has accepted for review Agenus Inc's (NASDAQ:AGEN) marketing application seeking approval for balstilimab for recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer with disease progression on or after chemotherapy.

* Under Priority Review status, the agency's target action date is December 16.

* Balstilimab is a novel, fully human monoclonal immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) designed to block PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1) from interacting with its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2.

* Balstilimab is currently in clinical trials as monotherapy and in combination with Agenus' zalifrelimab, in an ongoing Phase 2 study for recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer.

* Related content: Benzinga's Full FDA Calendar.

* Price Action: AGEN shares are up 10.1% at $5.50 during the market session on the last check Thursday.