At the Society of Gynecologic Oncology 2023 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer, Agenus Inc. presented results from a cohort of 24 evaluable patients in an expansion of its Phase 1b study of a combination of botensilimab (multifunctional CTLA-4 antibody) and balstilimab (PD-1 antibody) in patients with recurrent platinum resistant/refractory ovarian cancer.
Remarkably, the study yielded an impressive 33% overall response rate (ORR), demonstrating the potential of this innovative immuno-oncology approach in the fight against cancer.
The remarkable efficacy signals of botensilimab across nine cold and treatment-resistant cancers have been further demonstrated in recent findings, adding to a growing body of data. This unique immunotherapy, designed with a dual mechanism of action that stimulates the innate and adaptive immune responses against cancer, has proven to be more effective than other checkpoint therapies.
According to Steven O’Day, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Agenus, “botensilimab has the potential to provide an improved benefit for patients.”
The incredible efficacy and tolerability of the combination of botensilimab and balstilimab in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer has the potential to revolutionize existing treatments and offer hope to those suffering from the disease.
As demonstrated by the study led by Dr. Bruno Bockorny at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, this combination of drugs may provide a substantial improvement in efficacy compared to traditional therapies, which usually only provide single-digit response rates.
Agenus is making strides in its fight against ovarian cancer, recently enrolling in the Global Phase 2 ACTIVATE trial programs for metastatic microsatellite stable colorectal cancer, melanoma, and pancreatic cancers. In addition, after positive findings presented at SITC, Agenus is expanding enrollment of its anti-PD-(L)1 relapsed/refractory non-small cell lung cancer cohort of the Phase 1b study and planning additional NSCLC studies.
This large-scale study is evaluating the safety, efficacy, and dose optimization of botensilimab alone and in combination with balstilimab in multiple solid tumors, offering hope for those suffering from ovarian cancer.
About Botensilimab
Botensilimab is an innovative, multifaceted CTLA-4 investigational antibody which has been developed to provide more advantageous results in the treatment of “cold” tumors that have not responded to any existing treatments. This unique antibody binds to the CTLA-4 receptor, while its Fc-enhanced structure induces a prolonged immunological response, reduces regulatory T cells, and enhances the priming and activation of T cells to amplify the immune system’s response.
Botensilimab, the star of Agenus’ clinical trial program, ACTIVATE, has been put to the test in a Phase 1b trial involving more than 300 patients. This revolutionary therapy has shown promising clinical responses in nine solid tumor cancers when used alone or in combination with Agenus’ PD-1 antibody, balstilimab.
To further investigate its efficacy, Agenus is now conducting global, randomized Phase 2 trials in microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer (MSS CRC), pancreatic cancer, and melanoma. Can Botensilimab be the answer we’ve been searching for? Only time will tell.
About Agenus
Agenus is a pioneering leader in the field of immuno-oncology, harnessing the power of the body’s natural immune system to fight cancer and infectious diseases. With a suite of antibody discovery platforms, a cutting-edge GMP manufacturing facility, and its subsidiaries MiNK Therapeutics and SaponiQx, Agenus is committed to pushing the boundaries of cancer immunotherapy and expanding the number of patients who can benefit from it. Based in Lexington, MA, Agenus is dedicated to unlocking the potential of the immune system to combat the deadliest diseases.