Casdozokitug Phase 2 Results at ASCO GI Cancers Symposium Show Promise

New findings from a Phase 2 clinical trial suggest that casdozokitug (also known as casdozo), a novel immunotherapy targeting the IL-27 pathway, shows promise when combined with atezolizumab and bevacizumab in treating patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The trial, conducted by Coherus BioSciences, Inc., is currently being presented at the 2024 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

IL-27 is an immunosuppressive cytokine that plays a role in dampening the body's anti-tumor immune responses, making it a key target for cancer immunotherapy. Casdozo, a first-of-its-kind antibody, is specifically designed to block IL-27, potentially enhancing the immune system's ability to fight cancer.

The open-label trial involved 30 treatment-naïve patients with advanced HCC, who were given casdozo alongside atezolizumab and bevacizumab. The primary goal was to assess the safety and tolerability of this combination therapy. Secondary objectives included progression-free survival, overall response rate, and disease control rate.

Preliminary data from the trial, as of the cutoff date in November 2023, indicate that the triple therapy is well-tolerated and exhibits encouraging antitumor activity. Notably, the overall response rate was 38%, with 11 durable objective responses, including three complete responses and eight partial responses. The median progression-free survival was 8.1 months, and the disease control rate was 58.6%.

Further analysis of patient samples revealed a potential link between the IL-27 pathway and treatment response, suggesting that biomarkers associated with IL-27 could help identify patients more likely to benefit from casdozo treatment.

Coherus BioSciences is encouraged by these results and plans to continue evaluating casdozo in combination with VEGF and PD-(L)1 blockade for HCC treatment. Future trials will explore the combination of casdozo with Coherus' anti-PD-1 antibody, toripalimab-tpzi, and bevacizumab.

The ongoing clinical development of casdozo is part of Coherus' broader immuno-oncology pipeline, which aims to develop innovative therapies that enhance the body's immune response to cancer. Coherus is also investigating other immunotherapy candidates, such as CHS-114, an anti-CCR8 antibody, and CHS-1000, a preclinical candidate targeting the ILT4 pathway.

Coherus BioSciences is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to researching, developing, and commercializing immunotherapies for cancer treatment. The company's current portfolio includes LOQTORZI™, a next-generation PD-1 inhibitor, as well as biosimilars UDENYCA®, CIMERLI®, and YUSIMRY™.

While the initial results are promising, further research and clinical trials are necessary to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of casdozo in combination with other immunotherapies for HCC patients.