Clinical Activity of Botensilimab/Balstilimab in Refractory Sarcomas to be Presented at ESMO 2024

Agenus Inc., a prominent player in the field of immuno-oncology, announced the presentation of updated clinical trial data for their investigational drugs, botensilimab and balstilimab, at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress. The event is scheduled to be held from September 13-17, 2024, in Barcelona, Spain. This mini oral presentation will focus on the efficacy and safety outcomes from the Phase 1 trial of these drugs in patients with refractory sarcomas, including difficult-to-treat forms like visceral angiosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma.

The Phase 1 trial has provided promising results, showcasing the potential of botensilimab and balstilimab as an effective combination therapy for these challenging cancer types. Botensilimab is an innovative Fc-enhanced CTLA-4 inhibitor, while balstilimab is an investigational PD-1 antibody. Both have demonstrated meaningful clinical responses in various tumor types, including "cold" tumors that typically do not respond to conventional treatments.

Dr. Breelyn A. Wilky from the University of Colorado Cancer Center will present the findings during a Mini Oral Session dedicated to sarcomas on September 13, 2024. The session will run from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. CEST (10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET). The complete abstracts are accessible through the ESMO Congress program, and the presentation will be available on Agenus' website after the congress.

Botensilimab has been designed to enhance both innate and adaptive immune responses against tumors. Its unique mechanism of action aims to make immunotherapy effective for "cold" tumors that show resistance to standard treatments or other investigational therapies. The drug works by priming and activating T cells, reducing intratumoral regulatory T cells, stimulating myeloid cells, and inducing long-term memory responses against cancer. Approximately 1,100 patients have participated in Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials for botensilimab, either alone or in combination with balstilimab, showing positive clinical responses in nine types of metastatic, late-line cancers.

Agenus, established in 1994, is dedicated to advancing cancer immunotherapy. The company's mission is to broaden the range of patients who benefit from these therapies by employing various combination approaches. Their extensive pipeline includes a wide array of antibody treatments, adoptive cell therapies through MiNK Therapeutics, and adjuvants via SaponiQx. Agenus possesses comprehensive development capabilities, ranging from commercial and clinical cGMP manufacturing to research, discovery, and global clinical operations. The company is based in Lexington, Massachusetts. 

How to obtain the latest research advancements in the field of biopharmaceuticals?

In the Synapse database, you can keep abreast of the latest research and development advances in drugs, targets, indications, organizations, etc., anywhere and anytime, on a daily or weekly basis. Click on the image below to embark on a brand new journey of drug discovery!