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ALX Oncology’s evorpacept, a CD47-blocking therapeutic, showed promise in the ASPEN-06 Phase 2 trial for HER2-positive gastric cancer. The combination of evorpacept with trastuzumab, CYRAMZA®, and paclitaxel achieved a confirmed overall response rate (ORR) of 40.3%, compared to 26.6% for the control group. However, the data turned out to be a lot worse than its topline suggests, and ALX Oncology lost about 50% of its market cap.
Eisai’s Leqembi and Eli Lilly’s Kisunla offer different approaches for Alzheimer’s treatment, as both companies presented at last week’s AAIC in Philadelphia. Leqembi recommends chronic maintenance following initial infusions, while Kisunla suggests limited-duration dosing. Leqembi’s efficacy extends beyond three years, but both drugs target beta-amyloid plaques in the brain.
Adaptimmune Therapeutics received FDA approval for their TCR-T therapy Tecelra, targeting MAGE-A4 in synovial sarcoma. It is the first TCR-T cell therapy for solid tumors. However, the market responded with an ~18% stock drop. Challenges include modest projected sales, low profit margins for autologous cell therapies, and the need for commercial expertise. The industry’s pessimism toward oncology cell therapy also plays a role.