Adagene's ADG126 Shows Promising Results in Combination with Keytruda at ESMO Congress

Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment

Adagene Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has unveiled promising results for its anti-CTLA-4 SAFEbody® ADG126 in combination with Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2023 1

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. The data presented suggests a best-in-class therapeutic potential for treating patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

Impressive Efficacy and Safety Profile

The combination therapy demonstrated remarkable efficacy across various tumor types, including microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer, gastric/gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma, and other solid tumors 2

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. Notably, the treatment showed an objective response rate (ORR) of 36% in MSS colorectal cancer patients, a historically difficult-to-treat population.

Innovative SAFEbody® Technology

ADG126, also known as muzastotug, utilizes Adagene's proprietary SAFEbody technology. This innovative approach allows for precision-masking of the antibody, enabling tumor-specific activation and minimizing off-tumor toxicity 3

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. The result is an improved therapeutic window compared to traditional anti-CTLA-4 therapies.

Promising Clinical Outcomes

The phase 1b/2 trial results revealed encouraging outcomes across multiple indications:

1. MSS colorectal cancer: 36% ORR (5/14 patients)
2. Gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma: 27% ORR (3/11 patients)
3. Other solid tumors: 17% ORR (5/30 patients)

These response rates are particularly significant given the advanced stage of the diseases and the patients' prior treatment histories 1

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Favorable Safety Profile

The combination of ADG126 and Keytruda demonstrated a manageable safety profile. Only 7% of patients experienced grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events, with no treatment-related deaths reported 2

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. This favorable toxicity profile suggests potential for long-term treatment and combination with other therapies.

Expert Commentary

Dr. Yong Ben, Chief Medical Officer of Adagene, expressed enthusiasm about the results, stating, "The data presented at ESMO underscore the best-in-class potential of ADG126 in combination with pembrolizumab" 3

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. He emphasized the treatment's ability to address significant unmet medical needs in difficult-to-treat cancers.

Future Prospects

With these encouraging results, Adagene plans to advance the clinical development of ADG126 in combination with Keytruda. The company is particularly focused on MSS colorectal cancer and gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma, where current treatment options are limited 1

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. The potential of this combination therapy to improve outcomes for patients with advanced solid tumors represents a significant step forward in cancer treatment.