On March 2, 2025 Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent") (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of oncology, autoimmune, cardiovascular and metabolic, ophthalmology, and other major diseases, reported that the first patient has been dosed in its registrational study evaluating IBI363, a first-in-class PD-1/IL-2α-bias bispecific antibody fusion protein, as monotherapy versus pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic mucosal or acral melanoma who have not received prior systemic therapy (Press release, Innovent Biologics, MAR 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234650787]). This is IBI363’s first pivotal study and a significant milestone for China’s innovative immuno-oncology (IO) therapy in addressing the global challenge of treating "cold tumors."
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This is a randomized, multicenter, pivotal study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IBI363 monotherapy versus pembrolizumab monotherapy in patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic mucosal or acral melanoma who have not received prior systemic therapy. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS), as assessed by an Independent Radiology Review Committee (IRRC) based on RECIST v1.1 criteria.
IBI363 has demonstrated outstanding efficacy signals in immunotherapy (IO)-naïve melanoma patients across two earlier clinical trials (Phase 1a/1b study NCT05460767 and Phase 2 study NCT06081920), which enrolled a total of 26 patients with advanced acral or mucosal melanoma:
The overall objective response rate (ORR) was 61.5%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 84.6%—significantly higher than current domestic immunotherapy standards.
Prolonged follow-up revealed sustained tumor responses and long-term benefits, suggesting the potential superiority of IBI363 over existing standard therapies.
These preliminary data were presented at SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) 2024[1], and updated follow-up results will be shared at international conferences in 2025.
IBI363 has also demonstrated a manageable safety profile. To date, IBI363 monotherapy or combination therapy has been administered to hundreds of patients with advanced solid tumors globally. The overall safety profile remains consistent with known toxicities of PD-1/PD-L1 and IL-2 therapies, with common treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) including arthralgia, anemia, thyroid dysfunction, and rash—all of which are manageable with routine clinical care.
Professor Jun Guo, Principal Investigator of the Study and Director of Peking University Cancer Hospital, stated: "Melanoma has a high mortality rate in China, and its incidence is rising annually. IO-naïve melanoma patients currently have a median PFS of only around three months, reflecting a significant unmet clinical need. Moreover, non-cutaneous subtypes like mucosal melanoma—which are more prevalent in China—are particularly resistant to immunotherapy with limited clinical benefits. IBI363 has shown the potential to convert ‘cold tumors’ into ‘hot tumors’ by the dual activation of PD-1 and IL-2 pathways. Encouraging efficacy observed in Phase 1a/1b and 2 studies suggest its potential as a next-generation IO therapy for melanoma. Along with my fellow investigators, I hope this trial will lead to more effective treatment options for patients with acral and mucosal melanoma."
Dr. Hui Zhou, Senior Vice President of Innovent, stated, "As Innovent’s first-in-class next-generation IO therapy, IBI363 simultaneously and selectively inhibits the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and activates the IL-2 pathway. In previous studies, IBI363 has demonstrated outstanding efficacy and safety in melanoma and multiple cancer types. This pivotal trial, through a head-to-head comparison with pembrolizumab, aims to validate IBI363’s potential as a superior treatment option for melanoma patients over the current standard-of-care. We are also accelerating the global development of IBI363 across multiple tumor types, with the goal of extending the benefits of China’s innovation to patients worldwide."
About IBI363 (First-in-class PD-1/IL-2α-bias bispecific antibody fusion protein))
IBI363 is a first-in-class drug candidate independently developed by Innovent Biologics. It is a PD-1/IL-2 bispecific antibody fusion protein designed to enhance efficiency while minimizing toxicity. The IL-2 arm of IBI363 has been engineered to optimize therapeutic effects with reduced side effects, while the PD-1 binding arm enables PD-1 blockade and selective IL-2 delivery. By simultaneously inhibiting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and activating the IL-2 pathway, IBI363 facilitates more precise and efficient targeting and activation of tumor specific T cells. Preclinical studies have shown that IBI363 exhibits strong anti-tumor activity across multiple tumor-bearing pharmacological models, including those resistant to PD-1 inhibitors and metastatic models. Additionally, it has demonstrated a favorable safety profile in preclinical models.
Clinical trials of IBI363 are currently underway in China, the United States, and Australia to evaluate its safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy in subjects with advanced malignancies. The first pivotal study of IBI363 has been initiated, for the treatment of IO-naive mucosal or acral melanoma. Furthermore, IBI363 has received two fast track designations (FTD) from the U.S. FDA, for the treatment of squamous non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma, respectively.