On August 12, 2025 ALX Oncology Holdings Inc., ("ALX Oncology" or "the Company") (Nasdaq: ALXO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of novel therapies designed to treat cancer and extend patients’ lives, reported financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, and provided a corporate update (Press release, ALX Oncology, AUG 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234655124]).

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"In the second quarter, we made significant advances in both our evorpacept and ALX2004 clinical programs," said Jason Lettmann, Chief Executive Officer of ALX Oncology. "On the evorpacept program, we are excited to share data demonstrating the potential of CD47 expression as a predictive biomarker and highlight a clear opportunity to identify patients most likely to achieve the greatest benefit. In this pre-planned analysis we saw that patients with high CD47 expression derived the most clinically meaningful response to evorpacept. These findings shape our clinical development strategy in breast cancer and support the potential to pursue targeted oncology approaches in additional tumor types, given the broad overexpression of CD47 in solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Importantly, our optimization of the evorpacept clinical program has extended our cash runway into the first quarter of 2027, solidly positioning us to achieve multiple data milestones across our pipeline. In addition, execution is on track for the Phase 1 trial of our highly-differentiated, ADC candidate, ALX2004, which has best-in-class potential for the treatment of EGFR-expressing solid tumors and we anticipate dosing the first patient this month. Finally, I am delighted to announce that Dr. Dan Curran has been appointed to the Board of Directors. Dr. Curran’s illustrious career and breadth of experience across drug discovery and development, corporate strategy and business development, will offer invaluable perspective to help ALX Oncology reach key inflection points in the months ahead."

ALX Oncology Q2 2025 Highlights and Recent Developments

In this pre-planned exploratory analysis of the ASPEN-06 clinical trial in gastric cancer, CD47 overexpression was identified as a key predictive biomarker for response and durable clinical benefit.
In confirmed HER2-positive, CD47-high gastric cancer patients (n=43), evorpacept combined with HERCEPTIN (trastuzumab), CYRAMZA (ramucirumab) and paclitaxel (TRP) achieved an objective response rate (ORR) of 65% compared to 26% with TRP alone. In contrast, in confirmed HER2-positive, CD47-low gastric cancer patients (n=47), evorpacept plus TRP demonstrated a 39% ORR versus 25% with TRP alone.
Duration of response (DOR), progression free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) showed strong magnitude of benefit for evorpacept in CD47-high patients.
Full data set will be presented at an upcoming medical conference in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Based on the magnitude of benefit in patients with high CD47 expression in HER2+ gastric cancer, the ASPEN-Breast study in HER2+ breast cancer evaluating evorpacept in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy has been amended to a single-arm design in all previously treated HER2 positive patients and will be evaluated by CD47 expression.
The inclusion of both CD47-high and CD47-low patients in the revised single-arm ASPEN-Breast study supports the further evaluation of the predictive value of CD47 as a biomarker for evorpacept.
Revised study design is expected to optimize enrollment and allow for an interim data readout in Q3 2026. Our goal is that the results of this study will support a biomarker-driven registrational study in HER2 positive breast cancer.
Prioritized evorpacept development program to focus on demonstrated potential of CD47 approach in breast cancer and paused ASPEN-CRC study in colorectal cancer to extend cash runway.
Sanofi and ALX Oncology announce the dose escalation portion of the cohort testing evorpacept with SARCLISA (isatuximab-irfc) and dexamethasone within the randomized Phase 1/2 UMBRELLA study in patients with previously treated multiple myeloma is complete. Sanofi will begin the dose optimization portion of the study.
Received Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April to advance clinical evaluation of ALX2004 for the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive solid tumors and dosing of the first patient in the Phase 1 clinical trial is anticipated in August.
The Phase 1 dose escalation trial will include patients with relapsed/refractory EGFR-expressing solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Initial safety data from the Phase 1 trial is expected to be available in 1H2026.
ALX2004 utilizes a proprietary topoisomerase I inhibitor payload and linker-payload platform, engineered to offer enhanced bystander effect with improved linker stability for on-target delivery of payload, and has an affinity-tuned EGFR antibody with a binding epitope distinct from approved EGFR antibodies. Potent activity in tumor models supports its potential for treating patients with EGFR-expressing tumors. Preclinical model findings did not demonstrate EGFR-related skin toxicity at clinically relevant doses or payload-related interstitial lung disease, indicating a potentially differentiated safety profile.
With these strategic prioritizations, the Company extended its cash runway into Q1 2027. Data milestones expected for ALX2004 and evorpacept clinical programs in 2026 are included in Company’s expected cash runway.
As part of the Company’s commitment to advancing long term growth and operational excellence, Allison Dillon, Ph.D., previously Chief Business Officer has been appointed Chief Operating Officer, effective today.
The Company announces Daniel Curran, M.D., has been appointed to Board of Directors. Dr. Curran is a physician executive who brings extensive experience across business development, corporate strategy, drug discovery and development. Dr. Curran is currently a Managing Partner at Mountainfield Ventures and CEO at Timberlyne Therapeutics. He was previously at Takeda where he was Head of Rare Genetics and Hematology and achieved four global regulatory approvals during his tenure. Prior to this role he was Senior Vice President and Head of the Center for External Innovation (CEI) at Takeda, where he was responsible for all R&D business development, venture investments and academic alliances. Within this role, his team concluded more than 150 transactions, enhancing the pipeline with collaborations across numerous therapeutic areas and modalities. Dr. Curran received his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine and MBA from The Wharton School.
Upcoming Clinical Milestones

ASPEN-Breast Cancer: Patient dosing anticipated to begin in Q4 2025 based on updated protocol. Interim data from this trial anticipated in Q3 2026.
ALX2004: Patient dosing anticipated to begin in August; initial safety data from Phase 1 trial in EGFR-expressing solid tumors anticipated in 1H 2026.
Second Quarter 2025 Webcast Information

ALX Oncology will host a teleconference on Tuesday, August 12 at 1:30 p.m. PT/ 4:30 p.m. ET in conjunction with its financial results press release.

Webcast Access: View Source;tp_key=5393f7f102

Participant Listening Options by Phone: To access the conference call, please dial 1-877- 407-0752 or +1-201-389-0912, and ask to be joined into the ALX Oncology Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results Conference Call.
Another option for instant telephone access to the event is to use the Call me link below: View Source;passcode=13755276&h=true&info=company&r=true&B=6

Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments: Cash, cash equivalents and investments as of June 30, 2025, were $83.5 million. The Company believes its cash, cash equivalents and investments are sufficient to fund planned operations into Q1 of 2027.
Research and Development ("R&D") Expenses: R&D expenses consist primarily of preclinical, clinical and development costs related to the development of the Company’s current lead product candidate, evorpacept, and R&D personnel-related expenses including stock-based compensation. R&D expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2025, were $18.0 million compared to $34.7 million for the prior-year period or a decrease of $16.6 million. This decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease of $8.5 million in clinical and development costs primarily due to less manufacturing of clinical trial materials to support active clinical trials for our lead product candidate, evorpacept, a decrease of $4.1 million in stock-based compensation expense, and a decrease of $2.1 million in personnel and related costs, and a decrease of $1.7 million in preclinical costs due to pipeline prioritization strategy.
General and Administrative ("G&A") Expenses: G&A expenses consist primarily of administrative personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation and other costs such as legal and other professional fees, patent filing and maintenance fees, and insurance. G&A expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2025, were $5.5 million compared to $6.9 million for the prior year period or a decrease of $1.4 million. This decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in stock-based compensation expense.
Net loss: GAAP net loss was ($25.9) million for the three months ended June 30, 2025, or ($0.49) per basic and diluted share, as compared to a GAAP net loss of ($39.4) million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, or ($0.76) per basic and diluted share. The lower net loss is primarily attributed to lower R&D expenses, partially offset by a $3.2 million long-lived asset impairment charge recorded in the three months ended June 30, 2025 related to leased lab space following the workforce reduction in preclinical research announced in March 2025. Non-GAAP net loss was ($23.7) million for the three months ended June 30, 2025, as compared to a non-GAAP net loss of ($32.1) million for the three months ended June 30, 2024. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial results can be found at the end of this news release.

On August 12, 2025 ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE: ADCT), a commercial-stage global leader and pioneer in the field of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, and provided operational updates (Press release, ADC Therapeutics, AUG 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234655123]).

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"Entering the second half of 2025, we have streamlined our strategic focus and strengthened our financial foundation, which now allows us to pursue multiple promising opportunities to expand ZYNLONTA into earlier lines of therapy in DLBCL and indolent lymphomas," said Ameet Mallik, Chief Executive Officer of ADC Therapeutics. "We recently shared impressive efficacy data from our LOTIS-7 study of ZYNLONTA plus glofitamab in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL and have additional key clinical milestones anticipated through 2026. These milestones include LOTIS-5 achieving the prespecified PFS event target this year and a ZYNLONTA sBLA filing anticipated in 2026, in addition to ongoing Phase 2 investigator-initiated trials in indolent lymphomas. We remain committed to executing our strategy with discipline as we pursue the substantially larger therapeutic opportunity for ZYNLONTA."

Second Quarter 2025 Operational Updates & Recent Highlights

•Completed private investment in public equity (PIPE) financing extending expected cash runway to 2028. The Company entered into a securities purchase agreement for the sale of its equity securities to certain institutional investors in a $100 million PIPE financing, of which the net proceeds of $93.1 million are anticipated to fund multiple catalysts supporting ZYNLONTA’s clinical development and commercialization activities.
•LOTIS-7 data presentations at the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) 2025 Congress (EHA2025) and the 18th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (ICML) highlighted high response rates and manageable safety and tolerability of ZYNLONTA plus glofitamab (COLUMVI) in patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). As of the April 2025 cutoff, data from the Phase 1b clinical trial showed an overall response rate (ORR) of 93.3% and a complete response (CR) of 86.7% among the 30 efficacy evaluable patients enrolled in the study. Among the 41 safety evaluable patients, the combination was generally well tolerated with a manageable safety profile and no dose-limiting toxicities across dose levels. The Company expects to engage with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and provide an update on the LOTIS-7 trial in the second half of 2025. Once sufficient data with longer follow-up is available, the Company plans to pursue publication and compendia inclusion in the first half of 2027.

•LOTIS-5 remains on track to reach prespecified progression-free survival (PFS) events by the end of 2025. After the prespecified number of PFS events is reached and data are available, the Company expects to provide topline data on the Phase 3 confirmatory trial evaluating ZYNLONTA in combination with rituximab in patients with 2L+ DLBCL. A potential supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) submission to regulatory authorities is anticipated in the first half of 2026, with potential confirmatory approval in 2L+ DLBCL and publication and compendia inclusion in the first half of 2027.
•Updated data from the investigator-initiated trial presented at ICML demonstrated the potential of ZYNLONTA as a monotherapy in r/r marginal zone lymphoma. The updated data presented by Izidore S. Lossos, MD, Chief, Division of Hematology Lymphoma Section, at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, demonstrated an ORR of 84.6% (22/26) and a CR of 69.2% (18/26) with a manageable safety profile. The Phase 2, single-arm, open-label, multicenter trial is being conducted at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Emory Winship Cancer Institute and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. The Company plans to assess a potential regulatory pathway. In addition, once sufficient data is available, a potential publication and compendia inclusion is anticipated in the first half of 2027.
•IND-enabling activities advancing for PSMA-targeting ADC. IND-enabling activities are underway for the Company’s exatecan-based, prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeting ADC, which has been selected for advancement. Completion of these activities is expected by the end of 2025.
•Announced strategic restructuring and prioritization plan, discontinuing early development efforts for the remaining preclinical programs in solid tumors and focusing on ZYNLONTA. As research and development efforts and related programs are closed out, the Company plans to shut down its UK facility and reduce the global workforce across functions by approximately 30%, which is expected to be substantially completed by September 30, 2025.

Second Quarter and First Half 2025 Financial Results

•Product Revenues: Net product revenues were $18.1 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, and $35.5 million for the first six months of 2025 as compared to $17.0 million and $34.9 million for the same periods in 2024. The period-over-period changes were primarily driven by higher sales price and variability in sales volume.
•Research and Development (R&D) Expense: R&D expense was $30.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025, and $59.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, as compared to $24.3 million and $50.0 million for the same periods in 2024. The increases in R&D costs were driven by timing and enrollment of our ZYNLONTA clinical trials LOTIS-5 and LOTIS-7, and an increase in IND-enabling activities for our PSMA-targeting ADC. These increases were partially offset by a reduction in spending on discontinued programs.
•Selling and Marketing (S&M) Expense: S&M expense was $10.1 million and $20.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, respectively, compared to $10.7 million and $22.1 million for the same periods in 2024. The period-over-period decreases were primarily due to a reduction in marketing and advertising expenses.
•General & Administrative (G&A) Expense: G&A expense was $8.8 million and $18.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, respectively, compared to $10.2 million and $22.7 million for the same periods in 2024. The reductions in G&A expense were primarily due to lower external professional fees.
•Restructuring, impairment and other related costs: In connection with the strategic reprioritization and restructuring plan announced in June 2025, the Company incurred $13.1 million in restructuring and impairment costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, which consisted of $6.7 million in employee severance and related benefit costs, and $6.4 million in non-cash impairment of assets in connection with the close down of the UK facility.
•Net Loss: Net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, was $56.6 million, or a net loss of $0.50 per basic and diluted share, as compared to a net loss of $36.5 million, or a net loss of $0.38 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2024. Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2025 was $95.2 million, or a net loss of $0.86 per basic and diluted share, as compared to a net loss of $83.2 million, or a net loss of $0.93 per basic and diluted share for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The higher net loss of the three- and six-month periods are primarily due to the increase in R&D expense and the restructuring, impairment and related costs incurred in connection with the strategic reprioritization and restructuring plan.
•Adjusted Net Loss: Adjusted net loss, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, was $28.7 million, or an adjusted net loss of $0.25 per basic and diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, as compared to adjusted net loss of $24.4 million, or $0.25 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2024. Adjusted net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2025, was $52.6 million, or an adjusted net loss of $0.48 per basic and diluted share, as compared to net loss of $55.5 million, or an adjusted net loss of $0.62 per basic and diluted share for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The increase in adjusted net loss for the three-month period is due to higher R&D costs. The decrease in adjusted net loss per share for the six-month period is primarily attributable to a higher number of weighted average shares outstanding.
•Cash and cash equivalents: As of June 30, 2025, cash and cash equivalents were $264.6 million, compared to $250.9 million as of December 31, 2024. In June 2025, the Company entered into securities purchase agreements for the sale of its equity securities to certain institutional investors in a $100.0 million PIPE financing, which resulted in net proceeds of $93.1 million, extending the expected cash runway into 2028.

Conference Call Details

ADC Therapeutics management will host a conference call and live audio webcast to discuss second quarter 2025 financial results and provide a company update today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the conference call, please register here. Registrants will receive the dial-in number and unique PIN. It is recommended that you join 10 minutes before the event, though you may pre-register at any time. A live webcast of the call will be available under "Events & Presentations" in the Investors section of the ADC Therapeutics website at ir.adctherapeutics.com. The archived webcast will be available for 30 days following the call.

On August 12, 2025 Adagene Inc. ("Adagene" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: ADAG), a platform-driven, clinical-stage biotechnology company transforming the discovery and development of novel antibody-based therapies, reported financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2025 and provided corporate updates (Press release, Adagene, AUG 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234655122]).

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"The first half of 2025 was tremendously important for Adagene, as we shared the early overall survival benefit with ADG126 in combination with Merck’s (known as MSD outside of the US and Canada) anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) that exceeds standard of care and is highly competitive with data from other products in development. The safety and tolerability data from ADG126 in combination with pembrolizumab in our Phase 1b/2 study in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer contributes to a large body of growing evidence that the power of CTLA-4 inhibition can be harnessed more safely with our approach utilizing conditional activation in the tumor microenvironment. Grade 3 treatment-related adverse events were less than 20%, which is an outstanding achievement given that ADG126 was dosed 10 to 20 times higher than the approved CTLA-4 inhibitors, in order to drive dose-dependent depletion of regulatory T-cells at the desired level inside tumors," said Peter Luo, Ph.D., Chairman, CEO and President of R&D at Adagene. "Now that we have aligned with the FDA on Phase 2 and Phase 3 design elements, which do not require an ADG126 monotherapy arm, we have a clear line of sight into what will be required for regulatory approval. We look forward to initiating the Phase 2 study later this year."

PIPELINE HIGHLIGHTS

ADG126 – Phase 1b/2 data and regulatory update:

As presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (Poster #248), mOS for the 10 mg/kg cohorts was 19.4 months in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS CRC) patients free of liver metastasis (NLM), comparing favorably with historical fruquintinib benchmarks of 10.8 months from the FRESCOi study and 12.1 months from the FRESCO-2ii study for the same NLM patient population. Only 1 out of 41 patients in the 10 mg/kg cohorts was censored due to early withdrawal within the first 12 months. Median OS for the 20 mg/kg cohorts has not yet been reached. ADG126 showed a 29% confirmed overall response rate (ORR) in MSS CRC. ADG126 can be dosed at 20 mg/kg Q6W in combination with KEYTRUDA (200 mg, Q3W) with less than 20% Grade 3 adverse events having been observed. All six responders in the 20 mg/kg cohorts remain on treatment, with four patients on study for over one year.

As recently reported, Adagene has now gained alignment with the FDA on Phase 2 and Phase 3 trial design elements for ADG126, and the Company plans to begin enrollment in 2H 2025. In addition, Adagene has initiated evaluation of ADG126 plus pembrolizumab in combination with standard of care in MSS CRC patients, as approved by the Merck/Adagene joint development committee and supported by the 2021 supply agreement between the two partners.

MAJOR COLLABORATIONS

Sanofi: In July, Sanofi agreed to make a strategic investment of up to US$25 million in Adagene. The Company plans to use the proceeds to fund its research and development activities, including clinical development of ADG126, through a randomized Phase 2 trial in MSS CRC. To further explore the clinical potential of ADG126, Adagene will supply Sanofi with ADG126 to evaluate the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics and biomarker data in combination with other anticancer therapies in over 100 patients in a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in advanced solid tumors. Adagene continues to own worldwide commercial rights to ADG126.

Sanofi has also exercised its option to select a third SAFEbody discovery program, utilizing Adagene’s proprietary masking technology and antibody engineering expertise. The bispecific therapeutic, with undisclosed targets, will be engineered by Adagene and induces an option exercise fee, as well as milestones and royalties as per the 2022 partnership agreement with Adagene.

Exelixis: Including upfront and other milestone payments, Adagene has received over US$18 million in total from Exelixis to date, under a technology license agreement to develop novel masked antibody-drug conjugate candidates.

ConjugateBio: In July 2025, Adagene entered into a partnering agreement with ConjugateBio to develop novel antibody drug conjugates. Adagene will provide ConjugateBio with a proprietary antibody for use in partner companies’ bispecific ADC development programs.

CORPORATE UPDATES

In April, Adagene appointed John Maraganore, Ph.D. as Executive Advisor to provide strategic guidance, and to contribute to Adagene’s growth, value creation and benefit for patients.

In May, Mickael Chane-Du joined Adagene as Chief Strategy Officer to promote and advance Adagene’s financing, internal strategic planning and external business development efforts.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

Cash and cash equivalents were US$62.8 million as of June 30, 2025, compared to US$85.2 million as of December 31, 2024. Total borrowings from commercial banks in China (denominated in RMB) decreased to US$6.6 million as of June 30, 2025 from US$18.2 million as of December 31, 2024. Further, the cash balance as of June 30, 2025 does not include any equity proceed received from Sanofi in July 2025.

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses:

R&D expenses were US$12.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, compared to US$14.7 million for the same period in 2024. The decrease of approximately 18% in R&D expenses reflects clinical focus on and prioritization of the company’s masked, anti-CTLA-4 SAFEbody ADG126.

Administrative Expenses:

Administrative expenses were US$3.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, compared to US$3.6 million for the same period in 2024.

Net Loss:

Net loss attributable to Adagene Inc.’s shareholders was US$13.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, compared to US$17.0 million for the same period in 2024.

Ordinary Shares Outstanding:

As of June 30, 2025, there were 58,914,087 ordinary shares issued and outstanding. Each American depository share, or ADS, represents one and one quarter (1.25) ordinary shares of the company.

Non-GAAP Net Loss:

Non-GAAP net loss, which is defined as net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders for the period after excluding share-based compensation expenses, was US$11.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, compared to US$14.5 million for the same period in 2024. Please refer to the section in this press release titled "Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" for details.

On August 12, 2025 Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, reported positive topline results from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-905 trial (also known as EV-303) in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who are ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy (Press release, Merck & Co, AUG 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234655107]). In this study, KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) plus Padcev (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv), given before and after surgery (radical cystectomy), demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in event-free survival (EFS), the study’s primary endpoint, as well as overall survival (OS) and pathologic complete response (pCR) rate, key secondary endpoints, compared to surgery (radical cystectomy) alone.

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"Patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who are ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy have not seen any treatment advance beyond surgery and face high rates of disease recurrence and a poor prognosis, even after having their bladder removed," said Dr. Christof Vulsteke, MD, PhD, head of Integrated Cancer Center Ghent (IKG) and Clinical Trial Unit Oncology Ghent and KEYNOTE-905 principal investigator. "The KEYNOTE-905 study results mark the first time a systemic treatment approach, used before and after surgery, significantly extended survival over standard-of-care surgery in this population, demonstrating the potential of this combination to address a critical unmet need."

The trial, evaluating Merck’s KEYTRUDA, an anti-PD-1 therapy, plus Padcev, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), was conducted in collaboration with Pfizer (previously Seagen) and Astellas and builds on the clinical success of this combination in locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. The trial is continuing to evaluate the secondary EFS, OS, and pCR rate endpoints for neoadjuvant and adjuvant KEYTRUDA versus surgery alone as they continue to mature.

"There is a real and pressing need for more effective options for patients with bladder cancer who are ineligible for cisplatin-based treatment," said Dr. Marjorie Green, senior vice president and head of oncology, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. "The compelling survival results observed in this study reinforce the potential of combining KEYTRUDA with an antibody-drug conjugate to help address a significant unmet need in this vulnerable population."

The safety profile of KEYTRUDA plus Padcev in this study was consistent with the known safety profiles of each agent. No new safety signals were identified with the combination. The companies plan to share these results with regulatory authorities worldwide and will present the data at an upcoming medical meeting.

KEYTRUDA plus Padcev is approved for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (la/mUC) in the U.S., the European Union (EU), Japan and several other countries around the world. KEYTRUDA as monotherapy is also approved in the U.S., EU, Japan and other countries for the treatment of certain patients with la/mUC or a type of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Five additional Phase 3 studies are currently evaluating KEYTRUDA across all stages of bladder cancer, including non-muscle-invasive, muscle-invasive and metastatic. Three of these studies are in MIBC including KEYNOTE-866 (NCT03924856), KEYNOTE-992 (NCT04241185) and KEYNOTE-B15 (NCT04700124), which is also known as EV-304 and is being conducted in collaboration with Pfizer and Astellas. KEYTRUDA is also being evaluated in combination with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in patients with NMIBC in the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-676 (NCT03711032) trial, and as adjuvant treatment in patients with localized muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma and locally advanced urothelial carcinoma KEYNOTE-123 (NCT03244384).

About KEYNOTE-905/EV-303

KEYNOTE-905, also known as EV-303, is an open-label, randomized, multi-arm, controlled, Phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03924895) evaluating perioperative KEYTRUDA, with or without Padcev, versus surgery alone in patients with MIBC who are either not eligible for or declined cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The trial enrolled 595 patients who were randomized to receive either:

Arm A: Three cycles of preoperative KEYTRUDA, followed by surgery to remove the bladder (radical cystectomy), followed by 14 cycles of postoperative KEYTRUDA;
Arm B: Surgery alone;
Arm C: Three cycles of preoperative KEYTRUDA plus enfortumab vedotin, followed by surgery to remove the bladder (radical cystectomy), followed postoperatively by six cycles of KEYTRUDA plus enfortumab vedotin and then eight cycles of KEYTRUDA alone.
The primary objective of this trial was to compare EFS between arm C and arm B, defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of any of the following events: progression of disease that precludes radical cystectomy (RC) surgery or failure to undergo RC surgery in participants with residual disease, gross residual disease left behind at the time of surgery, local or distant recurrence as assessed by imaging and/or biopsy or death due to any cause. The key secondary objectives were to compare OS and difference in pCR rate between arm C and arm B, as well as EFS, OS and the difference in pCR rate between arm A and arm B. The study remains ongoing to test hypotheses between arm A and arm B.

About bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is the ninth most common cancer worldwide, diagnosed in more than 614,000 patients each year globally. Muscle-invasive bladder cancer represents approximately 30% of all bladder cancer cases. The standard treatment for patients with MIBC is neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy followed by surgery, which has been shown to prolong survival. However, up to half of patients with MIBC are not eligible to receive cisplatin and face limited treatment options, typically undergoing surgery alone.

On August 11, 2025 Assertio Holdings, Inc. ("Assertio" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: ASRT), a pharmaceutical company with comprehensive commercial capabilities offering differentiated products designed to address patients’ needs, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025.

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Said Brendan O’Grady, Chief Executive Officer, "The second quarter business and financial results demonstrate continued progress executing our 2025 transformation priorities intended to create sustainable near-term growth and increased long-term value. As part of our transformation process, we are taking steps to streamline our operations to secure additional operating expense savings. We started this process with the divestment of Assertio Therapeutics as communicated last quarter. Pursuant to this effort, we are also consolidating products from previously acquired subsidiaries to further optimize our cost structure.

"Based on strong commercial execution in our core growth assets, Rolvedon achieved the highest level of customer demand since we acquired the product and Sympazan continues to see growth in both prescribers and prescription demand. The remainder of our portfolio is tracking to our expectations. In addition, balance sheet cash and investments increased to more than $98 million as a result of our focus and continued business performance."

(Press release, Assertio Holdings, AUG 11, 2025, View Source [SID1234661832])