On June 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, cardiovascular and metabolic, autoimmune, ophthalmology and other major diseases, reported updated Phase 1 study results of IBI343, a novel anti-CLDN18.2 ADC, for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (Press release, Innovent Biologics, JUN 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234653637]).
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With extended follow-up and more mature data on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), IBI343 has demonstrated promising therapeutic efficacy in patients with CLDN18.2-positive advanced pancreatic cancer. These encouraging results suggest the potential of IBI343 in this challenging-to-treat malignancy. Supported by these robust clinical findings, IBI343 has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Concurrently, the Phase 1 clinical trial of IBI343 is also being conducted in the United States, where the drug candidate has received Fast Track Designation (FTD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive malignancies worldwide. Most patients are diagnosed in the middle and late stages and often develop resistance to standard chemotherapy, resulting in a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%1. According to the GLOBOCAN 2022 statistics2, there are approximately 510,000 new cases and 467,000 deaths globally from pancreatic cancer each year, with China accounting for 120,000 new cases and 110,000 deaths annually.
This Phase 1/1b study is a multi-regional, dose escalation and expansion clinical trial (NCT05458219). Preliminary data were presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2025 and ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Asia 2024 and the updated results from the study’s dose-expansion cohort were presented at the 2025 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) as follows:
As of March 14, 2025, a total of 83 patients with pancreatic cancer had received at least one dose of IBI343 with a median follow-up time of 11.1 months.
As the data cutoff date, in patients with CLDN18.2 1+2+3+≥60% expression treated at the 6mg/kg dose (N=44), the confirmed overall objective response rate (cORR) was 22.7% and the disease control rate (DCR) was 81.8%. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 5.4 months, and the median overall survival (mOS) was 9.1 months. Among them, 17 patients had received only one line of prior treatment, achieving a mPFS of 5.4 months and a mOS of 12.1 months; and 18 patients had received two lines of prior treatment, the mPFS was 5.3 months and the mOS was 9.1 months.
The updated safety results demonstrated the favorable safety profile of IBI343 with a consistently low rate of gastrointestinal toxicity and no new safety signals. 98.8% of the patients experienced treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), with the most common TEAEs being anemia, neutrophil count decreased, and white blood cell count decreased. Notably, no ≥ grade 3 nausea and vomiting occurred.
Professor Xianjun Yu from Fudan University Cancer Hospital, said, "Pancreatic cancer is one of the most malignant tumors of the digestive tract. Most patients are already in the advanced stage when diagnosed, and the 5-year survival rate is only about 10%1. Currently, chemotherapy is still the main first- and second-line treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer. The clinical options for second-line treatment are particularly limited, with a chemotherapy response rate of only 6-16%, median progression free survival of 2 to 5 months, and a median survival of approximately 6 to 9 months3, representing an urgent clinical need. With longer follow-up, the mature PFS and OS data from the latest IBI343 update demonstrate promising therapeutic potential, suggesting a breakthrough in this difficult-to-treat malignancy."
Dr. Hui Zhou, Senior Vice President of Innovent, said, "We are pleased to present an oral update on IBI343’s clinical data at this year’s ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) conference. With the unique Fc-silent antibody design, stable linker and potent TOPO1i payload, IBI343 is the first ADC candidate to show encouraging efficacy and a favorable safety profile in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. We hope to continue advancing the clinical trials of IBI343 for pancreatic cancer patients. Innovent will leverage its unique strengths in R&D innovation and clinical translation to develop a new generation of globally competitive oncology – focused innovative pipeline to benefit patients worldwide.."
About IBI343（Anti-CLDN18.2 ADC）
IBI343 is a recombinant human anti-CLDN18.2 monoclonal antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) developed by Innovent Biologics. IBI343 binds to the CLDN18.2-expressing tumor cells, the CLDN18.2 dependent ADC internalization will occur and the drug is released resulting in DNA damage and eventually apoptosis of the tumor cells. The freed drug can also diffuse across the plasma membrane to reach and kill the neighboring cells, resulting in "bystander killing effect".
As an innovative TOPO1i ADC, IBI343 has demonstrated tolerable safety and encouraging efficacy signals in Phase 1 clinical studies. The therapeutic potential of IBI343 is currently being explored in tumor types such as gastric and pancreatic cancer.
The Phase 3 trial of IBI343 for advanced gastric / gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma is now recruiting patients. The relevant indication has been included in China’s NMPA breakthrough therapy list.
IBI343’s Phase 1 trial for advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is enrolling patients in an multi-regional study. This indication has received Fast Track designation from the FDA and been included in the NMPA’s BTD list.