On December 19, 2022 Zymeworks Inc. (NASDAQ: ZYME), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing multifunctional biotherapeutics, reported positive topline results from the pivotal Phase 2b HERIZON-BTC-01 open-label, single-arm clinical trial investigating zanidatamab, a HER2-targeted bispecific antibody, as monotherapy in patients with previously treated HER2-amplified and expressing BTC (Press release, Zymeworks, DEC 19, 2022, View Source [SID1234625426]).
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The positive topline results showed that 41.3% (95% CI: 30.4, 52.8) of enrolled patients with HER2-amplified and expressing (IHC2+ and 3+) disease achieved an objective response as assessed by independent central review. The median duration of response was 12.9 months (95% CI: 5.95 to not reached). The safety profile of zanidatamab in this trial was consistent with that observed in previously reported monotherapy studies, with no new safety signals identified. Full results from the pivotal trial are expected to be presented at a medical meeting in 2023.
Biliary tract cancers, including gallbladder cancer and cholangiocarcinoma, are diagnosed in more than 210,000 people every year1, with most patients presenting with inoperable disease2. Disease control with front-line therapy is modest and patients need treatment options after progression3,4. The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a promising target in approximately 5%-10% of cholangiocarcinomas and up to 20% of gallbladder cancers5. Currently no HER2-targeted therapy has been approved for the treatment of BTC.
"Through our work with the BTC patient community, we see first-hand the challenge these patients face in not only getting a diagnosis, but in the limited treatment options available," said Stacie Lindsey, Founder & CEO of the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. "Each investigative trial begins to close the gap on this high unmet medical need by helping to bring more treatment options to BTC patients and we’re looking forward to watching zanidatamab’s progression through the global regulatory review process."
"We are thrilled to report these positive topline data from the HERIZON-BTC-01 clinical trial, which further support the potential of zanidatamab as a new chemotherapy-free therapeutic option for HER2-amplified and expressing BTC. These data demonstrate that zanidatamab, as a single agent, improves on the current standard of care for patients in a difficult-to-treat disease who currently have a poor prognosis based on the limited treatment options currently available," said Neil Josephson, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Zymeworks. "I want to thank all of the patients, their families and the investigators who participated in this important study."
Conference Call for Investors and Analysts
Zymeworks management will host a conference call and webcast for investors and analysts on December 19, 2022 at 8:00 am ET. The event will be webcast live with dial-in details and webcast replays available on Zymeworks’ website at View Source
About HERIZON-BTC-01
HERIZON-BTC-01 is a global, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study (NCT04466891) with a primary endpoint of confirmed objective response rate (cORR) by independent central review (ICR) per the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1). Secondary endpoints include duration of response (DOR), proportion of subjects with a DOR ≥16 weeks, disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety. HER2 amplification, as determined centrally by in situ hybridization (ISH) in tumor tissue, was an inclusion criterion for all subjects enrolled into the two study cohorts: Cohort 1, the primary efficacy cohort, with tumor tissue showing HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) 2+ or 3+ staining, and Cohort 2 with tumor tissue showing HER2 IHC 0 or 1+ staining. The study was initiated in July 2020 and has active sites in North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and South America, and shares sites with the pivotal Phase 3 trial, HERIZON-GEA-01 (NCT05152147), in first-line gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) patients.
About Zanidatamab
Zanidatamab is an investigational, bispecific antibody, based on Zymeworks’ Azymetric platform, that can simultaneously bind two non-overlapping epitopes of HER2, known as biparatopic binding. This unique design results in multiple mechanisms of action including dual HER2 signal blockade, increased binding and removal of HER2 protein from the cell surface, and potent effector function leading to encouraging antitumor activity in patients. Zymeworks is developing zanidatamab in multiple Phase 1, Phase 2, and pivotal clinical trials globally as a targeted treatment option for patients with solid tumors that express HER2. Zymeworks continues to enroll subjects in the Phase 3 randomized clinical trial, HERIZON-GEA-01, evaluating zanidatamab in combination with chemotherapy plus or minus tislelizumab for HER2-expressing GEA. Zymeworks has entered into separate agreements with each of BeiGene, Ltd. (BeiGene) and Jazz Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited (Jazz), granting each of BeiGene and Jazz with exclusive rights to develop and commercialize zanidatamab throughout various countries around the world.
Zymeworks has an ongoing Expanded Access Program (EAP) for use of zanidatamab in patients with HER2-positive advanced solid tumors who are not eligible for zanidatamab clinical trials, meet the criteria for EAP, and who in the opinion of the treating oncologist, would potentially benefit from treatment with zanidatamab. Additional information is available on our website at View Source