Celltrion receives U.S. FDA approval for STOBOCLO® (denosumab-bmwo) and OSENVELT® (denosumab-bmwo) biosimilars referencing PROLIA® and XGEVA®

On March 3, 2025 Celltrion reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved STOBOCLO (CT-P41, denosumab-bmwo) and OSENVELT (CT-P41, denosumab-bmwo), biosimilars referencing PROLIA (denosumab) and XGEVA (denosumab) respectively for all indications of reference products (Press release, Celltrion, MAR 3, 2025, View Source [SID1234650848]).

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"The approval of STOBOCLO and OSENVELT is another step forward in our efforts to deliver cost-effective and high-quality treatments that address critical unmet needs in osteoporosis-related fracture as well as cancer-related skeletal events," said Thomas Nusbickel, Chief Commercial Officer at Celltrion USA. "Patients deserve therapeutic options that have the potential to make real impacts on their care and their lives. We are committed to continuous innovation to meet these goals leveraging our experience and successful track record with biosimilar and novel biologics."

The FDA approval is based on robust clinical evidence, including results from Phase III clinical trials in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis designed to evaluate the efficacy, pharmacodynamics (PD), pharmacokinetics (PK), safety and immunogenicity of CT-P41 to reference denosumab. Study results demonstrated that CT-P41 had equivalent efficacy and PD to reference denosumab with similar PK and comparable safety and immunogenicity profiles.

"Denosumab is used to improve or protect bone health in patients with osteoporosis or those undergoing various cancer treatments and as a therapy for a lifetime for postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) patients," said Prof. Jean-Yves Reginster, Professor of Medicine, Protein Research Chair, Biochemistry Dept, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Director WHO Collaborating Centre for Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Health and Aging, Liège, Belgium. "Biosimilars have expanded into new therapeutic areas such as immunology, oncology and ophthalmology as they continue to offer significant cost-saving potential while expanding patient access. Having a denosumab product with a clinically proven track record in quality and safety is a valuable addition for my patients."

In accordance with a settlement agreement with Amgen Inc., STOBOCLO and OSENVELT are expected to be available in the U.S. in June 2025.

About STOBOCLO (denosumab-bmwo)

STOBOCLO (denosumab-bmwo) is a receptor activator of NF-κb ligand (RANKL) inhibitor referencing PROLIA (denosumab). STOBOCLO 60 mg/mL injection is approved by the FDA based on comprehensive data and clinical evidence confirming the therapeutic equivalence to PROLIA. In the U.S., STOBOCLO is approved to treat postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture, to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture, to treat glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in men and women at high risk for fracture, to increase bone mass in men at high risk for fracture receiving androgen deprivation therapy for nonmetastatic prostate cancer, and to increase bone mass in women at high risk for fracture receiving adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer. STOBOCLO was also approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in February 2025.

INDICATIONS

STOBOCLO (denosumab-bmwo) is a RANK ligand (RANKL) inhibitor indicated for treatment:

of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture
to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture or in men at high risk for fracture receiving androgen deprivation therapy for nonmetastatic prostate cancer
of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in men and women at high risk for fracture
to increase bone mass in women at high risk for fracture receiving a adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: SEVERE HYPOCALCEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED KIDNEY DISEASE

Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, including those on dialysis, face a higher risk of severe hypocalcemia after denosumab administration, with reported cases leading to hospitalization, life-threatening events, and fatalities.

The presence of chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD) markedly increases the risk of hypocalcemia in these patients

Before starting STOBOCLO (denosumab-bmwo) in advanced chronic kidney disease patients, assess for CKD-MBD. Treatment should be supervised by a healthcare provider experienced in diagnosing and managing CKD-MBD.

STOBOCLO is contraindicated in hypocalcemia, pregnant women, and in patients with known hypersensitivity to denosumab.

Severe Hypocalcemia: Ensure adequate calcium and vitamin D; monitor for severe hypocalcemia.

Drug Products with Same Active Ingredient: Do not use with other denosumab products.

Hypersensitivity: If an anaphylactic or other clinically significant allergic reaction occurs, initiate appropriate therapy and discontinue further use of STOBOCLO.

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ): ONJ can occur in patients on STOBOCLO. Conduct oral exams before treatment; maintain oral hygiene; consider discontinuation of STOBOCLO if ONJ develops.

Atypical Subtrochanteric and Diaphyseal Femoral Fractures: Monitor for thigh, hip, or groin pain; evaluate for fractures. Interruption of STOBOCLO therapy should be considered, pending a benefit-risk assessment, on an individual basis.

Multiple Vertebral Fractures (MVF) Following Discontinuation of Treatment: Increased risk post-discontinuation of denosumab; transition to alternative therapy if discontinuing STOBOCLO.

Serious Infections: Higher risk in denosumab users; assess benefit-risk profile, especially in immunocompromised patients. Assess the benefit-risk profile before starting STOBOCLO and reconsider its use if serious infections develop.

Dermatologic Adverse Reactions: Consider discontinuing STOBOCLO if severe dermatitis, eczema, or rashes occur.

Musculoskeletal Pain: Consider discontinuation of STOBOCLO if severe pain develops.

Bone Turnover Suppression: In clinical trials in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, denosumab significantly suppressed bone remodelling; patients should be monitored for these outcomes.

Hypercalcemia in Pediatrics Patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Not for pediatric use; hypercalcemia reported in patients osteogenesis imperfecta treated with denosumab products.

Most common Adverse Reactions:

In (>5%) of patients with: Postmenopausal osteoporosis were back pain, pain in extremity, hypercholesterolemia, musculoskeletal pain, and cystitis. Pancreatitis has been reported in clinical trials. Male osteoporosis were back pain, arthralgia, and nasopharyngitis.
Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (> 3%) were back pain, hypertension, bronchitis, and headache.
Bone loss due to hormone ablation for cancer (≥ 10%) were arthralgia and back pain. Pain in extremity and musculoskeletal pain have also been reported in clinical trials.
For more information, see Full Prescribing Information.

About OSENVELT (denosumab-bmwo)

OSENVELT (denosumab-bmwo) is a receptor activator of NF-κb ligand (RANKL) inhibitor referencing XGEVA (denosumab). OSENVELT 120 mg/1.7 mL (70 mg/mL) injection is approved by the FDA based on a robust clinical trial and comprehensive data confirming the therapeutic equivalence to XGEVA. In the U.S., OSENVELT is indicated to prevent skeletal-related events in patients with multiple myeloma and in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors, to treat adults and skeletally mature adolescents with giant cell tumor of bone that is unresectable or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity, and to treat hypercalcemia of malignancy refractory to bisphosphonate therapy. OSENVELT was also approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in February 2025.

INDICATION

OSENVELT (denosumab-bmwo) is indicated for:

Prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with multiple myeloma and in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors.
Treatment of adults and skeletally mature adolescents with giant cell tumor of bone that is unresectable or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity.
Treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy refractory to bisphosphonate therapy.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Contraindications: Patients with hypocalcemia or with known clinically significant hypersensitivity to denosumab products.

Drug Products with Same Active Ingredient. Patients receiving OSENVELT should not receive other denosumab products concomitantly.

Hypersensitivity. If an anaphylactic or other clinically significant allergic reaction occurs, initiate appropriate therapy and discontinue further use of OSENVELT.

Hypocalcemia. Severe hypocalcemia can occur, and fatal cases have been reported. Monitor calcium levels and calcium and vitamin D intake.

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ): ONJ can occur in patients on OSENVELT. Conduct oral exams and appropriate preventive dentistry before and during treatment; maintain oral hygiene and avoid invasive dental procedures; consider discontinuation of OSENVELT if ONJ develops.

Atypical Subtrochanteric and Diaphyseal Femoral Fractures: Monitor for thigh, hip, or groin pain; evaluate for fractures. Interruption of OSENVELT therapy should be considered, pending a benefit-risk assessment, on an individual basis.

Hypercalcemia Following Treatment Discontinuation in Patients with Giant Cell Tumor of Bone and in Patients with Growing Skeletons. Clinically significant hypercalcemia, potentially requiring hospitalization, can occur within a year after stopping denosumab in patients with giant cell tumor of bone or growing skeletons; monitor serum calcium and manage calcium and vitamin D needs post-discontinuation.

Multiple Vertebral Fractures (MVF) Following Treatment Discontinuation. Increased risk post-discontinuation of denosumab; evaluate for risk for vertebral fractures after discontinuing OSENVELT.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity. Denosumab may cause fetal harm; verify pregnancy status before starting OSENVELT and advise effective contraception during treatment and for 5 months after the last dose.

Most common Adverse Reactions:

Bone Metastasis from Solid Tumors (≥ 25%) were fatigue/asthenia, hypophosphatemia, and nausea.
In patients (≥ 10%) with: Multiple Myeloma were diarrhea, nausea, anemia, back pain, thrombocytopenia, peripheral edema, hypocalcemia, upper respiratory tract infection, rash, and headache; Giant Cell Tumor of Bone were arthralgia, headache, nausea, back pain, fatigue, and pain in extremity.
Hypercalcemia of Malignancy (> 20%) were nausea, dyspnea, decreased appetite, headache, peripheral edema, vomiting, anemia, constipation, and diarrhea.

Head-to-Head Against Pembrolizumab: Innovent Announces First Patient Dosed in the First Pivotal Study of IBI363 (PD-1/IL-2α-bias Bispecific Antibody Fusion Protein) in Melanoma

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.

CARsgen’s Claudin18.2 CAR-T Therapy Satri-cel Granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the NMPA

On March 2, 2025 CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 2171.HK), a company focused on innovative CAR T-cell therapies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, reported that the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) to satricabtagene autoleucel ("satri-cel", CT041) for the treatment of Claudin18.2-positive advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer (G/GEJ) in patients who have failed at least two prior lines of therapy (Press release, Carsgen Therapeutics, MAR 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234650789]).

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The company plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) for satri-cel to the NMPA in the first half of 2025.

"We are fully committed to advancing the preparation work for the NDA submission of satri-cel. We are delighted that satri-cel has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation, which is expected to expedite its approval process and bring this therapy to patients as soon as possible," said Dr. Zonghai Li, Founder, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Scientific Officer of CARsgen Therapeutics.

About Satri-cel

Satri-cel is an autologous CAR T-cell product candidate against the protein Claudin18.2 that has the potential to be the first-in-class globally. Satri-cel targets the treatment of Claudin18.2 positive solid tumors with a primary focus on gastric cancer/gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJ) and pancreatic cancer (PC). Ongoing trials include investigator-initiated trials (CT041-CG4006, NCT03874897), a confirmatory Phase II clinical trial for advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer in China (CT041-ST-01, NCT04581473), a Phase I clinical trial for PC adjuvant therapy in China (CT041-ST-05, NCT05911217), and a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial for advanced gastric or pancreatic adenocarcinoma in North America (CT041-ST-02, NCT04404595). Satri-cel was granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation by U.S. FDA for the treatment of advanced GC/GEJ with Claudin18.2-positive tumors in January 2022. Satri-cel received Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. FDA in September 2020 for the treatment of GC/GEJ.

BostonGene to Showcase Multi-Modal AI-Powered Platform at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology

On March 2, 2025 BostonGene, a leading provider of AI-driven molecular and immune profiling solutions, reported its participation in the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO2025) from March 6–8, 2025, in Kobe, Japan (Press release, BostonGene, MAR 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234650791]). This premier conference is dedicated to advancing precision oncology and fostering collaboration among global oncology experts.

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BostonGene will present research demonstrating how its AI-powered multiomics platform transforms cancer biology understanding and enhances treatment selection by integrating multi-scale, multi-modal data analysis.

During the event, Nathan Fowler, MD, Chief Medical Officer at BostonGene, will deliver a keynote presentation titled "Cutting Edge of Genomic Medicine and Novel Therapy in Hematologic Malignancies." Dr Fowler will highlight how BostonGene, in collaboration with renowned clinical partners, leverages multiomics techniques to identify biomarker predictors of treatment success, driving the next evolution of drug development.

Thursday, March 6 | 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM JST
Symposium 3 – Room 4
Oral presentations

Multiomic clustering of cutaneous melanoma patients to reveal survival trends based on tumor immune evasion features:

The presentation highlights BostonGene’s innovative approach of combining genomic and transcriptomic data to identify tumor immune microenvironment patterns linked to survival in patients with cutaneous melanoma.

Saturday, March 8 | 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM JST
Unraveling sarcomatoid features in clear cell renal cell carcinoma with RNA-seq:

This presentation will showcase the value of predictive modeling in developing targeted therapy to treat clear cell renal carcinoma, emphasizing BostonGene’s Tumor PortraitTM test in identifying unique and targetable clinical characteristics in cancer.

Saturday, March 8 | 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM JST
Poster presentations

Effective immune-based treatment of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma guided by next-generation gene profiling:

The presentation demonstrates cases of advanced disease with limited treatment options where BostonGene’s comprehensive genomic profiling guided targeted therapy selection.

Thursday, March 6 | 1:05 PM – 1:50 PM JST
Leveraging mappability and analysis of allele frequencies to mitigate false positive germline variant calling:

This study describes BostonGene’s advanced bioinformatic approaches to improve the reliability of germline variant detection in next-generation sequencing analysis.

Friday, March 7 | 2:05 PM – 2:50 PM JST
Evaluating the clinical utility of RNA- and DNA-based comprehensive genomic profiling in patients with advanced cancers:

This large prospective research study describes the diagnostic and clinical utility of BostonGene’s comprehensive genomic profiling in patients with advanced malignancies.

Friday, March 7 | 2:05 PM – 2:50 PM JST
Machine learning (ML)-enabled automation for high-throughput data processing in flow cytometry:

This study highlights BostonGene’s novel machine learning-based cell classification algorithm to significantly reduce turnaround time for analyzing cell populations.

Saturday, March 8 | 1:05 PM – 1:50 PM JST
For more information or to schedule a meeting with BostonGene during the event, please contact Zlata Polyakova at [email protected].

Cash-strapped Vincerx left mulling future after Oqory reverse merger falls apart

On March 2, 2025 Oqory reported its planned reverse merger with fellow antibody-drug conjugate company Vincerx Pharma has fallen apart at the last minute, leaving Vincerx to size up its remaining options in the final months before its cash runs dry (Press release, Oqory, MAR 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234650810]).

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The deal, which was expected to include a minimum fully diluted equity value of $13.66 million, would have seen 95% of the merged business owned by Oqory’s current equity holders while making use of Vincerx’s Nasdaq listing. When it announced the agreement in late December, Vincerx also initiated a C-suite clear-out that saw Ahmed Hamdy, M.D., stepping down as CEO and Chief Financial Officer Alexander Seelenberger leaving his role, alongside a wider "workforce reduction."

At the time, Vincerx’s Chief Operations Officer Raquel Izumi, Ph.D., who was moved into the acting CEO role, described being acquired by Oqory as "highlight[ing] Vincerx’s commitment to develop ADCs with improved safety profiles that allow patients to thrive on—rather than endure—their cancer therapies."