On June 2, 2025 Astrazeneca and Daiichi sankyo reported positive results from the DESTINY-Breast09 Phase III trial showed Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) plus pertuzumab demonstrated a highly statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to a taxane, trastuzumab and pertuzumab (THP) as a 1st-line treatment for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (Press release, AstraZeneca, JUN 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234653634]).

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Results will be presented today during a special late-breaking oral session at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL (abstract #LBA1008).

In a prespecified interim analysis, Enhertu plus pertuzumab reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 44% versus THP (based on a hazard ratio [HR] of 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44-0.71; p<0.00001). Median PFS was 40.7 months with Enhertu plus pertuzumab compared to 26.9 months for THP, as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR). The PFS benefit for Enhertu plus pertuzumab versus THP was consistent across subgroups, including for the prespecified stratification factors of de novo or recurrent disease, hormone receptor status and PIK3CA mutation status.

Investigator-assessed PFS demonstrated a median PFS of 40.7 months for Enhertu plus pertuzumab compared to 20.7 months for THP (HR 0.49; 95% CI 0.39-0.61; nominal p-value <0.00001).

Confirmed objective response rate (ORR) with Enhertu plus pertuzumab was 85.1% versus 78.6% with THP. There were 58 complete responses (CRs) with Enhertu plus pertuzumab compared to 33 with THP. Median duration of response (DOR) for Enhertu plus pertuzumab exceeded three years (39.2 months) versus 26.4 months with THP.

Overall survival (OS) was not mature at the time of the interim analysis (16% maturity at data cut-off); however, interim OS data showed an early trend favouring the Enhertu combination compared to THP (HR 0.84; 95% CI 0.59-1.19).

Sara Tolaney, MD, MPH, Chief of the Division of Breast Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and principal investigator in the trial, said: "Patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer often experience disease progression around two years after initiating standard-of-care first-line treatment. With a median progression-free survival of more than three years, the DESTINY-Breast09 results show trastuzumab deruxtecan combined with pertuzumab has the potential to become a new first-line standard of care for these patients."

Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology Haematology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: "Bringing Enhertu earlier in the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer may represent an important advancement for patients. The DESTINY-Breast09 trial showed the combination of Enhertu and pertuzumab in the first-line setting substantially increased the amount of time before a patient’s cancer progressed compared to standard of care and nearly doubled the number of patients showing no signs of disease on imaging. Establishing a strong therapeutic response as soon as metastatic disease is diagnosed is critical given that about one in three patients do not receive further treatment after progressing in the first-line setting."

Ken Takeshita, Global Head, R&D, Daiichi Sankyo, said: "Enhertu continues to transform the treatment of metastatic breast cancer with the first new data in more than a decade to demonstrate improved outcomes for a broad population of patients with HER2-positive disease compared to THP in the first-line setting. DESTINY-Breast09 shows that initiating treatment with Enhertu in combination with pertuzumab at the time of metastatic diagnosis can delay disease progression."

Summary of DESTINY-Breast09 interim analysis results

Efficacy Measure

Enhertu (5.4 mg/kg) + pertuzumab

(n=383)

THP

(n=387)

PFS by BICRi

Median PFS (months) (95% CI)

40.7

(36.5-NC)

26.9

(21.8-NC)

Hazard ratio (95% CI)

HR 0.56 (0.44-0.71)

p-value

p<0.00001ii

24-month PFS rate (%) (95% CI)

70.1

(64.8-74.8)

52.1

(46.4-57.5)

PFS by investigator

Median PFS (months) (95% CI)

40.7

(36.5-NC)

20.7

(17.3-23.5)

Hazard ratio (95% CI)

HR 0.49 (0.39-0.61)

Nominal p-value

p<0.00001ii

PFS2 by investigatoriii

Median PFS2 (months) (95% CI)

NC

(NC-NC)

36.5

(36.1-NC)

Hazard ratio (95% CI)

HR 0.60 (0.45-0.79)

Nominal p-value

0.00038ii

ORR by BICR iv

Confirmed ORR (%) (95% CI)v

85.1

(81.2-88.5)

78.6

(74.1-82.5)

CR % (n)

15.1 (58)

8.5 (33)

PR % (n)

70 (268)

70 (271)

SD % (n)

9.9 (38)

14.5 (56)

Median DOR in months (95% CI)

39.2

(35.1-NC)

26.4

(22.3-NC)

Remaining in response at 24 months (%)​

73.3​

54.9​

THP, taxane, trastuzumab and pertuzumab; PFS, progression-free survival; BICR, blinded independent central review, CI, confidence interval; NC, not calculable; HR, hazard ratio; ORR, objective response rate; CR, complete response; PR, partial response, SD, stable disease; DOR, duration of response

i. Interim analysis was based on a data cut-off of 26 Feb 2025; interim analysis criterion for superiority for primary endpoint (P-value <0.00043); ~38% maturity at data cut-off
ii. Stratified log-rank test
iii. PFS2 was defined by investigators according to local standard clinical practice as the time from randomisation to second progression (earliest progression event following first subsequent therapy) or death
iv. ORR is (CR + PR) based on RECIST v1.1
v. Response required confirmation after 4 weeks

Median duration of follow-up was nearly 2.5 years (29.2 months). As of the data cut-off, 302 (39.6%) patients remained on treatment, 174 in the Enhertu plus pertuzumab arm and 128 in the THP arm.

The safety profile of Enhertu in combination with pertuzumab in DESTINY-Breast09 was consistent with the known profiles of each individual therapy with no new safety concerns identified. Interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis occurred in 12.1% of patients treated with Enhertu in combination with pertuzumab, as determined by an independent adjudication committee. The majority of ILD events were low Grade (Grade 1 [n=17; 4.5%] or Grade 2 [n=27; 7.1%]). There were no Grade 3 or Grade 4 ILD events. There were two Grade 5 (0.5%) ILD events in the Enhertu plus pertuzumab arm.

An additional investigational arm of the trial assessing Enhertu monotherapy versus THP remains blinded to patients and investigators and will continue to the final PFS analysis.

Enhertu is a specifically engineered HER2-directed DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo and being jointly developed and commercialised by Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca.

Enhertu is already approved in more than 80 countries as 2nd-line treatment for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast03 trial.

Notes

HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide.1 More than two million breast cancer cases were diagnosed in 2022, with more than 665,000 deaths globally.1 While survival rates are high for those diagnosed with early breast cancer, only about 30% of patients diagnosed with or who progress to metastatic disease are expected to live five years following diagnosis.2

HER2 is a tyrosine kinase receptor growth-promoting protein expressed on the surface of many types of tumours including breast cancer.3 HER2 protein overexpression may occur as a result of HER2 gene amplification.4

HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer is an aggressive disease driven by overexpression or amplification of HER2 that affects 15% to 20% of patients with metastatic breast cancer.5,6 Approximately 23,000 patients are treated each year in the 1st-line HER2-positive setting across G7 countries alone.7

While HER2-targeted therapies have improved outcomes, prognosis remains poor with most patients experiencing disease progression within two years of 1st-line treatment with THP, which has been the standard of care for more than a decade.4,8-10 Further, approximately one in three patients do not go on to receive treatment following 1st-line therapy due to disease progression or death.11,12

DESTINY-Breast09
DESTINY-Breast09 is a global, multicentre, randomised, open-label, Phase III trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Enhertu (5.4 mg/kg) either alone or in combination with pertuzumab versus standard of care THP (a taxane [docetaxel or paclitaxel], trastuzumab and pertuzumab) as a 1st-line treatment in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Patients were randomised 1:1:1 to receive either Enhertu monotherapy with a pertuzumab matching placebo; Enhertu in combination with pertuzumab; or THP. Randomisation was stratified by prior treatment (de novo metastatic disease versus progression from early-stage disease), hormone receptor status and PIK3CA mutation status.

The primary endpoint of DESTINY-Breast09 is PFS as assessed by BICR in both the Enhertu monotherapy and Enhertu combination arms. Secondary endpoints include OS, ORR, DOR, investigator-assessed PFS and PFS2 and safety.

DESTINY-Breast09 enrolled 1,157 patients across multiple sites in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America. For more information about the trial, visit ClinicalTrials.gov.

Enhertu
Enhertu is a HER2-directed ADC. Designed using Daiichi Sankyo’s proprietary DXd ADC Technology, Enhertu is the lead ADC in the oncology portfolio of Daiichi Sankyo and the most advanced programme in AstraZeneca’s ADC scientific platform. Enhertu consists of a HER2 monoclonal antibody attached to a number of topoisomerase I inhibitor payloads (an exatecan derivative, DXd) via tetrapeptide-based cleavable linkers.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 80 countries worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (immunohistochemistry [IHC 3+ or in-situ hybridisation [ISH]+) breast cancer who have received a (or one or more) prior anti-HER2-based regimen, either in the metastatic setting or in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting, and have developed disease recurrence during or within six months of completing therapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast03 trial.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 80 countries worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-low (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ ISH-) breast cancer who have received a prior systemic therapy in the metastatic setting or developed disease recurrence during or within six months of completing adjuvant chemotherapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast04 trial.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 30 countries for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-low (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH-) or HER2-ultralow (IHC 0 with membrane staining) breast cancer, as determined by a locally or regionally approved test, that have progressed on one or more endocrine therapies in the metastatic setting based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast06 trial.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 60 countries worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours have activating HER2 (ERBB2) mutations, as detected by a locally or regionally approved test, and who have received a prior systemic therapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Lung02 and/or DESTINY-Lung05 trials. Continued approval in China and the US for this indication is contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

Enhertu (6.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 70 countries worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or 2+/ISH+) gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma who have received a prior trastuzumab-based regimen based on the results from the DESTINY-Gastric01, DESTINY-Gastric02 and/or DESTINY-Gastric06 trials. Continued approval in China for this indication will depend on whether a randomised controlled confirmatory clinical trial can demonstrate clinical benefit in this population.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in the US and other countries for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+) solid tumours who have received prior systemic treatment and have no satisfactory alternative treatment options based on the results from the DESTINY-PanTumor02, DESTINY-Lung01 and DESTINY-CRC02 trials. Continued approval for this indication in the US is contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

Enhertu clinical development programme
A comprehensive global clinical development programme is underway evaluating the efficacy and safety of Enhertu as monotherapy, in combination or sequentially with other anti-cancer therapies across multiple HER2-targetable cancers.

On June 2, 2025 Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRA), a global leader in cell-free DNA and precision medicine, reported results from a large-scale pan-cancer study of its Signatera Genome assay, which was presented today, June 2nd, at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (Press release, Natera, JUN 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234653650]).

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The study analyzed the performance of Signatera Genome in a cohort of 392 patients (> 2,600 plasma samples) across five different tumor types (breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and colorectal cancer). Key results included:

Excellent pan-cancer performance: Signatera Genome demonstrated overall longitudinal sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 100% across 5 cancer types. Longitudinal sensitivity was 100% in lung cancer and renal cancer, and post-surgical landmark sensitivity was over 70% in both lung cancer and breast cancer.
Ultrasensitive detection: In the surveillance setting, nearly 50% of Signatera-positive cases were detected in the ultra-sensitive range (≤100 parts per million).
Highly predictive of long-term outcomes: In the pancancer cohort, patients who tested Signatera-negative had excellent prognosis, with 100% distant relapse-free survival (DRFS) at 12 months and 99% at 24 months. In contrast, Signatera-positive patients faced a markedly higher risk of recurrence, with DRFS dropping to 41% at 12 months and just 14% at 24 months.
Extended lead times: Signatera Genome detected recurrence 3 months earlier, on average, compared to the Signatera Exome assay.
Demonstrates Signatera’s potential to identify which patients may benefit from adjuvant therapy: Among Signatera-positive patients, those who received adjuvant therapy had significantly improved outcomes, with a 12-month DRFS of 83% compared to 49% for those who did not receive therapy. For Signatera-negative patients, there was no meaningful benefit from adjuvant therapy with a 12-month DRFS of 93% (treated) vs. 98% (observation).
"These results highlight that our ultra-sensitive Signatera Genome assay not only enables detection of ctDNA at extremely low levels, but also provides powerful insights into patient prognosis and treatment response," said Alexey Aleshin, M.D., MBA, corporate chief medical officer and general manager of oncology at Natera. "This is one of the largest MRD studies of a genome tumor-informed MRD assay, and reinforces the excellent performance of Signatera across a wide range of solid tumors."

About Signatera

Signatera is a personalized, tumor-informed, molecular residual disease test for patients previously diagnosed with cancer. Custom-built for each individual, Signatera uses circulating tumor DNA to detect and quantify cancer left in the body, identify recurrence earlier than standard of care tools, and help optimize treatment decisions. The test is available for clinical and research use and has coverage by Medicare across a broad range of indications. Signatera has been clinically validated across multiple cancer types and indications, with published evidence in more than 100 peer-reviewed papers.

On June 2, 2025 Novartis reported topline results from a pre-specified interim analysis of the Phase III PSMAddition trial. The trial met its primary endpoint with a statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefit in radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) with a positive trend in overall survival (OS) in patients with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) treated with radioligand therapy (RLT), Pluvicto (lutetium (177Lu) vipivotide tetraxetan), in combination with standard of care (SoC) versus SoC alone (Press release, Novartis, JUN 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234653556]). In PSMAddition, the SoC is a combination of androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) therapy and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)3.

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Almost all mHSPC patients ultimately progress to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)4. There is a need for additional treatment options with novel mechanisms of action that further delay progression, prolong OS and improve disease control compared to the current SoC, while showing a favorable safety and tolerability profile.

"The progression from metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer to castration-resistant disease remains a formidable challenge that can profoundly impact the survival of patients," said Shreeram Aradhye, M.D., President, Development and Chief Medical Officer at Novartis. "These results further strengthen our confidence in Pluvicto as a PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy. Following the recent FDA approval based on the PSMAfore trial in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, these data suggest using it in an earlier disease setting could advance care and address a significant unmet need for hormone-sensitive prostate cancer patients."

This is the third positive read-out for Pluvicto in a Phase III trial, following the VISION and PSMAfore studies5,6. Results from PSMAddition in mHSPC show potential for treatment in an earlier setting with Pluvicto, which was recently granted US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for earlier use in mCRPC, based on results from PSMAfore1,2. Novartis is harnessing the innovation of world-class scientists, strategic partnerships and one of the industry’s most competitive pipelines to explore the potential of new, targeted therapies and precision medicine platforms to address the greatest unmet needs in prostate cancer.

Data will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and, based on FDA feedback, will be submitted for regulatory review in the second half of the year.

About PSMAddition study
PSMAddition (NCT04720157) is a Phase III, open-label, prospective, 1:1 randomized study comparing the efficacy and safety of Pluvicto in combination with SoC (ARPI + ADT) vs. SoC alone in adult patients with PSMA-positive mHSPC3. Patients randomized to the SoC alone arm are allowed to crossover to receive Pluvicto, upon confirmation of radiographic progression by blinded independent review committee (BIRC) and per the discretion of the treating physician3. The primary endpoint is rPFS, defined as the time to radiographic progression by PCWG3-modified RECIST V1.1 (as assessed by BIRC) or death3. The key secondary endpoint of OS is defined as time to death due to any cause3.

About Pluvicto (INN: lutetium (177Lu) vipivotide tetraxetan)
Pluvicto is an intravenous RLT that combines a targeting compound (a ligand) with a therapeutic radionuclide (a radioactive particle, in this case lutetium-177)5,7. After administration into the bloodstream, Pluvicto binds to PSMA-expressing target cells, including prostate cancer cells that express PSMA, a transmembrane protein5,7. Once bound, energy emissions from the radioisotope damage the target cells and nearby cells, disrupting their ability to replicate and/or triggering cell death7. Pluvicto is the only PSMA-targeted agent approved for PSMA-positive mCRPC and is the first targeted RLT to demonstrate a clinical benefit for patients with PSMA-positive mHSPC1. Novartis is investigating Pluvicto in earlier stages of disease, including oligometastatic prostate cancer (PSMA-DC, NCT05939414).

On June 2, 2025 Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) reported it will participate in the Goldman Sachs 46th Annual Global Health Care Conference on June 10, 2025. Lucas Montarce, Lilly executive vice president and chief financial officer, will take part in a fireside chat at 8 a.m., Eastern time (Press release, Eli Lilly, JUN 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234653603]).

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A live audio webcast will be available on the "Webcasts & Presentations" section of Lilly’s investor website at View Source A replay of the presentation will be available on this same website for approximately 90 days.

On June 2, 2025 PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB) ("PDS Biotech" or the "Company"), a late-stage immunotherapy company focused on transforming how the immune system targets and kills cancers, reported publication of three Versamune HPV abstracts now available on the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting website (Press release, PDS Biotechnology, JUN 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234653620]). These abstracts summarize Versamune HPV (PDS0101) studies that were presented during the Head and Neck Cancer Poster Session taking place May 30-June 3, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois.

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It is estimated that over 50% of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cases in the US are HPV16-positive.1 HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC are two distinct diseases with different underlying causes, origin, risk factors, and contributions to the development of HNSCC. Multiple types of HPV are associated with HSNCC, and those cases are commonly identified with a p16 histochemistry test and referred to as p16-positive. A p16-positive test result suggests that the patient’s cancer may be due to any of the over 100 types of HPV. PDS Biotech is specifically addressing HNSCC related to HPV type 16 (HPV16), the most carcinogenic type of HPV. 2 HPV16-positive HNSCC has been identified as a rapidly growing and severe medical need.3,4 HPV16 is a specific type of HPV that must be confirmed using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

PDS Biotechnology’s trial differs from the other ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials addressing 1L r/m HNSCC based on its specific HPV16-positive HNSCC target population and its therapeutic approach.

Phase 3 Development

EGFR Bispecific Antibodies

PDS Biotechnology
Therapeutic Approach

Blocking antibodies targeting EGFR and a second receptor

HPV16-targeted T cell immunotherapy
Treated Populations

Predominantly HPV-negative and no confirmed HPV16-positive HNSCC patients#

100% HPV16-positive HNSCC*
Mechanism of Action

Inhibition of EGFR signaling and either LGR5 or TGF-β

Promotes multi-functional CD4 (helper) and CD8 (killer) T cell response targeting HPV16 E6 and E7 expressing tumors
#P16 histochemistry test to determine infection with any of > 100 types of HPV
*Confirmatory PCR test for HPV16-positive specific infection

Kevin Harrington, M.D., Ph.D. of The Institute of Cancer Research in the United Kingdom stated, "HPV-positive HNSCC is today seen as a different disease from HPV-negative HNSCC. HPV-positive HNSCC has different biological characteristics and requires a more targeted approach that treats the underlying HPV integration and persistence into the patient’s tumor DNA. Cytotoxic drugs and the EGFR inhibitor cetuximab have not worked as well in HPV-positive HNSCC to date."

HPV16 has been reported to suppress the immune system’s ability to respond to the virus, resulting in more difficult-to-treat and non-immunogenic tumors.5 At least two studies have compared patients with HPV16-positive HNSCC with p16-positive patients (excluding HPV16) and patients with HPV-negative HNSCC, and shown patients with HPV16-positive HNSCC to have significantly worse survival prognosis than other p16-positive HNSCC, and in an advanced oral cancer study, patients with HPV16-positive HNSCC had significantly worse survival than patients with HPV-negative HNSCC.6,7

To accurately identify and appropriately treat patients with HPV16-positive HNSCC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that a companion diagnostic be developed and included in the ongoing VERSATILE-003 Phase 3 trial.

VERSATILE-002: Overall Survival of HPV16-Positive Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated with T Cell Stimulating Immunotherapy PDS0101 and Pembrolizumab (Abstract #6037) – Poster Presentation. June 2, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CDT

The trial was performed across 31 sites in the US and Europe. Median follow-up time is 22.1 months (range 0.2-43.0 months), representing one of the most extended follow-up periods to date of subjects receiving treatment for HPV16-positive 1L r/m HNSCC.

Median overall survival (mOS) has remained steady at 30.0 months over the last 1.5 years, suggesting durability of the Versamune HPV-induced clinical responses. The lower limit of the 95% confidence interval for mOS has, however, increased from 18.4 months in 2023 to 23.9 months as the data has matured. All data are reported according to RECISTv1.1 criteria, requiring clinical responses on at least two consecutive tumor scans at least 4 weeks apart. Enrollment in the trial (n=53) is complete; 22 patients (including 3 still on treatment) continue to be followed for survival. No new safety signals have emerged.

Summary of results for Versamune HPV with pembrolizumab stratified by patient CPS status.

Versamune HPV (PDS0101) + Pembrolizumab (VERSATILE-002)

CPS ≥ 1
N=53 (100%)
CPS ≥ 20
N=21/53 (40%)
CPS 1-19
N=32/53 (60%)

Median Overall Survival (mOS)
30.0 months
(95% Confidence interval,
lower limit of 23.9 months,
upper limit not yet estimable
(NE))
39.3 months
(95% CI 30.0, NE)
26.1 months
(95% CI 15.3, NE)

Median Progression Free Survival (PFS)
6.3 months
(95% CI 2.8, 14.1)
14.1 months
(95% CI 2.1, NE)
5.1 months
(95% CI 2.2, 8.1)

Objective Response Rate (ORR)
19/53 (35.8%)
10/21 (47.6%)
9/32 (28.1%)

Tumor Shrinkage of 90-100%

11/53 (20.8%)
6/21 (28.6%)
5/32 (15.6%)

Disease Control Rate (DCR)

41/53 (77.4%)
17/21 (81.0%)
24/53 (75.0%)

Median Duration of Response (DoR)
21.8 months
(95% CI 11.5, NE)
NE
(95% CI 5.6, NE)
21.8 months
(95% CI 4.2, NE)
The longest published mOS reported to date with pembrolizumab monotherapy and combinations with pembrolizumab in patients with 1L r/m HNSCC and CPS ≥ 1 is 17.9 months8.

Jared Weiss, M.D., Section Chief of Thoracic and Head/Neck Oncology, Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina, and Principal Investigator of the VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 clinical trial, stated, "The mOS results are highly encouraging in patients with advanced HPV Type 16-positive HNSCC. This is great news for patients, and we are encouraged that mOS has remained durable over the last 1.5 years. We look forward to the randomized Phase 3 trial, which is the only ongoing registrational trial to specifically address this rapidly growing population of patients."

Dr. Kirk Shepard, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of PDS Biotech, continued, "We are very pleased with the overall survival (OS) results. As stated in a 2023 Journal of Clinical Oncology article authored by the FDA, OS is considered the gold standard for oncology approvals. The article discussed the discordance between ORR, PFS and OS. In recently published registrational 1L r/m HNSCC studies, improved ORR and PFS have not translated to improved OS. We look forward to the two interim survival data readouts from the ongoing Phase 3 study as well as the final OS results."