Anti-HER2 Bispecific ADC JSKN003 Received Approval to Initiate a Phase III Clinical Study for the Treatment of HER2-positive Breast Cancer

On February 6, 2025 Alphamab Oncology (Stock Code: 9966.HK) and CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. ("CSPC") (Stock Code: 1093.HK) reported that anti-HER2 biparatopic antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) JSKN003 has received approval from the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to initiate a Phase III clinical study (Study ID: JSKN003-301). The study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of JSKN003 versus trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) for the treatment of HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. This marks the third Phase III clinical study initiated for JSKN003, following the trials in HER2 low-expressing breast cancer and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

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Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors among women worldwide and the most prevalent cancer in women in China. HER2-positive breast cancer accounts for 20% to 25% of all breast cancer cases in China, and it is the most aggressive and highly malignant subtype, prone to recurrence, metastasis, and worse prognosis. In recent years, targeted therapies and combination treatments have emerged and significantly improved the diagnosis and treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. However, recurrent and metastatic breast cancer still poses a severe threat to patients’ health, with a significant unmet clinical need.

JSKN003 is an anti-HER2 bispecific ADC developed inhouse with Alphamab’s proprietary Glycan-specific conjugation platform. The antibody molecule KN026 is site-specifically modified via enzyme catalytic reaction and click chemistry to achieve a drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) of approximately 4. It can bind HER2 on the surface of tumor cells, and release topoisomerase I inhibitors (TOPIi) through cellular endocytosis, thereby exert anti-tumor effects. Compared with its ADC counterparts, JSKN003 demonstrated better serum stability and stronger bystander effect, which effectively expands the therapeutic window. Multiple clinical studies at various stages of JSKN003 conducted in China and Australia have demonstrated favorable tolerability and safety profile, with promising efficacy of JSKN003 in heavily pretreated patients with advanced solid tumors, especially in patients with HER2-expressing breast cancer, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC), or high HER2-expressing solid tumors.

JSKN003-301 is a randomized, controlled, open-label, multicenter, Phase III clinical study aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of JSKN003 compared to emtansine (T-DM1) in the treatment of patients with HER2-positive, unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who have previously received trastuzumab or taxane-based therapies. The primary endpoint of the study is progression-free survival (PFS) as assessed by the Blinded Independent Review Committee (BIRC).

About JSKN003

JSKN003 is an anti-HER2 bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (bis-ADC), which is developed inhouse with Alphamab’s proprietary Glycan-specific conjugation platform. JSKN003 can bind HER2 on the surface of tumor cells and release topoisomerase I inhibitors (TOPIi) through cellular endocytosis, thereby exert anti-tumor effects. Compared with its ADC counterparts, JSKN003 demonstrated better serum stability and stronger bystander effect, which effectively expands the therapeutic window.

Multiple clinical studies at various stages of JSKN003 are currently being conducted in China and Australia. Clinical research results have demonstrated favorable tolerability and safety profile, with promising efficacy of JSKN003 in heavily pretreated patients with advanced solid tumors, especially in patients with HER2-expressing breast cancer, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC), or high HER2-expressing solid tumors.

In September 2024, the Company entered a licensing agreement with JMT-Bio Technology Co., Ltd. ("JMT-Bio"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. ("CSPC") (stock code: 1093.HK), pursuant to which, JMT-Bio was granted the exclusive license and sublicense rights to develop, sell, offer for sale and commercialize JSKN003, for the treatment of tumor-related indications (the "Field") in mainland China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan) (the "Territory") and become the sole marketing authorization holder for JSKN003 for the Field in the Territory. Alphamab retains the sole right to supply JSKN003.

(Press release, Alphamab, FEB 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234657006])

Consolidated Financial Summary (IFRS) Fiscal 2024 year

On February 6, 2025 Kyowa Hakko Kirin reported financial year 2024 results (Press release, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, FEB 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234654255]).

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Full Year and Q4 2024 Results

On February 6, 2025 AstraZeneca reported full Year and fourth quarter 2024 Results (Presentation, AstraZeneca, FEB 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234650276]).

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Full Year and Q4 2024 results

On February 6, 2025 AstraZeneca reported full year and fourth quarter 2024 financial results (Press release, AstraZeneca, FEB 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234650236]).

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Kairos Pharma Oral Presentation on Its Investigational Compound KROS 101 at the 13th AACR-JCA Joint Conference Supports the Compound’s Potential as a Therapeutic for Melanoma and Glioblastoma

On February 6, 2025 Kairos Pharma, Ltd. (NYSE American: KAPA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, reported that the Company presented a talk during the plenary session of the joint AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)-JCA conference, From Cancer Discovery Science to Therapeutic Innovation, highlighting preclinical data on its glutocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR) agonist, KROS101 (Press release, Kairos Pharma, FEB 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234650094]).

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In the talk, titled, "KROS 101: A Next-Generation GITR Agonist Boosting Anti-Tumor T Cell Responses and Reprogramming the Tumor Microenvironment," recent findings from the Company’s in vivo work on the compound was presented. The results, which can be found here, demonstrated that KROS 101 is a potent GITR ligand agonist that enhances T cell infiltration, proliferation, and ability to kill cancer cells in mouse models of melanoma and in human glioblastoma in vitro, while effectively reducing T reg-mediated suppression. KROS 101 showed significant activity in enabling T cell proliferation and killing of melanoma tumors in vivo as well as glioblastoma tumor in vitro.

GITRL, one of the checkpoint cytokines in the family of tumor necrosis factor ligand family, regulates T cell function in autoimmunity and cancer. KROS 101 stabilizes the active form of GITRL and thereby reduces suppressive T-cells and enhances cytotoxic T cells. In a preclinical study, KROS 101 reduced melanoma tumor in a human GITR knock-in mouse model compared to those in mice treated with the GITR antibody TRX518, which was recently in clinical trials for solid cancers.

Dr. Ramachandran Murali, VP of Research and Development at Kairos Pharma and co-inventor of KROS 101, stated, "The performance of KROS 101 as a central mediator of T cell expansion in cancer has been supported by these studies."

Dr. John Yu, CEO of Kairos Pharma and co-inventor, added that "the preclinical data support the potential to exploit GITR as a lever for T cell expansion and novel therapy for cancer."

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) and Japanese Cancer Association (JCA) hosted the 13th AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)-JCA Joint Conference from February 1-5, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Maui, in Maui, Hawaii. The meeting series has a long tradition of bringing together outstanding researchers from the United States, Japan, and around the world to share their findings and present the latest advances in basic, translational, and clinical cancer research.