Genentech’s Giredestrant Becomes the First Oral SERD to Show Superior Invasive Disease-Free Survival in Early Breast Cancer

On November 17, 2025 Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), reported positive Phase III results from the lidERA Breast Cancer study evaluating investigational giredestrant as an adjuvant endocrine treatment for people with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, early-stage breast cancer. The study met its primary endpoint at a pre-planned interim analysis, showing a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in invasive disease-free survival with giredestrant versus standard-of-care endocrine therapy. lidERA is the first Phase III trial of a selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) to demonstrate a significant benefit in the adjuvant setting. The majority of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"Today’s results underscore the potential of giredestrant as a new endocrine therapy of choice for people with early-stage breast cancer, where there is a chance for cure," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Genentech’s chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "Given that ER-positive breast cancer accounts for approximately 70% of cases diagnosed, these findings – together with recent data in the advanced ER-positive setting – suggest that giredestrant has the potential to improve outcomes for many people with this disease."

Overall survival data were immature at the time of interim analysis, but a clear positive trend was observed. Giredestrant was well tolerated and adverse events were consistent with its known safety profile, with no unexpected safety findings observed. Data from lidERA will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and shared with health authorities with the aim of bringing this potential treatment option to patients around the world.

ER-positive breast cancer accounts for approximately 70% of breast cancer cases. Currently, up to a third of people eventually experience recurrence on or after adjuvant endocrine therapy treatment for early-stage breast cancer. Additionally, many have to interrupt or stop treatment early due to safety or tolerability issues, thereby increasing the risk of death. These limitations underscore the need for more effective and better-tolerated options that can enhance adherence and prevent or delay disease recurrence.

lidERA is the second positive Phase III readout for giredestrant following evERA Breast Cancer, which was presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2025. The scientific rationale for lidERA was supported by prior results in the neoadjuvant setting, including the coopERA trial showing that giredestrant was superior to an aromatase inhibitor in reducing malignant cell division (Ki67 levels). This growing body of evidence supports the potential of giredestrant to meaningfully improve outcomes compared with standard-of-care endocrine therapy across ER-positive early-stage and advanced breast cancer.

Genentech’s extensive giredestrant clinical development program spans multiple treatment settings and lines of therapy, reflecting our commitment to deliver innovative medicines to as many people with ER-positive breast cancer as possible.

About the lidERA Breast Cancer study
lidERA Breast Cancer [NCT04961996] is a Phase III, randomized, open-label, multicenter study evaluating the efficacy and safety of giredestrant versus standard-of-care endocrine therapy in people with medium- or high-risk stage I-III estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer. Over 4,100 patients were enrolled in the study.

The primary endpoint is invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) excluding unrelated cancers in other organs (second primary non-breast cancers). Key secondary endpoints include overall survival, iDFS including second primary non-breast cancers, disease-free survival and safety.

About estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer

Globally, the burden of breast cancer continues to grow, with 2.3 million women diagnosed and 670,000 dying from the disease every year. Breast cancer remains the number one cause of cancer-related deaths amongst women, and the second most common cancer type.

ER-positive breast cancer accounts for approximately 70% of breast cancer cases. A defining feature of ER-positive breast cancer is that its tumor cells have receptors that attach to estrogen, which can contribute to tumor growth.

Despite treatment advances, ER-positive breast cancer remains particularly challenging to treat due to its biological complexity. Patients often face the risk of disease progression, treatment side effects and resistance to endocrine therapy. There is an urgent need for more effective treatments that can delay clinical progression and reduce the burden of treatment on people’s lives.

About giredestrant
Giredestrant is an investigational, oral, potent next-generation selective estrogen receptor degrader and full antagonist.

Giredestrant is designed to block estrogen from binding to the estrogen receptor, triggering its breakdown (known as degradation) and stopping or slowing down the growth of cancer cells.

Giredestrant has an extensive clinical development program and is being investigated in five company-sponsored Phase III clinical trials that span multiple treatment settings and lines of therapy to benefit as many people as possible:

Giredestrant versus standard-of-care endocrine therapy (SoC ET) as adjuvant treatment in ER-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative early-stage breast cancer (lidERA Breast Cancer; NCT04961996)
Giredestrant plus everolimus versus SoC ET plus everolimus in ER-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (evERA Breast Cancer; NCT05306340)
Giredestrant plus palbociclib versus letrozole plus palbociclib in ER-positive, HER2-negative, endocrine-sensitive, recurrent locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (persevERA Breast Cancer; NCT04546009)
Giredestrant plus investigator’s choice of a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitor versus fulvestrant plus a CDK 4/6 inhibitor in ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer resistant to adjuvant endocrine therapy (pionERA Breast Cancer; NCT06065748)
Giredestrant plus dual HER2 blockade versus dual HER2 blockade in ER-positive, HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (heredERA Breast Cancer; NCT05296798)

(Press release, Genentech, NOV 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234660034])

Candel Therapeutics to Host Virtual R&D Event on December 5, 2025

On November 17, 2025 Candel Therapeutics, Inc. (Candel or the Company) (Nasdaq: CADL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing multimodal biological immunotherapies to help patients fight cancer, reported it will host a virtual Research and Development (R&D) Event from 11:00 am – 1:45 pm ET on Friday, December 5, 2025.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Candel’s R&D Day will include presentations and panel discussions from its executive leadership, clinical investigators, scientific advisors, and key collaborators. The event will provide an extensive overview of the Company’s viral immunotherapy approach and oncology-focused pipeline. Click here to register for the event.

The R&D Day will include the following presentations:

Introduction to Candel Therapeutics:

Paul Peter Tak, MD, PhD, FMedSci, Candel’s President and CEO

Panel Discussion: Immuno-oncology: The next wave of innovation

Panelists:

James P. Allison, PhD, Nobel Laureate, Regental Professor and Chair of Immunology, and Founding Director of Scientific Programs for the James P. Allison Institute at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Carl H. June, MD, Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy and Director, Center for Cellular Immunotherapies and Parker Institute for Cancer Therapy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD, Professor of Genitourinary Medical Oncology and Immunology, and Director of Scientific Programs for the James P. Allison Institute at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Moderator: Yigal Nochomovitz, PhD, Citi Group

CAN-2409 for newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer

Glen Gejerman, MD, Co-chief of Urologic Oncology, Hackensack University Medical Center

Philip Kantoff, MD, Former Chair, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, CEO, Convergent Therapeutics

Garrett Nichols, MD, MS, Candel’s Chief Medical Officer

Ron Tutrone, MD, National Director of Clinical Research, United Urology

Moderator: Oliver McCammon, LifeSci Capital

CAN2409: Roadmap to Biologics License Application (BLA)

Sue Stewart, JD, Candel’s Chief Regulatory Officer

Seshu Tyagarajan, PhD, Candel’s Chief Technical and Development Officer

Moderator: Andres Maldonado, PhD, HC Wainwright & Co.

CAN-2409: Pre-commercialization roadmap

Jonathan Mitchell, MSc, Partner, Globe Life Sciences

Jacqueline Poot, President, IDEA Pharma

Paul Peter Tak, MD, PhD, FMedSci, Candel’s President and CEO

Moderator: Andres Maldonado, PhD, HC Wainwright & Co.

CAN-2409 for immune checkpoint inhibitor refractory non-small cell lung cancer

Panelists:

Charu Aggarwal, MD, Professor of Lung Cancer Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Roy Herbst, MD, PhD, Ensign Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology) and Professor of Pharmacology, Yale Cancer Center

Dan Sterman, MD, Thomas and Suzanne Murphy Professor of Medicine and Cardiothoracic Surgery, NYU Langone Health

Moderator: John Newman, PhD, Canaccord Genuity

CAN-3110 for recurrent glioblastoma

Francesca Barone, MD, PhD, Candel’s Chief Scientific Officer

Henry Brem, MD, Professor of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University

Moderator: Kemp Dolliver, Brookline Capital Markets

Registration for this virtual event and access to the live webcast and subsequent replay will be accessible under "Events and Presentations" on the Investors page of the Company’s website at www.candeltx.com or by clicking here.

About CAN-2409

CAN-2409 (aglatimagene besadenovec), Candel’s most advanced multimodal biological immunotherapy candidate, is an investigational, off-the-shelf, replication-defective adenovirus designed to deliver the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene to a patient’s tumor. After intratumoral administration, HSV-tk enzyme activity results in conversion of prodrug (valacyclovir) into deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-incorporating nucleotide analogs, leading to immunogenic cell death in cells exhibiting DNA damage and proliferating cells, with subsequent release of a variety of tumor (neo)antigens in the tumor microenvironment. At the same time, the adenoviral serotype 5 capsid proteins promote inflammation through the induction of expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules. Together, this regimen is designed to induce an individualized and specific CD8+ T cell-mediated response against the injected tumor and uninjected distant metastases for broad anti-tumor activity, based on in situ immunization against a variety of tumor antigens. CAN-2409 has the potential to treat a broad range of solid tumors. Encouraging monotherapy activity as well as combination activity with standard of care radiotherapy, surgery, chemotherapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitors have previously been shown in several preclinical and clinical settings. More than 1,000 patients have been dosed with CAN-2409 in clinical trials with a favorable tolerability profile to date, supporting the potential for combination with standard of care, when indicated.

About CAN-3110

CAN-3110 (linoserpaturev) is a first-in-class, replication-competent herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) next-generation oncolytic viral immunotherapy candidate designed for dual activity for oncolysis and immune activation in a single therapeutic. In October 2023, the Company announced that Nature published results from the ongoing clinical trial where CAN-3110 was reported to be generally well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicity. In the clinical trial, the investigators observed improved mOS compared to historical controls after a single CAN-3110 injection in this therapy-resistant condition.1 The Company and academic collaborators are currently supported by the Break Through Cancer foundation.

(Press release, Candel Therapeutics, NOV 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234660033])

Phio Pharmaceuticals Announces Upcoming Podium Presentation at the Advanced Therapies USA 2025 Congress

On November 17, 2025 Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: PHIO) is a clinical-stage siRNA biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics using its proprietary INTASYL gene silencing technology to eliminate cancer reported that a podium presentation highlighting INTASYL siRNA Drug Technology will be held at the Advanced Therapies USA 2025 Congress in Philadelphia, PA at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from November 18-19, 2025.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Podium Presentation Details are as follows:

Title: INTASYL Synthesized siRNA Drug Technology
Down-regulating Gene Expression
Presenting Author: Melissa Maxwell, M.S.
Date: November 18, 2025
Location: Innovation Showcase (Track 2, Seminar Theatre)
Time: 1:15 PM EDT

"The INTASYL siRNA technology represents a promising approach to enhance cancer treatment." said Robert Bitterman, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Phio Pharmaceuticals. "Further the INTASYL compound PH-762 may fulfill a medical need for a non-surgical treatment option for patients with cutaneous carcinomas."

(Press release, Phio Pharmaceuticals, NOV 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234660032])

Propanc Biopharma Provides Corporate Update and Reports First Quarter 2025/26 Results

On November 17, 2025 Propanc Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPCB) ("Propanc" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel treatments for recurrent and metastatic cancer, reported an update on corporate progress and reported financial results for the first quarter ended September 30, 2025 (Year end June 30).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Corporate and R&D Highlights

Advancing PRP Toward Phase 1b First-in-Human Trial (2026)

Propanc continues to advance its lead candidate, PRP, toward a world-first Phase 1b clinical study in 30–40 patients with advanced solid tumors at the Peter Mac Cancer Center in Melbourne. GMP manufacturing scale-up, analytical method validation, and preparation of the Investigator’s Brochure and Clinical Trial Application are underway. Purification processes have been successfully scaled, delivering >95% purity to pharmaceutical standards. Two related patents are in drafting.

Progressing Rec-PRP Synthetic Program

Rec-PRP, a fully synthetic recombinant version of PRP designed for improved stability and global scalability, is undergoing biological validation against the bovine-derived formulation. Supporting research has identified methods enabling large-scale production, with patent drafting in progress. Rec-PRP will enter formal preclinical development following potency evaluation.

POP1 Joint Research Program Extension

Propanc is negotiating a 12-month extension with the Universities of Jaén and Granada to expand the POP1 research program. Recent findings show PRP significantly reduces tumorigenicity in Gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer and modulates malignant cells toward a less aggressive phenotype. Additional patents are being prepared based on these results.

Corporate and Financial Updates

Nasdaq Listing & Public Offering

The Company closed an underwritten public offering of 1,000,000 shares at $4.00 per share, raising gross proceeds of $4 million. Propanc’s common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on August 15.

$100 Million Private Placement Facility

Propanc entered into a private placement agreement for up to $100 million to accelerate clinical development. The Company received an initial $1 million investment upon issuance of 100 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock.

Q1 Financial Summary (Quarter Ended September 30, 2025)

Total current assets: $17 million
Total current liabilities reduced by $2 million
Net cash from financing activities: $2.53 million
Quarter-end cash: $600,000
$1 million initial tranche from the Series C facility subsequently received
The Company expects the financing facility to support planned R&D activities, including advancement of PRP and Rec-PRP.

Management Commentary

"Our first quarter delivered meaningful progress across clinical, financial, and strategic initiatives," said James Nathanielsz, CEO of Propanc. "We are focused on initiating the Phase 1b PRP clinical trial, advancing Rec-PRP into preclinical development, and expanding our IP portfolio. With our recent Nasdaq uplisting and long-term financing facility, we are well-positioned to accelerate commercialization of our proenzyme technology."

(Press release, Propanc, NOV 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234660031])

Merus and Halozyme Enter Global Collaboration and License Agreement to Develop Subcutaneous Formulation of Petosemtamab

On November 17, 2025 Merus N.V. (Nasdaq: MRUS) ("Merus"), an oncology company developing innovative, full-length multispecific antibodies and antibody drug conjugates (Biclonics, Triclonics and ADClonics), and Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: HALO) ("Halozyme"), a leader in subcutaneous drug delivery solutions, reported they have entered into a global non-exclusive collaboration and license agreement. Under the collaboration, Merus has licensed Halozyme’s ENHANZE drug delivery technology, for the development and potential commercialization of subcutaneous administration of petosemtamab, an EGFR x LGR5 bispecific antibody.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"Petosemtamab continues to show encouraging results in the clinical studies across numerous solid tumor cancers and has the potential to become a first and best in class treatment in head and neck cancer and beyond. We are proud to collaborate with Halozyme and look forward to working closely with their team on a subcutaneous administration," said Peter Silverman, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel of Merus.

"We are excited to collaborate with Merus to advance treatment options for patients with r/m HNSCC and other potential indications," said Dr. Helen Torley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Halozyme. "This collaboration represents a new opportunity for our ENHANZE technology to improve treatment efficiency and enhance the patient treatment experience. Together, we aim to accelerate innovation for patients and healthcare providers."

Under the terms of the agreement, Merus will make an upfront payment to Halozyme, and potential future milestone payments related to commercial and sales attainment, if approved. Halozyme will also be entitled to up to low-mid single digit royalties on net sales of petosemtamab formulated with the ENHANZE technology during the royalty term.

(Press release, Merus, NOV 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234660030])