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Significant Tumor Reductions in Neoadjuvant MSS Colon Cancer Patients Treated with Botensilimab/Balstilimab Presented at ESMO GI Conference
Extended BOT/BAL Therapy Yields Pronounced Improvements in Tumor Reductions LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Agenus Inc. (“Agenus”) (Nasdaq: AGEN), a
About this update from Agenus Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\nExtended BOT/BAL Therapy Yields Pronounced Improvements in Tumor Reductions\n\n\n LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nAgenus Inc. (“Agenus”) (Nasdaq: AGEN), a leader in developing novel immunological agents to treat various cancers, today announced results from an investigator-sponsored trial (IST) of botensilimab and balstilimab (BOT/BAL) in the neoadjuvant setting for colon cancer. Data were presented at the 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress in Munich, Germany.\n\n\nDr. Pashtoon Kasi, the originator of this groundbreaking study, stated, “The rapid and complete resolution of aggressive MSS colorectal cancer tumors observed in this study is unprecedented in the field. The exceptional activity of the BOT/BAL combination therapy in the neoadjuvant setting offers new hope for patients facing this challenging cancer subtype. Furthermore, the pattern of response and the lack of clinical recurrence speaks to the curative potential of one’s own body to fight cancer.”\n\n\nStudy Highlights:\n\n\n\nEnrollment: 20 patients were evaluable at the data cutoff with available pathology results, 17 microsatellite stable (MSS) and 3 high microsatellite instability (MSI-H).\n\n\n\nTreatment Regimens: Both cohorts received one dose of botensilimab with balstilimab. The NEST-1 cohort received one additional dose of balstilimab two weeks later, whereas the NEST-2 cohort received up to 3 additional doses of balstilimab.\n\n\n\nClinical Findings:\n\n\n\nPathologic Response: In the NEST-2 cohort, 78% (7/9) of MSS patients achieved pathologic responses of at least 50% tumor regression, with 56% (5/9) reaching complete pathologic responses.\n\n\n\nSurgical Outcomes and Safety: No surgeries were delayed due to adverse events, and no patients had unresolved immune related adverse events. Side effects were manageable, and no new safety concerns emerged.\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nPathologic Response\n\n\n\n\n(>50% Regression)\n\n\n\n\n\n\nComplete Pathologic Response\n\n\n\n\n(100% Regression)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNEST-1 (N=10)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMSS (N=8)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n5 (63%)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1 (13%)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMSI-H (N=2)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n2 (100%)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1 (50%)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNEST-2 (N=10)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMSS (N=9)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n7 (78%)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n5 (56%)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMSI-H (N=1)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1 (1...