By Rob Curran
Shares of Leap Therapeutics slid after disappointing initial data from two mid-stage clinical trials of its oncology treatment, resulting in the discontinuation of one clinical program.
The Cambridge, Mass., biotech firm said colorectal cancer patients participating in the DeFianCe phase 2 clinical trial treated with its sirexatamab product candidate plus bevacizumab, a drug sold under the brand Avastin, and chemotherapy had an objective response rate of 35% and disease control rate of 86%. That was a slight improvement on the objective response rate of 23% and disease-control of 84% in a control group treated with bevacizumab and chemotherapy alone.
"These data support moving forward into phase 3 registrational studies to further explore a unique treatment option for patients in need," said Zev Wainberg, professor of medicine and co-director of the GI Oncology Program at UCLA.
Patients with gastroesophageal junction and gastric cancer participating in the DisTinGuish mid-stage phase 2 trial took sirexatamab in combination with tislelizumab, a BeiGene therapy. The study failed to show progress towards its primary goals. Leap Therapeutics will not move forward to a phase 3 clinical trial on patients with gastric cancer.
Shares of Leap fell 61% to 88 cents premarket.
Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 28, 2025 08:25 ET (13:25 GMT)
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