ASCO-GU preview: showdown for Exelixis

Among the abstract titles from ASCO’s upcoming Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, all of which are now available, one that stands out concerns the Contact-02 trial of Exelixis/Ipsen’s Cabometyx in second-line prostate cancer. That study was toplined as positive for progression-free survival last August, marking a rare success for the Cabometyx franchise beyond its blockbuster kidney cancer setting. Truist analysts say seeking approval in prostate cancer is a top 2024 priority for Exelixis, though the FDA is seeking a “mature survival signal” – something that might prove tricky given Contact-02’s design. ASCO-GU takes place in San Francisco on 25-27 January, coming swiftly after ASCO-GI, which itself follows this week’s JP Morgan healthcare conference. A separate ASCO-GU abstract features Harpoon’s anti-DLL3 T-cell engager HPN328, and could provide backing for Merck & Co’s $680m acquisition of this company. Meanwhile, notable late-breakers include the Checkmate-67T trial that could back first approval of a subcutaneous formulation of Opdivo, and overall survival data from the Keynote-564 study whose disease-free survival benefit backs Keytruda’s approved use in adjuvant kidney cancer.

Selected ASCO-GU presentations

Note: *NHT=novel hormonal therapy, ie, Xtandi, Zytiga or similar. Source: ASCO.