TROP2 gets more crowded
The latest first-in-human entrants include an anti-TROP2 ADC from Jiangsu Hansoh and a mystery bispecific from Johnson & Johnson.
Merck goes pivotal with acquired assets
A prostate cancer project licensed from Orion enters phase 3, while pivotal trials are expanded with assets originated at Kelun and Arqule.
After failing to get Seagen Merck turns to Daiichi
In paying $5.5bn for immediate rights to three Daiichi Sankyo assets Merck & Co has made its biggest bet on ADCs to date.
ESMO 2023 – some Tropion fears allayed
However, lack of meaningful efficacy in Tropion-Lung01 suggests that datopotamab deruxtecan might be restricted to a histology-defined NSCLC subgroup.
Astra works to avoid a datopotamab double dip
As Tropion-Breast01 is toplined positive Astra ensures the markets know that overall survival isn’t a washout.
Bicycle aims to follow in Padcev’s slipstream
A study to back accelerated approval is to start next year, but the prospect of seeing a fully greenlit Padcev before then looms large.
ASCO 2023 – Merck’s Kelun deal gets its first validation
Asco data suggest that the TROP2 ADC Merck & Co licensed from Kelun is at least as good as Gilead and Astra/Daiichi’s assets.
