Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer with a five-year survival rate of less than 20 percent and only one in three patients responding to first-line treatment, Tecentriq/Avastin.
Medivir develops fostrox, a drug designed to target tumor cells locally in the liver without harming healthy cells. The company's goal is to offer the first regulatory-approved option for patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate Tecentriq/Avastin.
Fostrox is being evaluated in a fully recruited phase Ib/IIa study in combination with the cancer drug Lenvima to determine its safety and efficacy, with the intention of initiating a Phase IIb study in early 2025.
Mature data presented at ESMO
Positive mature data from the ongoing phase Ib/IIa study with fostrox av Dr. Hong Jae Chon presented at the ESMO Congress in Barcelona.
These data confirm improved outcomes in the second-line treatment of advanced liver cancer with a median time to progression (TTP) of 10,9 months (4,1 – 18,1). Furthermore, the results showed an objective response rate (ORR) of 24 percent and a median duration of response of 7 months. Only one patient has discontinued treatment due to adverse events.
The data update strengthens confidence that long-term combination treatment with fostrox and Lenvima is feasible.
Comment from CMO
BioStock contacted Dr. Pia Baumann, Medivir's Chief Medical Officer, to learn more about the promising results in a live interview from ISMO in Barcelona. See the full interview below.