Medivir – live from ESMO in Barcelona
At the ESMO conference in Barcelona, Medivir presented mature results from its ongoing Phase Ib/IIa trial of fostrox in combination with Lenvima, confirming the potential for improved outcomes in advanced liver cancer. BioStock contacted Dr. Pia Baumann, Medivir’s Chief Medical Officer, who joined us live from Barcelona.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer, with a five-year survival rate of less than 20 percent, and where only one in three patients respond to the preferred first-line treatment, Tecentriq/Avastin.
Medivir is developing fostrox, a drug designed to target tumor cells locally in the liver without harming healthy cells. It aims to offer the first regulatory-approved alternative for patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate Tecentriq/Avastin.
Fostrox is being evaluated in a fully enrolled phase Ib/IIa study in combination with the cancer drug Lenvima to assess its safety and efficacy, with a phase IIb study planned for early 2025.
Mature data presented at ESMO
At the ESMO Congress in Barcelona, Dr. Hong Jae Chon of CHA Bundang Medical Center in Korea presented positive mature data from the ongoing phase Ib/IIa study.
The data confirm improved outcomes in second-line 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 (ORR) of 24 percent, and a median duration of response of 7 months, with only one patient discontinuing the treatment due to adverse events. The comprehensive study update underscores the feasibility of long-term combination therapy with fostrox and Lenvima.
Comments from the CMO
BioStock contacted Dr. Pia Baumann, Medivir’s Chief Medical Officer, who provided further insights into the promising data in a live interview from ESMO in Barcelona. Watch the full interview below (in Swedish).
