Promising Results for HER3-Targeted Antibody-Drug Conjugate in Treatment-Resistant Solid Tumors

A novel targeted therapy, DB-1310, has demonstrated encouraging early results in treating advanced solid tumors unresponsive to conventional treatments. This innovative drug particularly shows potential for patients with EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The findings emerge from an international clinical trial led by Dr. Aaron Lisberg at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. In the trial, a significant portion of patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC experienced tumor shrinkage; specifically, 44% saw notable tumor reduction, and the disease was stabilized for a median of seven months. The median overall survival for this subgroup was 18.9 months, indicating a meaningful survival benefit. Overall, across various cancer types, 31% of patients responded to DB-1310, with an average of 5.5 months before disease progression and a median overall survival of 14.4 months.

The safety profile of DB-1310 was manageable, with common side effects including low blood counts and nausea. Dr. Lisberg highlighted that, despite heavily pretreated and resistant cancers, patients experienced a notable extension in life expectancy with tolerable side effects.

DB-1310 is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), designed to deliver a potent chemotherapy agent directly to cancer cells. It combines an engineered antibody targeting HER3, a protein frequently expressed on cancer cell surfaces, with a powerful cytotoxic drug, aiming to enhance treatment precision and minimize collateral damage to healthy tissues.

Currently, 172 patients with advanced solid tumors are enrolled in the ongoing study. These patients had previously undergone multiple treatment lines, including chemotherapy and targeted therapies. The phase 1 portion assesses different dosing schedules to determine safety and optimal dosing, while phase 2 aims to evaluate its efficacy across tumor types.

The promising early results are particularly relevant for patients with EGFR-mutant lung cancers, a subset with limited options after standard therapies fail. Though larger trials are necessary for confirmation, the data suggests that DB-1310 has the potential to become a new treatment for resistant advanced solid tumors. The study is sponsored by Duality Biologics.

Further updates on this research are expected from upcoming presentations at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting.