Promising Results for Ifinatamab Deruxtecan in Treating Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Recent clinical data presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2025 World Conference in Barcelona highlight the potential of ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd), an antibody-drug conjugate targeting B7-H3, in managing recurrent or progressive extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). Patients with ES-SCLC typically face limited treatment options and poor prognoses. The study, part of the Phase II IDeate-Lung01 trial, involved 137 patients who had previously undergone at least one line of platinum-based chemotherapy.

The results revealed a confirmed objective response rate (ORR) of 48.2%, with an overall disease control rate of 87.6%. The median duration of response was approximately 5.3 months, and patients generally responded within 1.4 months. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.9 months, while median overall survival (OS) reached 10.3 months. Notably, the therapeutic benefits were observed regardless of prior platinum sensitivity or the number of previous treatments, including in the second-line subgroup, which showed a higher ORR of 56.3%.

The safety profile of I-DXd was considered manageable, with adverse events of any grade occurring in nearly 90% of patients. Serious adverse events (grades 3 or higher) were reported in about 36.5%, including treatment-related interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis in 17 patients, with six cases being severe. Importantly, no new safety concerns emerged in this study.

Dr. Myung-Ju Ahn from Samsung Medical Center emphasized the significance of these findings, stating that the high response rates and acceptable safety profile bolster the case for further research into I-DXd for small cell lung cancer. "The results demonstrate the remarkable efficacy of ifinatamab deruxtecan in a patient population with a significant unmet medical need," she said.

This investigation supports the continued development of targeted therapies like I-DXd, offering hope for improved treatment options and outcomes for patients battling ES-SCLC. For more details, source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-ifinatamab-deruxtecan-high-response-previously.html