New Clinical Data Revealed for EBC-129, a Promising Cancer Drug in Phase I Trials

The Experimental Drug Development Center (EDDC) in Singapore has announced updated findings from their ongoing Phase I clinical trial of EBC-129, an innovative antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), during the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago. EBC-129 is designed to target a novel, tumor-specific N256-glycosylated epitope on the proteins CEACAM5 and CEACAM6, potentially offering a new therapeutic avenue for challenging cancers.

The recent results highlight encouraging activity in heavily pre-treated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. In the study, 21 patients received EBC-129 at doses ranging from 1.8 to 2.2 mg/kg, administered once every three weeks. Most participants had prior treatments, with 81% having previously received taxanes, and 82% exhibiting tumors expressing the EBC-129 target antigen at ≥1% with high intensity.

Efficacy data demonstrated an overall response rate of 25% at 1.8 mg/kg and 20% at 2.2 mg/kg, with disease control rates exceeding 63% and nearly 88%, respectively. Progression-free survival was observed to be 19 weeks and 12 weeks for the two dose levels, indicating potential clinical benefit. Notably, these results come alongside a manageable safety profile, with neutropenia and infusion-related reactions being the main treatment-related adverse events.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains a formidable cancer with limited treatment options, especially in advanced stages. Dr. Robert W. Lentz from the University of Colorado highlighted the significance of the findings, emphasizing the tolerability and signs of efficacy observed in this difficult-to-treat population. The positive preliminary outcomes have prompted continued development and exploration of EBC-129 through ongoing dose expansion cohorts covering other tumor types, including gastroesophageal and other solid tumors.

Furthermore, EBC-129 has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), facilitating accelerated development and review processes. The high expression levels of the EBC-129 antigen across various cancer types, including gastroesophageal, colorectal, appendiceal, and lung cancers, suggest broad potential applicability.

Overall, these promising results reinforce EBC-129's potential as a targeted therapy for pancreatic and other solid tumors, especially for patients with limited treatment options. The ongoing clinical studies aim to further evaluate its safety and efficacy, with the goal of delivering new hope for patients battling these aggressive cancers.

For more detailed information, visit [Clinicaltrial.gov, trial identifier NCT05701527].