CHOSA Oncology AB is advancing personalized cancer treatment with its proprietary Drug Response Predictor (DRP) technology, designed to identify patients most likely to benefit from platinum-based chemotherapies. The company recently announced two significant developments that could transform treatment selection for cancer patients.
Predicting Cisplatin Response in Lung Cancer
CHOSA expects to release results from a blinded, retrospective study using its Drug Response Predictor to assess cisplatin efficacy in lung cancer by the end of Q2 2025. The study leverages patient data from the SPLENDOUR trial, which included more than 500 patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy, with tissue samples available from approximately 240 patients.
The study aims to distinguish responders from non-responders to cisplatin, one of the most widely used chemotherapy agents in cancer treatment. This validation effort follows promising results in a late-stage, prospective breast cancer trial and two previous lung cancer studies using cisplatin as adjuvant therapy.
"Understanding which patients will respond to cisplatin is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes," said Peter Buhl Jensen, CEO of CHOSA. "Our proprietary algorithm, based on a 205-gene test, has shown remarkable predictive capabilities in previous studies."
The SPLENDOUR trial analysis will provide three key insights:
- Cisplatin prediction data from approximately 80 patients
- The first prediction data on carboplatin efficacy in lung cancer using the Platin-DRP
- Evaluation of NanoString technology as a novel technical prediction method
Expanding to Carboplatin in Breast Cancer
In a parallel development, CHOSA announced positive results from a retrospective study in metastatic breast cancer patients. The company's DRP for cisplatin was used to assess carboplatin efficacy in 20 patients, revealing that a 50% difference in DRP score corresponded to a three-fold difference in treatment benefit.
Building on these promising findings, CHOSA is now conducting a validation study to determine if these results translate to lung cancer, with results expected in Q2 2026.
"Adding carboplatin to our portfolio significantly broadens our market," Jensen explained. "More than 68% of oncologists in the United States report using platinum-based therapies as a standard option for first-line treatment, with carboplatin often being the preferred choice in advanced ovarian cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and pediatric tumors."
Clinical Significance and Market Impact
Cisplatin and carboplatin have been cornerstones in cancer chemotherapy for decades. Despite advances in immunotherapy, platinum drugs remain critical components in treatment regimens, including combinations with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors such as Keytruda and Opdivo.
The DRP tool could play a pivotal role in the continued success of immunotherapy. Platinum drugs have been shown to activate the immune system, making tumors more susceptible to PD-1 inhibitors. This synergy is particularly important in the treatment of lung cancer, bladder cancer, and head and neck cancer.
With the PD-1/PD-L1 market currently valued at $60 billion per year, CHOSA's innovation could significantly advance the personalization of next-generation immuno-oncology treatments.
Previous Validation of the Cisplatin-DRP
The cisplatin DRP has already demonstrated its predictive value in multiple settings. In lung cancer, a blinded retrospective study showed that patients with the highest 10% of DRP scores had a 3-year survival rate of 90%, compared to only 40% for those with the lowest 10% of scores.
In metastatic breast cancer, phase 2b data demonstrated that patients selected by the DRP responded better to treatment, had longer progression-free survival, and potentially longer overall survival compared to patients identified as unlikely to respond well.
Collaborative Research Efforts
The SPLENDOUR trial analysis is being conducted in collaboration with the ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Leading international lung cancer experts, including Professor Solange Peters and Professor Rolf Stahel, are contributing to the study.
CHOSA will perform the analyses at Allarity's laboratories, leveraging existing high-quality clinical data in a cost-effective manner to accelerate the path to commercialization.
Future Directions
As CHOSA continues to validate its DRP technology across different cancer types and platinum compounds, the company aims to establish its test in clinical guidelines and secure regulatory approval. The ability to predict which patients will benefit from platinum-based therapies could significantly improve treatment outcomes while reducing unnecessary toxicity in non-responders.
Future research will also explore whether the Platin-DRP can predict the effectiveness of combinations of platinum drugs with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, potentially giving immunotherapy companies a significant competitive advantage in the increasingly crowded market.
"Our DRP technology represents a potential game-changer in cancer treatment," Jensen concluded. "By helping clinicians select the right therapy for the right patient, we can improve outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients worldwide."
