Agenus Inc., a prominent player in immuno-oncology, announced two upcoming presentations featuring their BOT/BAL combination therapy at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) IO Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, California, from February 23-26, 2025.
The first presentation will deliver interim results from an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial combining botensilimab and balstilimab (BOT/BAL) with MiNK Therapeutics' iNKT cell therapy, AgenT-797. This study focuses on patients with refractory (2L+) gastric cancer who have previously shown resistance to PD-1 therapy.
Novel Approach in Colorectal Cancer Treatment
A separate Trial-in-Progress poster will highlight data from an ongoing Phase 1/2 study investigating BOT/BAL as a first-line treatment for microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC) without liver metastasis. This research, known as the BBOpCo study, represents a significant step forward in addressing the challenges of treating MSS-CRC, a condition that traditionally shows limited response to immunotherapy.
Innovative Immunotherapy Design
Botensilimab, the cornerstone of this combination therapy, represents a significant advancement in cancer immunotherapy. As a human Fc-enhanced CTLA-4 blocking antibody, it is specifically engineered to enhance both innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune responses. This novel design approach aims to overcome the limitations of conventional immunotherapies by targeting "cold" tumors - cancers that typically show poor response to standard treatments and existing PD-1/CTLA-4 therapies.
Scientific Program Details
The oral presentation featuring the gastric cancer study data is scheduled for Monday, February 24th, at 1:39 PM PST, as part of the Proffered Papers Session 2. The MSS-CRC trial poster will be presented during Poster Session A on the same day from 1:45-4:45 PM PST.
These presentations underscore Agenus's commitment to expanding the reach of cancer immunotherapy through innovative combination approaches. The company's comprehensive pipeline includes antibody therapeutics, adoptive cell therapies through MiNK Therapeutics, and adjuvants through SaponiQx, supported by robust end-to-end development capabilities across manufacturing, research, and clinical operations.
