Iteos Therapeutics

Recent Phase II data from iTeos and GSK's anti-TIGIT therapy belrestotug plus anti-PD-1 Jemperli shows promising response rates in NSCLC patients, despite high-profile failures in the TIGIT space. Despite setbacks, companies like Roche and Merck continue TIGIT studies, emphasizing trial design's impact on outcomes. Insights suggest anti-TIGIT therapy may benefit patients with high CD-155 expression, potentially as combination therapy. Recent positive results from iTeos/GSK and Gilead/Arcus indicate a possible turning tide in TIGIT therapeutics.

At ESMO's annual meeting, Pfizer's ponsegromab showed promise in treating cancer cachexia, helping patients regain weight and improve symptoms. Johnson & Johnson's TAR-200, a chemotherapy-releasing device, demonstrated efficacy in bladder cancer, with 42% of patients showing no cancer evidence. BioNTech and Instil Bio presented early data on drugs targeting PD1 and VEGF, similar to Summit Therapeutics' successful trial. Long-term studies revealed Keytruda's superior survival rates over Yervoy in melanoma patients. Scorpion Therapeutics' STX-478 showed potential as a PI3Ka inhibitor with manageable side effects.

GSK and iTeos Therapeutics' Phase II GALAXIES Lung-201 study showed Jemperli and belrestotug, an anti-TIGIT therapy, achieved a 60% objective response rate in non-small cell lung cancer patients, with a 30% improvement over Jemperli alone. The combination also led to significant reductions in circulating tumor DNA and was presented at ESMO 2024.

iTeos Therapeutics' mid-stage trial results show its drug, when combined with GSK's immunotherapy, shrank lung tumors in twice as many patients compared to GSK's therapy alone. The trial raised safety concerns due to three treatment-related deaths from immune-related inflammation. Despite previous failures of TIGIT-targeting drugs, iTeos' data could rekindle interest in the target, with further data expected to clarify the combination's impact on survival and disease progression.

Transgene appoints Dr. Emmanuelle Dochy as CMO and Dr. Maurizio Ceppi as CSO to advance cancer immunotherapies and precision medicine, with a focus on personalized therapeutic cancer vaccine TG4050.

ESMO 2024 in Barcelona will feature discussions on cancer therapeutics, including anticipated presentations on bispecific antibodies and anti-TIGIT therapies. Other topics include radioligand therapies and synthetic lethality assets. Experts are optimistic about the potential of these therapeutic classes, despite past challenges.

Belrestotug's revenue in the US is projected to reach $65 mn by 2039, according to GlobalData's Expiry Model. The rNPV model, which considers the risk of drug failure, is used for valuation. EOS-448, a checkpoint blocking antibody targeting TIGIT, is under development for various cancers. iTeos Therapeutics, with a FY2023 revenue of $12.6 mn, develops immuno-oncology drugs.