BMS-986463 is an investigational oncological agent currently under development by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS). The compound is in the early stages of clinical evaluation, specifically Phase 1 clinical trials, with the primary objective of assessing its safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy in patients with select advanced solid tumors. Key indications being explored include non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC), and uterine serous carcinoma (USC). Despite its progression into human testing, a notable characteristic of BMS-986463's public profile is the absence of disclosed information regarding its fundamental pharmacological properties, including its drug class, specific mechanism of action (MoA), and molecular target. This lack of transparency presents a significant challenge for the broader scientific and medical community in contextualizing BMS-986463 within the existing landscape of cancer therapeutics. While the ongoing Phase 1 study (NCT06476808/CA231-0000) provides a structured framework for its initial human assessment, a comprehensive understanding of BMS-986463's therapeutic potential and novelty remains contingent on future disclosures by the developer. The current "black box" nature of its basic pharmacology means that its development trajectory will be closely watched, with particular attention paid to any emerging clinical data and eventual elucidation of its mode of action.
BMS-986463 is an investigational compound identified for its potential in treating various cancers. In the context of its clinical development, it is also referred to by the study identifier CA231-0000.[1] The originator and active developing organization for BMS-986463 is Bristol Myers Squibb Co. (BMS).[3] BMS is a global biopharmaceutical company with a substantial portfolio and extensive experience in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacturing, and commercialization of medicinal products, particularly for serious diseases. The company's strategic focus prominently includes oncology, alongside cardiovascular, immunological, and fibrotic diseases.[5] This background suggests that BMS possesses significant resources, established expertise, and a robust strategic framework to support the development program of novel oncological agents like BMS-986463. The company's track record in bringing innovative cancer therapies to market provides a relevant context for evaluating the potential trajectory of this investigational compound.[6]
As of early 2025, BMS-986463 is in the Phase 1 stage of clinical development.[4] This early phase of human testing is crucial for any new investigational drug. The primary objectives of Phase 1 trials are to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the new agent in human subjects, to identify potential dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), and to determine a recommended dose and schedule for subsequent Phase 2 studies (RP2D).[1] While efficacy is also assessed, these observations are typically considered preliminary at this stage.
The therapeutic potential of BMS-986463 is being investigated in a range of advanced malignancies. Specific indications listed in trial registries and company pipeline documents include advanced cancer (general), high-grade serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary (HGSOC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and uterine serous carcinoma (USC).[1] The Bristol Myers Squibb 2024 Annual Report also broadly categorizes its indication as "Solid Tumors".[9] The selection of these diverse solid tumor types for initial investigation is characteristic of early-phase oncology trials, particularly when the agent's mechanism might have relevance across multiple cancers or when the developer is exploring a broad range of potential applications. This approach allows for the identification of patient populations most likely to benefit from the new therapy. The cautious, standard early-phase development pathway being pursued for BMS-986463, involving dose escalation and careful safety monitoring, is typical for novel agents where the human safety profile is yet to be established. The success of this initial Phase 1 trial will be pivotal, as positive safety data and any early signals of anti-tumor activity could pave the way for expansion into specific tumor cohorts and potentially accelerate its development.
A comprehensive understanding of a drug's pharmacological profile is essential for evaluating its therapeutic potential, predicting its behavior in biological systems, and guiding its clinical development. However, for BMS-986463, much of this fundamental information remains undisclosed in the public domain.
The specific drug type of BMS-986463 is consistently reported as "Unknown" across multiple pharmaceutical databases.[4] One data source, Ozmosi, lists its "Modality" as "N/A".[10] The classification of a drug (e.g., small molecule, monoclonal antibody, antibody-drug conjugate, cell therapy, oligonucleotide) is a foundational piece of information. It dictates critical aspects such as its manufacturing process, route of administration, pharmacokinetic properties (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion), potential for immunogenicity, and the types of adverse events and drug interactions that might be anticipated. The absence of this information for BMS-986463 represents a significant gap in the current public knowledge base.
Similarly, the mechanism of action (MoA) for BMS-986463 is consistently reported as "Unknown" or is not specified in available resources.[4] OncologyPipeline.com listed BMS-986463 as having an "Undisclosed" mechanism in the context of its first-in-human study initiation.[12] The MoA describes the specific biochemical interaction through which a drug substance produces its pharmacological effect. Without knowledge of the MoA, it is impossible to ascertain the novelty of BMS-986463, understand the scientific rationale for its application in specific cancer types, or predict its potential for synergistic or antagonistic interactions when used in combination with other therapies.
The specific molecular target(s) of BMS-986463 within cancer cells or the tumor microenvironment has not been identified in the provided public information.[4] For targeted therapies, which form a cornerstone of modern oncology, the identity of the molecular target (e.g., a specific receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein) is crucial. This information clarifies which cellular pathways are being modulated and helps in identifying patient populations most likely to respond based on the expression or mutation status of the target.
Despite the lack of detail on its pharmacology, BMS-986463 is being investigated in defined therapeutic areas and for specific oncological indications.
The broader therapeutic areas listed include Neoplasms, Respiratory Diseases, and Urogenital Diseases.4 These categorizations likely encompass the specific cancer types under study.
The active investigated indications, all currently in Phase 1 development, are:
These indications represent serious oncological conditions, many of which have significant unmet medical needs, thereby justifying the development of novel therapeutic strategies. The selection of NSCLC, HGSOC, and USC for early-phase investigation suggests that preclinical data, though not publicly available, likely demonstrated some activity or rationale for testing in these tumor types or in models sharing common molecular characteristics. Pharmaceutical companies typically select initial indications for Phase 1 trials based on a strong preclinical rationale, which includes efficacy in in vitro and in vivo models and, where applicable, expression of the drug target or relevant biomarkers. The outcomes in these specific tumor types within the Phase 1 trial will be critical in shaping the future development path of BMS-986463.
The persistent "Unknown" status for drug type, MoA, and target across multiple, generally reliable, databases is a defining feature of BMS-986463's public profile at this stage. This consistent lack of information suggests it is not available in public registries, company disclosures, or preliminary publications that sometimes accompany drugs entering Phase 1. Bristol Myers Squibb, a large pharmaceutical entity, undoubtedly possesses this information internally. The decision not to disclose these fundamental details could be driven by strategic considerations, such as protecting intellectual property for a potentially novel compound or mechanism, or it may be that the MoA is complex and still under full elucidation for public dissemination. This situation makes it challenging for external researchers and clinicians to independently assess the novelty of BMS-986463, anticipate potential class-specific adverse events or drug-drug interactions, or fully understand the scientific basis for its investigation in the selected tumor types.
Table 1: Summary of BMS-986463 Key Information
Feature | Details | Reference(s) |
---|---|---|
Identifier | BMS-986463 (Alternative ID: CA231-0000) | 1 |
Developer | Bristol Myers Squibb Co. | 3 |
Drug Type/Modality | Unknown / N/A | 4 |
Mechanism of Action (MoA) | Unknown / Undisclosed | 4 |
Target | Unknown | 4 |
Current Development Phase | Phase 1 | 4 |
Key Investigated Indications | Advanced Solid Tumors (including NSCLC, HGSOC, USC) | 1 |
This table serves as a quick reference, highlighting both what is known and the significant information gaps pertaining to BMS-986463.
The primary public window into the human testing of BMS-986463 is the Phase 1 clinical trial registered under the identifier NCT06476808, also known by the BMS study ID CA231-0000.
The Official Title of the study is "A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Escalating Doses of BMS-986463 in Participants With Select Advanced Malignant Tumors".[1] This is a Phase 1, first-in-human (FIH) study designed to introduce BMS-986463 into human subjects for the first time. The study employs an open-label, non-randomized, sequential assignment, interventional design. This means both researchers and participants are aware of the treatment being administered (open-label), participants are not assigned to treatment groups by chance (non-randomized), and the study involves a therapeutic intervention. The design incorporates dose escalation and dose expansion arms.[1] The dose escalation phase aims to identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or optimal biological dose, while the dose expansion phase allows for further assessment of safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and preliminary anti-tumor activity at selected dose level(s) in specific patient populations. This study design is standard for FIH trials of investigational oncology agents.
The primary purpose of the NCT06476808 trial is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of BMS-986463.
Primary Outcome Measures (assessed for up to 108 weeks) include 1:
These safety-focused endpoints are paramount in Phase 1 studies.
Secondary Outcome Measures (assessed for up to 104 weeks) are designed to provide early insights into the drug's behavior in the body and its potential anti-tumor effects 1:
The study enrolls adult participants (older than 18 years) with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of 0 or 1, indicating they are ambulatory and capable of self-care with minimal to no symptoms, or symptomatic but fully ambulatory.[1] Participants must have unresectable or metastatic carcinoma. A critical inclusion criterion is the presence of at least one lesion accessible for biopsy, in addition to any target lesions, from which a fresh pre-treatment biopsy must be obtained.[1] This requirement strongly suggests a translational research component aimed at biomarker analysis. The specific tumor types being enrolled include High-grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma (HGSOC), Uterine Serous Carcinoma (USC), and Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).[1]
Key exclusion criteria include the presence of leptomeningeal metastases, concurrent malignancy requiring active treatment (with some exceptions for adequately treated conditions like non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ), or a history of another prior malignancy active within two years before starting the study treatment. Participants must not have received radiation therapy within two weeks prior to the start of study treatment.[1] Other protocol-defined criteria also apply to ensure patient safety and the integrity of study data. These criteria are designed to select a patient population for whom an FIH study is appropriate—typically individuals with advanced disease who have limited or no standard therapeutic options remaining, are sufficiently fit to receive an investigational agent, and can comply with study procedures, including the provision of biological samples.
Table 2: Key Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria for NCT06476808
Category | Criteria | Reference(s) |
---|---|---|
Inclusion | Age > 18 years | 1 |
ECOG Performance Status of 0 or 1 | 1 | |
Unresectable/metastatic carcinoma | 1 | |
At least 1 lesion accessible for biopsy (fresh pre-treatment biopsy required) | 1 | |
Specific tumor types: HGSOC, USC, NSCLC | 1 | |
Exclusion | Leptomeningeal metastases | 1 |
Concurrent active malignancy requiring treatment or prior malignancy active within 2 years (with exceptions) | 1 | |
Prior radiation therapy within 2 weeks prior to start of study treatment | 1 |
The mandatory pre-treatment biopsy underscores a significant translational research effort. These tissue samples are likely intended for various molecular analyses, such as genomic, transcriptomic, or proteomic profiling. Such analyses can help identify predictive biomarkers of response or resistance to BMS-986463, or elucidate its effects on the tumor and its microenvironment. The early identification of biomarkers is a critical strategy in modern oncology drug development, as it can help enrich for responsive patient populations in later-phase trials, potentially increasing the probability of success and facilitating a personalized medicine approach. Even without public knowledge of BMS-986463's MoA, BMS can leverage these biopsy data to retrospectively or prospectively identify molecular signatures associated with clinical benefit, thereby de-risking subsequent development.
Participants in the study receive BMS-986463.1 The study involves escalating doses of the drug, although specific dosage levels, the route of administration (e.g., oral, intravenous), and the frequency of administration are not detailed in the high-level summaries available but would be explicitly defined in the full study protocol.
The trial is structured with two main experimental arms 1:
As of early 2025, the NCT06476808 trial is actively recruiting participants.1 The estimated enrollment for the study is 240 participants.1 The actual study start date was September 2024 1, which aligns with a report from OncologyPipeline.com that mentioned a scheduled start around July 31, 2024.12 The estimated primary completion date and the estimated study completion date are both December 2028.1
The study is being conducted at multiple clinical sites across the United States (including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, and New Jersey) and Canada (including Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec).1 This multi-national, multi-center approach is common for such trials and helps to facilitate timely patient recruitment.
The extended timeline, with completion anticipated in 2028, is not unusual for Phase 1 oncology trials. This duration reflects the careful, stepwise nature of dose escalation, the time required for comprehensive safety monitoring, and the follow-up period needed to assess preliminary efficacy and durability of responses. The substantial target enrollment of 240 participants further supports the likelihood of multiple dose levels being tested and several tumor-specific expansion cohorts being explored. This implies that definitive efficacy data and a clear, comprehensive understanding of BMS-986463's clinical profile will likely not be available for several years. While interim safety and pharmacokinetic data might be presented at scientific conferences at earlier time points, the complete picture of the drug's activity and tolerability will take considerable time to emerge.
Table 3: Overview of Clinical Trial NCT06476808 (CA231-0000)
Feature | Details | Reference(s) |
---|---|---|
Trial ID | NCT06476808 (Other ID: CA231-0000) | 1 |
Official Title | A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Escalating Doses of BMS-986463 in Participants With Select Advanced Malignant Tumors | 1 |
Sponsor | Bristol-Myers Squibb | 1 |
Phase | Phase 1 | 1 |
Study Design | Open-label, Non-randomized, Sequential Assignment, Dose Escalation/Expansion | 1 |
Primary Purpose | Treatment (Evaluation of safety, tolerability, efficacy) | 1 |
Key Indications Studied | High-grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma (HGSOC), Uterine Serous Carcinoma (USC), Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), Select Advanced Malignant Tumors | 1 |
Intervention | Drug: BMS-986463 (escalating doses) | 1 |
Primary Outcome Measures (brief) | Incidence of AEs, SAEs, DLTs, AEs leading to discontinuation, AEs leading to death (up to 108 weeks) | 1 |
Key Secondary Outcomes (brief) | Pharmacokinetics (Cmax, AUC, Tmax), Efficacy (ORR, DCR, DOR) (up to 104 weeks) | 1 |
Recruitment Status | Recruiting (as of early 2025) | 1 |
Estimated Enrollment | 240 participants | 1 |
Key Dates | Actual Start: Sep 2024; Est. Primary Completion: Dec 2028; Est. Study Completion: Dec 2028 | 1 |
Geographic Regions | United States, Canada | 1 |
Preclinical studies, encompassing in vitro (cell-based) and in vivo (animal model) experiments, are fundamental to drug development. They provide the initial evidence of a compound's biological activity, offer insights into its potential mechanism of action, and establish a preliminary safety profile before human testing can commence. For BMS-986463, detailed public information regarding its preclinical development is notably sparse in the available materials.
OncologyPipeline.com reported that a first-in-human study for BMS-986463 was scheduled to commence around July 31, 2024. The report also noted that the drug's mechanism was "Undisclosed" and it was intended for "Unspecified" solid tumors.[12] This timeline is consistent with the actual start date of the Phase 1 trial NCT06476808 in September 2024.[1]
Other documents that mention "preclinical" either pertain to different compounds developed by Bristol Myers Squibb, such as BMS-986141 (a PAR4 antagonist) [13] or relatlimab (a LAG-3 antibody) [14], or are general clinical trial listings that do not offer specific preclinical data for BMS-986463 itself.[2]
The decision by Bristol Myers Squibb to advance BMS-986463 into Phase 1 clinical trials implies the existence of a comprehensive internal preclinical data package. This package would have presumably demonstrated an acceptable safety margin in animal studies and provided a scientific rationale compelling enough to warrant investigation in human subjects. However, the lack of public access to these specific preclinical efficacy, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD), and toxicology data for BMS-986463 prevents independent scientific scrutiny and a deeper understanding of its foundational science. This level of confidentiality is common for proprietary, early-stage pharmaceutical assets, particularly when novel mechanisms or targets may be involved.
The initiation and ongoing conduct of the Phase 1 clinical trial NCT06476808 (CA231-0000) inherently signify that Bristol Myers Squibb has obtained the necessary approvals from regulatory authorities in the countries where the trial is active. This includes bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada, as well as approvals from the relevant Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) or independent ethics committees at each participating clinical site. These approvals are contingent upon a review of preclinical data supporting the safety of the investigational agent and the ethical conduct of the proposed study. The available information does not mention any specific regulatory designations for BMS-986463, such as Fast Track status, Breakthrough Therapy designation, or Orphan Drug designation, which can be granted to expedite the development and review of drugs targeting serious conditions with unmet medical needs.
Several database sources indicate the existence of patents associated with BMS-986463. For instance, Synapse (Patsnap) entries mention "100 Patents (Medical) associated with BMS-986463" but stipulate that a login is required to access further details.[4] The Bristol Myers Squibb 2024 Annual Report lists BMS-986463 within its development pipeline but does not provide specific patent information in the excerpted material.[9]
Patents are critical for protecting the intellectual property of novel pharmaceutical compounds and therapeutic inventions. Detailed patent documents can often reveal significant information about a drug, including its chemical structure (for small molecules), amino acid or nucleotide sequences (for biologics), formulations, methods of synthesis, and intended medical uses. Sometimes, preclinical data supporting the claims of the invention are also included, which could offer clues regarding the drug's mechanism of action or molecular target. The current inaccessibility of detailed patent information for BMS-986463, as indicated by the login requirements in the databases, means that this potential avenue for understanding the compound's nature and scientific underpinnings is presently unavailable from the provided materials. The reference to "100 Patents" is likely a generic output from the database system, indicating that there is associated intellectual property, rather than implying 100 distinct patents exclusively covering BMS-986463. Future publication of patent applications or granted patents related to BMS-986463 could become a key source of detailed information about the compound.
BMS-986463 is an investigational drug candidate developed by Bristol Myers Squibb, currently in the early stages of clinical evaluation. It is the subject of a Phase 1 clinical trial, NCT06476808 (also identified as CA231-0000), which commenced in September 2024. This study is designed to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of escalating doses of BMS-986463 in adult patients with select advanced solid tumors. The specific malignancies being studied in this trial include non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC), and uterine serous carcinoma (USC). The trial is actively recruiting participants across multiple sites in the United States and Canada, with an estimated enrollment of 240 individuals and an anticipated primary completion date in December 2028.
Despite the structured clinical investigation underway, several critical pieces of information regarding BMS-986463 remain conspicuously absent from the public domain, based on the available data:
This dichotomy—a well-documented, ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial versus a profound lack of public information about the drug's basic pharmacological properties—is a central theme. While it is not uncommon for pharmaceutical companies to maintain confidentiality around early-stage, potentially novel assets for competitive reasons, the extent of the undisclosed information for BMS-986463 makes external assessment and contextualization particularly challenging. The current state of knowledge compels reliance on the future readouts from the NCT06476808 trial as the primary source of information. Any scientific presentations or publications arising from this study will be highly anticipated, not only for the safety and efficacy data but also for any potential disclosures, however incremental, regarding the fundamental nature of BMS-986463.
BMS-986463 represents a nascent oncology candidate emerging from the pipeline of Bristol Myers Squibb, a major and experienced player in cancer drug development. Its current standing is that of an early-stage investigational agent, with its entire future progression heavily dependent on the outcomes of the ongoing Phase 1 study (NCT06476808/CA231-0000). The "undisclosed" nature of its core pharmacology—its drug type, mechanism of action, and specific molecular target—renders it an enigmatic compound within the current publicly viewable oncology pipeline. This lack of fundamental information makes it difficult to compare BMS-986463 with existing therapies or other investigational agents, or to independently assess its potential novelty and therapeutic rationale beyond the broad indication of advanced solid tumors.
The significant information gaps, particularly concerning the mechanism of action and molecular target, have several implications. Externally, the scientific and medical community is limited in its ability to propose rational therapeutic combinations, explore the utility of BMS-986463 in other cancer contexts, or develop independent hypotheses regarding its activity until Bristol Myers Squibb chooses to disclose more detailed information. Internally, BMS will be guided by the comprehensive data generated from the NCT06476808 trial. The mandatory tumor biopsies collected in this study are likely to provide crucial translational data, potentially identifying biomarkers of response or resistance, which can inform patient selection strategies for later-phase trials, even if the primary mechanism remains proprietary for a period.
The future clinical development pathway for BMS-986463 will be dictated by the safety profile observed during dose escalation and any signals of anti-tumor efficacy seen in the specific tumor types being enrolled in the expansion cohorts (NSCLC, HGSOC, USC). Positive data, demonstrating an acceptable therapeutic window and preliminary activity, would likely lead to Phase 2 studies focused on specific indications and potentially at optimized doses.
Given the current early stage of development and the limited public information, ongoing monitoring of several key sources will be essential to track the progress of BMS-986463:
The future trajectory of BMS-986463 is heavily contingent on the forthcoming data from its Phase 1 trial. The current information vacuum regarding its MoA means that initial clinical data will be interpreted without the usual mechanistic context, placing even greater emphasis on the observed safety profile and any signals of clinical activity. If BMS-986463 demonstrates a favorable risk-benefit profile, particularly if linked to a novel mechanism (when eventually disclosed), it could represent a significant new therapeutic avenue for patients with advanced cancers. Conversely, unfavorable safety findings or a lack of efficacy would likely lead to its discontinuation, potentially without the broader scientific community ever fully understanding its intended pharmacological action. The translational research embedded within the Phase 1 study will be critical for BMS to internally guide its next steps and optimize the drug's development path.
Published at: May 12, 2025
This report is continuously updated as new research emerges.