Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (HKG: 2096), a biopharmaceutical company based in China, has presented updated data from the SCORES study for its drug candidate suvemcitug at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. Suvemcitug, also known as sevacizumab; APX-003; BD-0801, is being studied in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
The multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase III study enrolled 421 patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, and primary peritoneal cancer who had failed platinum-based chemotherapy regimens in China from June 2021 to June 2023. The study met its primary endpoint, with a significantly prolonged median progression-free survival (mPFS) compared to the control group (5.49 months vs. 2.73 months). Efficacy analysis across all pre-defined subgroups showed positive results. The overall survival (OS), a key secondary endpoint, is not yet mature; however, the suvemcitug group showed a trend toward OS benefit compared to the control group (16.07 months vs. 14.88 months). The overall safety of suvemcitug in combination with chemotherapy was reported as good.
Suvemcitug is characterized as a next-generation recombinant humanized anti-VEGF rabbit monoclonal antibody. It is under co-development by Simcere and Pyxis Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYXS). Simcere initially acquired rights to develop the drug in Greater China under a 2008 deal with US firm Epitomics Inc., which later transferred the rights to Apexigen Inc., a spin-off. Pyxis Oncology acquired Apexigen in an August 2023 deal. The drug is awaiting a regulatory decision in China for use in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal cancer in patients who have failed platinum-based chemotherapy.- Flcube.com
