What's Happening?
CatalYm has presented long-term data from its GDFATHER-1/2a trial at the ESMO Congress 2025, showcasing the efficacy of visugromab in reversing resistance to PD-(L)1 treatment in advanced solid tumors. The trial involved 199 patients with non-squamous
NSCLC, urothelial cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma, all of whom had progressed on prior checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Visugromab, a monoclonal antibody targeting GDF-15, demonstrated durable responses, with median durations of response exceeding 32 months in NSCLC, 28 months in urothelial cancer, and 19 months in hepatocellular carcinoma. The treatment was well tolerated, with manageable side effects.
Why It's Important?
Visugromab's ability to reverse resistance to immunotherapy and deliver sustained responses in heavily pretreated patients represents a significant advancement in cancer treatment. The therapy's dual benefit in tumor control and cachexia mitigation could improve quality of life for patients with advanced cancer. These findings support further development of visugromab in earlier treatment lines, potentially enhancing immune sensitivity and treatment outcomes.
What's Next?
CatalYm is advancing visugromab into multiple Phase 2b trials, including first-line metastatic NSCLC and cachexia studies. The company aims to translate the therapy's promising results into improved outcomes across different patient populations and tumor types, potentially establishing visugromab as a novel strategy to overcome immune resistance.
Beyond the Headlines
The success of visugromab underscores the potential of targeting GDF-15 to overcome immune suppression in cancer treatment. This approach could lead to new therapeutic strategies for patients with limited treatment options, offering hope for improved survival and quality of life.
