What's Happening?
OncoC4, a biopharmaceutical company based in Rockville, Maryland, has announced that China's National Medical Product Administration (NMPA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for their anti-CTLA-4
antibody candidate, gotistobart (BNT316/ONC-392). This designation is for the treatment of patients with squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sqNSCLC) who have not responded to prior standard immuno-oncology therapies. Gotistobart is being developed in collaboration with BioNTech and is currently undergoing a Phase 3 clinical trial, PRESERVE-003, which is assessing its efficacy and safety compared to standard chemotherapy. The trial involves approximately 600 patients across 12 countries, including the United States.
Why It's Important?
The Breakthrough Therapy Designation is significant as it allows for expedited development and regulatory review of gotistobart, potentially accelerating its availability to patients. This is crucial for those with sqNSCLC, a particularly aggressive form of lung cancer with limited treatment options after first-line therapies fail. The designation indicates that gotistobart may offer substantial improvements over existing treatments, addressing a critical unmet need in oncology. The collaboration between OncoC4 and BioNTech highlights the ongoing efforts to advance cancer treatment through innovative immunotherapies, which could lead to improved survival rates and quality of life for patients.
What's Next?
With the Breakthrough Therapy Designation, OncoC4 and BioNTech can expect more frequent interactions with the NMPA, which will aid in the collection of necessary data to support the drug's development. The companies plan to present detailed data from the PRESERVE-003 trial at an upcoming medical conference in December 2025. If the trial results continue to be positive, gotistobart may receive priority review, potentially leading to faster approval and commercialization. This could pave the way for further research and development of similar therapies targeting other cancer types.
