What's Happening?
CatalYm has presented updated data from its Phase 1/2a trial of visugromab at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2025. Visugromab, an anti-GDF-15 antibody, has shown durable anti-tumor
responses in patients with advanced solid tumors who have relapsed or progressed on prior checkpoint inhibitor treatments. The trial results indicate that visugromab can reverse resistance to PD-(L)1 therapies, with median response durations exceeding 32 months in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, 28 months in urothelial cancer, and 19 months in hepatocellular carcinoma. The study also highlights visugromab's ability to mitigate cancer cachexia, a severe condition affecting many cancer patients.
Why It's Important?
The findings from CatalYm's trial are significant as they offer a potential new treatment avenue for patients with advanced solid tumors who have limited options after failing previous immunotherapies. By neutralizing GDF-15, visugromab may enhance immune responses and improve patient outcomes, addressing a critical need in oncology. The dual benefit of tumor control and cachexia mitigation could improve quality of life for patients, making visugromab a promising candidate for further development in earlier treatment lines.
What's Next?
CatalYm is advancing visugromab into multiple Phase 2b studies, including trials for first-line metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and cachexia. The company aims to translate the promising results into improved outcomes across various tumor types and patient populations. Continued research and development will focus on establishing visugromab as a viable treatment option in the oncology landscape.
