Pancreatic Cancer Therapy Posts Positive Phase 2 Results

ImmunityBio, Inc. today announced positive results in its fully-enrolled metastatic pancreatic cancer study in third-line or greater subjects (QUILT 88), showing that the overall survival (OS) rate for patients continues to be double compared to historical survival rates after two or more prior lines of therapy.

The median OS in this highly advanced group of patients, up to seven lines (N=83) of treatment, was 5.8 months (95% CI: 4.9, 6.4 months), exceeding the approximately 2- to 3-month historical median OS.

In the third-line setting (N=41), the median OS in this group was 6.3 months (95% CI: 5.0, 7.2 months), more than doubling the historical OS.

The baseline median CA 19-9 level (a marker of metastatic pancreatic disease) of the enrolled subjects (N=83) was very high at 4120 IU/ml, a significant increase from normal levels of 40 IU/ml.

In subjects with CA 19-9 levels less than 4120 IU/ml (N=40), the median OS was 6.9 months (95% CI: 5.7,10.9).

"We are encouraged by the positive results in these patients with 3rd, 4th, 5th, and even 7th line advanced pancreatic cancer and the considered and helpful feedback from the FDA," said Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., Executive Chairman, and Global Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at ImmunityBio, in a press release on January 19, 2023.

"Treatments for pancreatic cancer in the advanced setting remain an unmet need."

"We are committed to confirming our hypothesis that orchestrating the innate and adaptive immune system will advance the care of these patients."

This therapy is essential since pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. and has one of the highest mortality rates of all major cancers, taking nearly 50,000 lives in the U.S. annually.

The QUILT 88 study results were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal conference on January 19-21, 2023.

ImmunityBio also announced that it held two productive Type B meetings with the U.S. FDA in December 2022.