Results from an interim analysis of the dose-optimization part of the ongoing IDeate-Lung01 phase 2 trial showed ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd) continues to demonstrate promising objective response rates in patients with pretreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).

These data were featured as part of a press conference and will be presented during an oral presentation (OA04.03) on Sunday at the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (#WCLC24) hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

Ifinatamab deruxtecan is a specifically engineered potential first-in-class B7-H3 directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo and being jointly developed by Daiichi Sankyo and Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the second most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 15% of cases. SCLC is aggressive and progresses rapidly to the metastatic stage, which has a five-year survival rate of only 3%. Approximately 65% of all SCLC tumors have a moderate-to-high expression of the protein B7-H3, which is associated with disease progression and poor prognosis.

“Most patients treated for small cell lung cancer experience rapid progression of disease and there is a high unmet need in the advanced setting,” said Charles M. Rudin, MD, PhD, Deputy Director of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Co-Director of the Fiona and Stanley Druckenmiller Center for Lung Cancer Research. “These interim results from the first part of the IDeate-Lung01 trial suggest that ifinatamab deruxtecan could play an important role in treating patients with pretreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer and further research is warranted.”

“The objective response rate and median overall survival of nearly a year along with the preliminary intracranial responses observed reinforces the potential for ifinatamab deruxtecan to improve outcomes for patients living with this difficult-to-treat type of lung cancer,” said Mark Rutstein, MD, Global Head, Oncology Clinical Development, Daiichi Sankyo. “We look forward to seeing additional results from the extension part of the IDeate-Lung01 phase 2 trial and the recently initiated IDeate-Lung02 phase 3 trial where we are evaluating ifinatamab deruxtecan in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer versus treatment of physician’s choice of chemotherapy.”

“These results demonstrate promising objective response rates in patients with pre-treated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, a patient population with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options,” said Marjorie Green, MD, Senior Vice President and Head of Oncology, Global Clinical Development, Merck Research Laboratories. “We are encouraged by these results supporting the potential of B7-H3 as an actionable target in small cell lung cancer and look forward to advancing our pivotal clinical development program for ifinatamab deruxtecan.”