Nature medicine reports Agenus’ immunotherapy demonstrates clinical activity against colorectal cancer

BOT/BAL combination shows promising results in the most prevalent form of Colorectal cancer, affecting 95% of diagnosed patients

Agenus, biotech company focused on immunotherapy has published results from a clinical trial in Nature Medicine, weekly scientific journal, revealing the potential of a novel immunotherapy combination for treating microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer (MSS mCRC), a cancer type historically resistant to immunotherapy. 

The research, led by an international team of oncologists, focuses on the efficacy and safety of botensilimab (BOT), an Fc-enhanced anti-CTLA-4 antibody, in combination with balstilimab (BAL), an anti-PD-1 antibody. Together, these therapies are designed to activate the immune system against a cancer type historically resistant to immunotherapy.

In a recent press release, Agenus disclosed updated results as of the data cutoff of March 1, 2024. At that time, the ORR had increased to 23 per cent in the 77 patients, with a median follow up of 13.6 months. The median duration of response in the 18 responders was still not reached. The estimated 12-month and 18-month OS rates were 71 per cent and 62 per cent, respectively. The median OS was 21.2 months. The most common safety observations were immune-related diarrhoea or colitis, which were managed in accordance with standard therapies.