GRAYMEDY

01 / CANCER & IMMUNITY

PHASE 1/2 / PEER-REVIEWED

An experimental antibody is finding signs of activity in cancers that resisted immunotherapy. The

signal matters. So does the small denominator.

When the next option is a question

Read the denominator

For someone whose cancer has stopped responding to

Across the two optimal biological dose groups, four of

treatment, an early trial can carry an extraordinary

27 participants had an objective tumour response, a

weight of hope. The distinction between an early

rate of 14.8%. NIH separately reports disease control in

response and lasting benefit matters deeply in that

16 of those 27 people, or 59.3%. These are different

setting. A drug can deserve attention before

outcomes. A tumour that remains stable contributes to

researchers know whether it will help patients live

disease control; it has not necessarily shrunk. Neither

longer. October brought one such signal: invikafusp

percentage establishes a survival advantage. Most

alfa, also called invika, an experimental antibody being

participants had cancers resistant to immune

tested against difficult solid tumours. It is a reason to

checkpoint blockade, making the observed activity

investigate, rather than a promise to the next person

scientifically interesting. [1,2]

who needs treatment.

Why the approach is interesting

What changed this month

Cancer immunotherapy asks the immune system to

A Nature Medicine paper published on 23 October

recognise or attack a malignancy. NCI describes

reports the phase 1/2 START-001 study. Invika

several approaches, including checkpoint inhibitors,

selectively stimulates two T-cell families, labelled

antibodies and cellular treatments. Invika is an antibody

V-beta 6 and V-beta 10. The study included 34 people

intended to activate selected T cells; it is not a

in dose escalation and 18 in the initial phase 2 group.

personalised CAR-T cell infusion. The aim is useful

Its early objectives included evaluating safety and

activity where earlier treatments failed, with unwanted

choosing a dose for further testing. The analysis used a

inflammation kept manageable. Further clinical testing

March 2025 data cutoff: publication month and

must establish whether that selective approach

observation period are different dates. [1]

produces a favourable balance of benefit and harm.

[1,3]

02

HEALTH SCIENCE, CLEARLY