ESMO 2024: My Most Interesting Abstracts
Below I’ve summarized the ESMO 2024 abstracts I will be paying close attention to in September (it’s early this year!) and why data from these studies could be impactful.
Note: This post has been updated on September 5th to include a section on the Late-Breaking Abstracts. You can check out this updated section at the end of the post. Just scroll down!
ESMO 2024 abstract titles are available on the ESMO website. We are still waiting for full abstract details as well as titles for several late-breaking abstracts (expected end of august). Despite these missing pieces, there are still a lot of very interesting data sets to be shared at the conference.
As a reminder, full abstract details go live on September 9th, with late breakers being embargoed until the day of the presentation.
Below, I’ve tried to capture my takes on what will be the most interesting data coming out of the conference and why across a few different themes.
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ESMO projects to be a big faceoff between BioNTech and Summit/Akeso’s PD-L1xVEGF bispecific antibodies. At ASCO, we a saw a resurgence of interest and compelling data from the bsAb class (link), with Summit/Akeso’s ivonescimab headlining the lead-up to the conference as it disclosed positive P3 head-to-head data against pembrolizumab in NSCLC (press release). At ESMO, both BioNTech and Summit/Akeso will have comparable data in 1L TNBC in combination with chemotherapy, perhaps resulting in data that demonstrates at least directional differentiation between the two molecules. Between ivonescimab and BNT327, we may start to get a clear signal as to how broadly applicable the combination of these two targets into one antibody format can be with P2 data expected to be shared in RCC and CRC.
Outside of the PD-L1xVEGF bSAbs, Immatics is sharing initial data from its bispecific TCR platform (called TCER), with IMA401 (MAGE-A4/A8). BMS has exclusive rights to this program, offering Immatics a $150M upfront deal for exclusive rights, back in 2021. Thus far, Immunocore has been the market leader in this TCRxCD3 space with commercialized KIMMTRAK in uveal melanoma and PRAME TCRxCD3 brenetefusp in P3, so we will see if Immatics’ TCER platform can compete, as there will likely be a fair number of melanoma patients in the ESMO 2024 study, given IMA401’s targeting.
Finally, I’m curious to learn more about the PD-1/IL-2 dual I/O bispecific from Innovent Biologics. There is obvious synergy between these two MOAs and others like Roche with similar assets in development.