![]() ![]() We also initiated screening of patients in UP-NEXT, our Phase 3 clinical trial of UpRi as monotherapy maintenance treatment following treatment with platinum doublets in recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, in the third quarter of 2022.Īdditionally, we also are conducting a Phase 1 combination trial, which we refer to as UPGRADE-A, exploring the combination of UpRi with carboplatin, a standard platinum chemotherapy broadly used in the treatment of platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. Mersana expects to lock its UPLIFT clinical trial database and disclose UPLIFT top-line data by early August.īesides UPLIFT, however, Mersana has recently initiated two more studies of UpRi - back to the 10Q: Patients who are already enrolled in these trials may continue receiving UpRi. ![]() According to a Mersana press release issued today: This trial is fully enrolled and is not affected by the FDA's partial hold. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, under the accelerated approval pathway around the end of 2023. We expect to report top-line data from UPLIFT in mid 2023 following the major oncology conferences scheduled for June, and, if the data are positive, to submit a biologics license application, or BLA, to the U.S. We are currently evaluating UpRi in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer in a single-arm registrational trial, which we refer to as UPLIFT, for which we completed enrollment of approximately 270 patients in October 2022. a first-in-class Dolaflexin ADC targeting NaPi2b, an antigen broadly expressed in ovarian cancer and other cancers. Its lead asset is upifitamab rilsodotin - "UpRi" for short which the company refers to as: Long story short, ADCs are becoming an extremely valuable commodity within the pharmaceutical industry, and Mersana exists at the sharp end of this nascent field of drug development. Pfizer's CEO Albert Bourla said of the deal "We are not buying the golden eggs, we are acquiring the goose that is laying the golden eggs." In March, Pharma giant Pfizer ( PFE) announced that it was set to acquire Seagen in a deal worth $43bn. These three drugs earned, respectively, $839m - up 23% year-on-year - $451m - up 33% year-on-year - and $63m - up 923% yoy - in 2022. Seagen markets and sells ADCETRIS, approved to treat Hodgkin's Lymphoma and T-cell Lymphoma, PADCEV, approved for Urothelial (bladder) cancer, and TIVDAK, approved for Cervical Cancer. The best known ADC drug developer - responsible for four of 12 ADCs approved for commercial use to date by the FDA - is Seattle based Seagen - formerly known as Seattle Genetics. ![]() These targeted agents combine the unique and very sensitive targeting capabilities of antibodies allowing sensitive discrimination between healthy and cancer tissues with the cell-killing ability of cytotoxic drugs. Mersana is a specialist in a specific field of drug development - antibody drug conjugates ("ADCs") - described as follows by :Īntibody-drug conjugates or ADCs are a new class of highly potent biopharmaceutical drug composed of an antibody linked, via a chemical linker, to a biologically active drug or cytotoxic compound. Mersana - An ADC Pioneer That Just Had Its Wings Clipped To explain why Mersana has been on such a roller-coaster ride and speculate about what direction it may move in next, it's necessary to take a step backward and study the path that the company - which enjoyed a >$1bn market cap valuation prior to today's sell-off - has been pursuing. Shares took flight at the beginning of May - rising from $3.7, to >$8 per share in less than one week. It may interest investors to know however that Mersana stock was trading at lower value less than two months ago. Mersana Therapeutics ( NASDAQ: MRSN) shares are in freefall - the stock price is down 58% today (at the time of writing), trading at a price of ~$4, owing to a partial clinical hold pausing new patient enrollment in the company's UP-NEXT and UPGRADE-A clinical trials of lead asset upifitamab rilsodotin in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.
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