BioLineRx’s motixafortide shows ‘encouraging’ efficacy in pancreatic cancer

BioLineRx announced encouraging data from the single-arm pilot phase of the investigator-initiated CheMo4METPANC Phase 2 combination clinical trial evaluating the company’s CXCR4 inhibitor motixafortide, the PD-1 inhibitor cemiplimab, and standard of care chemotherapies gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, versus gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel alone, in first-line pancreatic cancer. The data were published in an online abstract as part of the American Association of Cancer Research Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer taking place in Boston. The pilot phase of the Phase 2 study enrolled 11 patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. As of May 2023, 6 patients – 55% – experienced a partial response of which 4 were confirmed PRs with one patient experiencing resolution of the hepatic metastatic lesion. Three patients – 27% – experienced stable disease, resulting in a disease control rate of 82%. These findings compare favorably to historic partial response and disease control rates of 23% and 48%, respectively, reported with the current standard of care, the chemotherapy combination gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the most common type of pancreatic cancer and is expected to be the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. by 2023.