Roche reports responses for IL-2 variant at ESMO

A targeted IL-2 variant from Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) showed monotherapy activity in patients with metastatic solid tumors in a Phase I trial. Data presented Sunday at the European Society for Medical Oncology in Munich from the Phase I BP29842 trial showed that the IL-2 variant, dubbed RO6874281, led to a complete response in a recurrent, heavily pretreated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patient, plus two partial responses, including a patient with cutaneous melanoma and a patient with mucosal melanoma.

Lead competitor Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR), whose IL-2 targeted therapy NKTR-214 is in multiple combination trials, fell $8.30 (17%) to $39.89 Monday following the Roche readout. ...