Boston Biomedical reports Phase Ib/II data for Nexavar combos in HCC

The Boston Biomedical Inc. unit of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4506) reported data from 14 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the Phase Ib/II BBI608-503-103HCC trial showing that twice-daily 160 or 240 mg oral napabucasin (BBI608, BB608) plus Nexavar sorafenib led to a disease control rate (DCR) of 64%, median progression-free survival (PFS) of 7.5 months and median overall survival (OS) of 19.2 months. Napabucasin is a small molecule targeting cancer stem cells.

The trial also evaluated the company's amcasertib (BBI503, BB503), a small molecule multi-kinase inhibitor of nanog homeobox (NANOG) and other cancer stem cell pathways, in combination with Nexavar. In 13 patients with HCC, once-daily 100 or 200 mg amcasertib plus Nexavar led to a DCR of 61%, median PFS of 3.4 months and median OS of 5.1 months. Data were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago...