- Thinly traded nano cap Affimed N.V. (AFMD +28.3%) is up on a 7x surge in volume on the heels of its announcement of updated data from two clinical trials evaluating lead candidate AFM13 in lymphoma patients.
- Interim results from a Phase 1b study assessing the combination of AFM13 and Merck's (MRK +0.9%) KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) showed an 89% overall response rate (ORR) (n=8/9), including four complete metabolic responses. The other patient had stable disease, implying a disease control rate (DCR) of 100%. The historical ORR for KEYTRUDA alone in HL is 58 - 63%.
- In a Phase 1b/2a study evaluating AFM13 as monotherapy in patients with CD30-positive cutaneous lymphoma, the ORR was 66% (n=2/3) with one patient showing stable disease, implying a DCR of 100% as well.
- AFM13 is a bispecific antibody that binds to a protein expressed in a range of T-cell and B-cell lymphomas called CD30 and to a protein expressed on the immune system's natural killer cells called CD16A, both of which play key roles in the activation of the immune system to detect and kill cancer cells.
- Previously: Affimed's lead candidate shows treatment benefit in early-stage study; investors unimpressed, shares down 27% (Dec. 11, 2017)
- Now read: 3 Things In Biotech You Should Learn Today: January 27, 2018
Original article