Ascendis Pharma presents updated, new TransCon IL-2 data

Ascendis Pharma A/S reported updated and new data from its ongoing Phase 1/2 IL-Believe Trial of TransCon IL-2 betagamma in a poster presentation at ESMO 2023, the annual meeting of the European Society of Medical Oncology held in Madrid, Spain. The data included longer-term follow up of previously presented TransCon IL-2 betagamma monotherapy data from the IL-Believe Trial, and was the first presentation of dose escalation data informing recommended Phase 2 dose for TransCon IL-2 betagamma in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor. As of the August 15, 2023 data cutoff, 46 patients were enrolled into dose escalation: 25 to monotherapy and 21 to combination therapy. Patients were heavily pretreated including some who previously progressed on checkpoint inhibitors. Anti-tumor clinical responses were observed with TransCon IL-2 betagamma both as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab. “These updated data reinforce the promising Phase 1 monotherapy data for TransCon IL-2 betagamma reported earlier this year, further strengthening our confidence in its best-in-class potential,” said Stina Singel, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Head of Clinical Development, Oncology at Ascendis Pharma. “In addition to previously reported monotherapy clinical activity, we are particularly encouraged to see anti-tumor responses in two of the three patients with SCLC in the combination portion of the trial who had previously progressed on checkpoint inhibitors. In the Phase 2 portion of IL-Believe, we continue enrolling into indication-specific cohorts and look forward to sharing preliminary data from these cohorts in the second half of 2024.”