OBI Pharma, Inc. (4174.TWO), a clinical-stage oncology company, announced that OBI-992, a TROP2 targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), has been shortlisted from over 1,000 nominations submitted as one of the eight “2024 Most Promising Clinical Candidate” by the 11th Annual World ADC Awards. The World ADC Awards were created 11 years ago to commemorate scientific excellence within ADC research. A panel of expert judges will determine the winner and runner-up from eight shortlisted candidates. The results will be announced at the World ADC Conference in San Diego, California, on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
The category of Most Promising Clinical Candidate award recognizes ADC program in clinical development. Candidates are considered based on their clinical performance, addressing unmet patient need and commercial potential. OBI-992 is an ADC targeting TROP2, a protein overexpressed in various epithelial cancers. In June 2024, the company initiated a phase I/II clinical study of OBI-992 in the United States, recruiting patients with advanced solid tumors, including gastric and lung cancers. In August 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) of OBI-992 TROP2 ADC for the treatment of gastric cancer, including gastroesophageal junction cancer.
Dr. M. Wayne Saville, Chief Medical Officer (OBI Pharma USA, Inc.), highlighted that the preclinical data showed OBI-992 has several key advantages over other TROP2 ADCs marketed or in development. Its high serum stability, enhanced bystander effect that can kill neighboring cancer cells with negative TROP2 expression, ability to potentially overcome drug resistance, and significant anti-tumor activity in various organoid and animal models make OBI-992 a promising candidate for cancer treatment. “We look forward to further validating OBI-992’s potential to become the best-in-class TROP2 targeted ADC treatment in the clinics.”
Dr. Heidi Wang, Chief Executive Officer, emphasized that this recognition in the global ADC development field attests the company’s spirit of innovation and the high expectations surrounding the drug. “We are fully committed to advancing the development of OBI-992, hoping it will provide better treatment options for cancer patients worldwide.”