Suvemcitug plus chemotherapy in women with platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer: the SCORES randomized, double-blinded, phase 3 trial

In the SCORES study ( NCT04908787 ), women with ovarian cancer that progressed within 6 months after completing platinum-based therapy were randomized (2:1) to receive suvemcitug (1.5 mg kg^-1), an antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor or placebo every 2 weeks, with chemotherapy (paclitaxel, topotecan or PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The key secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Other secondary endpoints included objective response rate, disease control rate, duration of response, quality of life, safety, pharmacokinetics and antidrug antibodies. Between June 5, 2021 and October 11, 2024, 421 participants were randomized (49.4% and 49.4% previously exposed to antiangiogenic agents and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, respectively). Median PFS was 5.5 and 2.7 months in the suvemcitug and placebo arms, respectively (hazard ratio: 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.35-0.60, P < 0.001), meeting the primary endpoint. Median OS was 15.3 versus 14.0 months, respectively (hazard ratio: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.60-0.99, P = 0.03). Decreased neutrophil count and decreased white blood cell count were the most common grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in the suvemcitug arm. No suvemcitug-related grade 5 TEAE occurred. In conclusion, the addition of suvemcitug to chemotherapy significantly improved PFS and OS, with tolerable toxicities.