BI-1808 + pembrolizumab: Responses to a chemotherapy-free regimen in advanced ovarian cancer.

2605 Background: Up to 80% of individuals with advanced ovarian cancer experience disease progression after standard platinum-based chemotherapy, leaving few approved therapeutic options and poor prognosis. Anti-PD-1 therapies such as pembrolizumab have shown modest efficacy in recurrent ovarian cancer as single agent therapy with an ORR of 8% (KEYNOTE-100), while adding pembrolizumab to weekly paclitaxel±bevacizumab regimen (KEYNOTE-B96) demonstrates statistically meaningful improvement in OS and PFS in all comers and the PD-L1 CPS ≥1 population. BI-1808 is an IgG1 mAb targeting TNFR2. It blocks TNF-α binding and, via FcγR engagement, depletes Tregs and reprograms myeloid cells, expanding antitumor CD8+ T cells. These mechanisms of action differentiate BI-1808 from the relief of T cell suppression mediated by anti-PD1. Accordingly, in preclinical models BI-1808 synergizes with anti-PD-1 leading to an additive tumor inhibition. During BI-1808 monotherapy exploration, one case of complete response in a platinum-resistant patient was observed. The combination of BI-1808 and pembrolizumab could offer a chemotherapy-free treatment alternative in ovarian cancer. Methods: Safety and efficacy of BI-1808 plus pembrolizumab are being evaluated in patients with advanced pretreated ovarian cancer in a sub-cohort of the ongoing Phase 2a trial (19-BI-1808-01). The signal-seeking cohort aimed to enroll 20 patients at BI-1808 1000 mg Q3W plus pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W, followed by dose optimization. Results: As of Dec 18, 2025, 24 subjects received BI-1808 plus pembrolizumab. Among 17 response-evaluable patients, 4 achieved confirmed partial response (ORR 24%). Disease control rate was 65%, with 7 patients showing prolonged stable disease, several ongoing beyond 10 months. Strong activity was observed in both high-grade serous and clear cell subtypes. The combination was generally safe and well tolerated; immune related events were manageable and did not lead to treatment discontinuation. Analysis of circulating immune cells shows significant T reg depletion and strong signs of CD8 + T cell activation. Conclusions: Early data from this cohort are highly encouraging, with ORR 24% and DCR 65%. BI-1808 plus pembrolizumab demonstrated a manageable safety profile and promising activity in advanced heavily pretreated ovarian cancer. Based on these findings, the cohort will expand by 20 additional patients focusing on clear cell and high-grade serous subtypes. Further data, including biomarker analyses, will be presented on poster. Clinical trial information: NCT04752826 .

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Journal
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Published
2026-05-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2026.44.16_suppl.2605
Primary Topic
Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
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article
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article

BI-1808 + pembrolizumab: Responses to a chemotherapy-free regimen in advanced ovarian cancer.

Andrés McAllister, Susanne Gertsson, Michael Chisamore, Kristoffer Staal Rohrberg et al.
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
article

BI-1808 + pembrolizumab: Responses to a chemotherapy-free regimen in advanced ovarian cancer.

Andrés McAllister, Susanne Gertsson, Michael Chisamore, Kristoffer Staal Rohrberg, Ingrid Teige, Johan Erik Wallin, Juanita Suzanne Lopez, Ingrid Karlsson, Anette Sundstedt, Linda Mårtensson, Dmytro Piliuhin, Danijela Lindahl, Rikke Løvendahl Eefsen, Jeffrey Yachnin, Sean H. Lim, Harriet Walter, Anja Williams, Rebecca Kristeleit, Helena Nyström, Bjorn Frendeus
article en

Abstract

2605 Background: Up to 80% of individuals with advanced ovarian cancer experience disease progression after standard platinum-based chemotherapy, leaving few approved therapeutic options and poor prognosis. Anti-PD-1 therapies such as pembrolizumab have shown modest efficacy in recurrent ovarian cancer as single agent therapy with an ORR of 8% (KEYNOTE-100), while adding pembrolizumab to weekly paclitaxel±bevacizumab regimen (KEYNOTE-B96) demonstrates statistically meaningful improvement in OS and PFS in all comers and the PD-L1 CPS ≥1 population. BI-1808 is an IgG1 mAb targeting TNFR2. It blocks TNF-α binding and, via FcγR engagement, depletes Tregs and reprograms myeloid cells, expanding antitumor CD8+ T cells. These mechanisms of action differentiate BI-1808 from the relief of T cell suppression mediated by anti-PD1. Accordingly, in preclinical models BI-1808 synergizes with anti-PD-1 leading to an additive tumor inhibition. During BI-1808 monotherapy exploration, one case of complete response in a platinum-resistant patient was observed. The combination of BI-1808 and pembrolizumab could offer a chemotherapy-free treatment alternative in ovarian cancer. Methods: Safety and efficacy of BI-1808 plus pembrolizumab are being evaluated in patients with advanced pretreated ovarian cancer in a sub-cohort of the ongoing Phase 2a trial (19-BI-1808-01). The signal-seeking cohort aimed to enroll 20 patients at BI-1808 1000 mg Q3W plus pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W, followed by dose optimization. Results: As of Dec 18, 2025, 24 subjects received BI-1808 plus pembrolizumab. Among 17 response-evaluable patients, 4 achieved confirmed partial response (ORR 24%). Disease control rate was 65%, with 7 patients showing prolonged stable disease, several ongoing beyond 10 months. Strong activity was observed in both high-grade serous and clear cell subtypes. The combination was generally safe and well tolerated; immune related events were manageable and did not lead to treatment discontinuation. Analysis of circulating immune cells shows significant T reg depletion and strong signs of CD8 + T cell activation. Conclusions: Early data from this cohort are highly encouraging, with ORR 24% and DCR 65%. BI-1808 plus pembrolizumab demonstrated a manageable safety profile and promising activity in advanced heavily pretreated ovarian cancer. Based on these findings, the cohort will expand by 20 additional patients focusing on clear cell and high-grade serous subtypes. Further data, including biomarker analyses, will be presented on poster. Clinical trial information: NCT04752826 .

Journal of Clinical OncologyVol. 44(16_suppl)
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States) (US), Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Karolinska University Hospital (SE), Institute of Cancer Research (GB), University of Leicester (GB), Sarah Cannon Research Institute (GB), Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Herlev Hospital (DK), Copenhagen University Hospital (DK), University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Skåne University Hospital (SE), BioInvent (Sweden) (SE)
Openalex Percentile: Top 12%
Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
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