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 .
Authors
- Andrés McAllister (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5510-444X)
- Susanne Gertsson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2861-0510)
- Michael Chisamore (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8629-8232)
- Kristoffer Staal Rohrberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5448-9003)
- Ingrid Teige (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5996-3396)
- Johan Erik Wallin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4143-0096)
- Juanita Suzanne Lopez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8321-4212)
- Ingrid Karlsson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2466-919X)
- Anette Sundstedt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9216-1386)
- Linda Mårtensson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9518-7359)
- Dmytro Piliuhin
- Danijela Lindahl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4557-3483)
- Rikke Løvendahl Eefsen
- Jeffrey Yachnin
- Sean H. Lim
- Harriet Walter
- Anja Williams
- Rebecca Kristeleit
- Helena Nyström
- Bjorn Frendeus
Institutions
- 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)
Publication Details
- 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
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00