Written by Dr. Brown
Researchers have reported encouraging early results from a precision immunotherapy designed for people whose solid tumors had stopped responding to standard treatments.
The experimental drug, called invikafusp alfa—or invika—stimulates selected groups of the body’s own tumor-fighting T cells. Among 27 participants who received the optimal dose, cancer progression stopped in 16 people. Four participants experienced tumor reductions of more than 30%, including people with forms of colorectal and lung cancer that are often especially difficult to treat.
These findings come from an early Phase 1/2 clinical trial. Invika is not yet an approved treatment, and considerably more research is needed to determine its long-term safety and effectiveness. Still, the results offer something meaningful: evidence of activity in patients who had very few remaining treatment options.
See the research at NIH: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/precision-t-cell-therapy-stalls-treatment-resistant-cancers-clinical-trial
