Cantargia AB holds a large number of granted patents related to IL1RAP as a target for antibody treatment of cancer. One of Cantargia's European patents for treatment of solid tumors, EP 3020730 B1, was opposed by a third party in 2019. Following a hearing at the European Patent Office (EPO), the Opposition Division confirmed the validity of this European patent and rejected the opposition. Cantargia's extensive patent protection for IL1RAP-targeting therapy is thus fully maintained with unchanged claim scope.

Redeye has a positive view of Cantargia's obtaining orphan drug status. It provides some benefits, the most important of which are described in our comment.

Cantargia AB today presented novel interim results in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients for nadunolimab (CAN04) in combination with gemcitabine/cisplatin at the ESMO Congress. The data read-out was conducted in August 2021 and the efficacy analysis includes 27 patients. In summary, compared to historical controls, the efficacy was higher than for chemotherapy alone, with an overall response rate (ORR) of 53 % in non-squamous NSCLC. In the total population, ORR was 48% and median progression-free survival (PFS) 7.2 months.

Cantargia AB today announced approval to start the phase I/II clinical study CESTAFOUR by the regulatory authority and ethics committee in France. This study broadens the clinical development for nadunolimab (CAN04) to include biliary tract cancer (BTC), colorectal cancer (CRC) and late-stage non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) and will evaluate CAN04 in combination with standard of care chemotherapy. The study will be conducted at approximately 20 clinical centers in Europe and will include up to a total of 165 patients.