Lisata Therapeutics Announces Encouraging Preliminary Results from the Pancreatic Cancer Cohort of the CENDIFOX Trial

Core Insights - Lisata Therapeutics announced promising preliminary data from the Phase 1/2a CENDIFOX trial for its investigational drug certepetide, aimed at treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) [1][3][4] Company Overview - Lisata Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for advanced solid tumors and other serious diseases [7] - The company is exploring the potential of certepetide to enhance the effectiveness of various treatment modalities for solid tumors [6] Trial Details - The CENDIFOX trial is evaluating certepetide in combination with FOLFIRINOX-based therapies for pancreatic, colon, and appendiceal cancers [1][2] - The trial is led by Dr. Anup Kasi at The University of Kansas Cancer Center [1][8] Preliminary Data Highlights - Among 35 patients in the PDAC cohort, 10 completed pre-surgical therapy and were eligible for resection, achieving a 50% R0 resection rate and a 70% pathologic partial response rate [3][4] - The trial reported a 60% two-year overall survival rate and a 12-month median disease-free survival [3][4] - Enhanced immune cell infiltration and increased expression of immune markers were observed, indicating a potential shift from "immune-cold" to "immune-hot" tumors [3][4] Significance of Findings - The results suggest that certepetide may improve drug delivery and modulate the tumor microenvironment, offering a new treatment approach for pancreatic cancer [3][4] - The findings are particularly significant given the poor prognosis associated with pancreatic cancer, which has a five-year survival rate of only 13% [4]