Core Insights - Immuneering Corporation announced positive survival and safety data from its Phase 2a trial of atebimetinib in combination with modified gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel for first-line pancreatic cancer patients, showing an overall survival (OS) of 86% at 9 months, significantly higher than the standard of care benchmark of approximately 47% [1][6][10] Survival Data - The trial reported a 94% OS at 6 months, which was sustained to 86% at 9 months, indicating a substantial improvement over standard care [2][6] - Progression-free survival (PFS) was observed at 53% at 9 months, compared to a standard of care benchmark of around 29% [5][6] Safety Profile - The combination therapy demonstrated a favorable tolerability profile, with only neutropenia and anemia observed at Grade 3 in more than 10% of patients, which are common in standard chemotherapy [10][11] - No new safety signals were identified, reinforcing the treatment's tolerability [10] Mechanism of Action - Atebimetinib is classified as a Deep Cyclic Inhibitor, targeting MEK, which is a key control point in the MAPK pathway, potentially offering a more durable treatment option for pancreatic cancer [12][13] Future Plans - The company anticipates regulatory feedback on pivotal trial plans in Q4 2025 and aims to initiate a pivotal trial by the end of 2025, with patient dosing expected to begin by mid-2026 [5][18] - Immuneering is also planning to expand clinical trials for atebimetinib in other cancer types, including non-small cell lung cancer [18]