Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is one of the best medical research stocks to buy according to hedge funds. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) announced on February 11 the FDA approval of KEYTRUDA® and KEYTRUDA QLEX™ plus paclitaxel, with or without bevacizumab, for the treatment of adults with PD-L1+, as determined by an FDA-authorized test, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal carcinoma, who have received one or two prior systemic treatment regimens. Management stated that ...

CytomX Therapeutics Conference Call Summary Company Overview - **Company**: CytomX Therapeutics (NasdaqGS:CTMX) - **Focus**: Development of masked biologics technology, specifically targeting cancer therapies [2][3] Key Industry Insights - **Technology**: CytomX has pioneered the field of masked biologics, allowing for targeted drug delivery to tumor cells while minimizing effects on healthy tissues [2][3] - **Clinical Programs**: The company is currently focused on two clinical programs, with the lead program being a masked EpCAM antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) [3][4] Core Product Insights - **Lead Product**: CX-2051, a masked ADC targeting EpCAM, which is highly expressed in various solid tumors, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC) [5][6] - **Target Rationale**: EpCAM is a compelling target due to its high expression in solid tumors, but previous attempts to target it have faced toxicity issues. CytomX believes its masking technology can mitigate these toxicities [5][6][7] Clinical Data Highlights - **Colorectal Cancer Statistics**: CRC has 1.9 million cases globally and is the second leading cause of cancer death, with a five-year survival rate of only 13% in metastatic cases [12] - **Phase 1 Data**: In a difficult-to-treat patient population (average of four prior therapies), CX-2051 showed a 28% objective response rate and 94% disease control rate, with a progression-free survival (PFS) of 5.8 months [14][19] - **Safety Profile**: The drug did not exhibit classic EpCAM-related toxicities such as pancreatitis or liver toxicity. The main adverse effect observed was grade 3 diarrhea in 21% of patients [15][16] Future Development Plans - **Expansion of Clinical Trials**: CytomX plans to expand the enrollment to approximately 100 patients across three active doses (7.2 mg/kg, 8.6 mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg) to better understand efficacy and safety [19][20] - **Regulatory Pathway**: The company aims to discuss potential registrational studies with the FDA by mid-2027, focusing on late-line CRC treatment [37][38] Competitive Landscape - **Market Position**: CytomX believes it has a strong competitive position in the ADC space for CRC, with a compelling drug profile compared to other ADCs targeting CRC [46][47] - **Other ADCs**: Competitors include Merck's CEACAM5 ADC and AbbVie's cMet ADC, but CytomX asserts that its drug has broader applicability due to the widespread expression of EpCAM [46][47] Combination Therapy Strategy - **Initial Combinations**: The company plans to start combination studies with bevacizumab and is considering other combinations to enhance treatment efficacy and expand market opportunities [49][50] - **Long-term Vision**: CytomX aims to replace traditional chemotherapy regimens, particularly irinotecan, with its ADC in earlier treatment lines [41][42] Additional Product Insights - **Other Asset**: CytomX is also developing a second product candidate, an interferon alpha-2b therapy for late-line melanoma, which is expected to be combined with KEYTRUDA [53] Conclusion - CytomX Therapeutics is positioned to address significant unmet needs in cancer treatment, particularly in CRC, with its innovative masked biologics technology and promising clinical data. The company is focused on expanding its clinical trials and exploring combination therapies to enhance treatment outcomes.

Core Viewpoint - Merck has received FDA approval for KEYTRUDA® and KEYTRUDA QLEX™ for treating adults with PD-L1+ platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal cancer [1] Group 1: Product Approval - The FDA approved KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) for the treatment of adults with PD-L1+ (Combined Positive Score [CPS] 1) [1] - KEYTRUDA QLEX™ (pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph) plus paclitaxel, with or without bevacizumab, is also approved for the same indication [1]

Core Insights - Compass Therapeutics, Inc. is presenting its preclinical development of CTX-10726, a bispecific antibody targeting PD-1 and VEGF-A, at the 40th Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Annual Meeting [1][3] Company Overview - Compass Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology, developing proprietary antibody-based therapeutics to treat various human diseases [4][7] - The company emphasizes the interplay between angiogenesis, the immune system, and tumor growth, aiming to create a robust pipeline of product candidates targeting critical biological pathways for effective anti-tumor responses [4][7] Product Development - CTX-10726 is designed for patients with metastatic or locally advanced tumors, enhancing anti-tumor responses by targeting both immune checkpoints and tumor vasculature [3][5] - The bispecific antibody has shown potent anti-tumor activity in preclinical mouse models, outperforming competitive antibodies like ivonescimab in controlling tumor growth [5][6] - IND submission for CTX-10726 is on track for Q4 2025 [5] Preclinical Data Highlights - In vitro, CTX-10726 demonstrated high-affinity binding to VEGF-A and PD-1, effectively blocking their interactions in a dose-dependent manner [6] - In vivo studies showed superior anti-tumor efficacy in various cancer models, including human lung and colon cancer, with significant tumor size reduction compared to other treatments [6]

HARMONi-6 Trial Results (Ivonescimab + Chemotherapy vs Tislelizumab + Chemotherapy in Advanced Squamous NSCLC) - Ivonescimab plus chemotherapy demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in Progression-Free Survival (PFS) compared to tislelizumab plus chemotherapy, with a Hazard Ratio (HR) of 0.60, representing a 4.2-month improvement in median PFS (mPFS)[19, 21] - The median PFS (mPFS) was 11.14 months in the ivonescimab plus chemotherapy arm compared to 6.90 months in the tislelizumab plus chemotherapy arm[21] - Subgroup analysis of PFS by IRRC showed that the PFS benefit favored ivonescimab plus chemotherapy across all key subgroups, including PD-L1 TPS <1% (HR=0.55) and PD-L1 TPS ≥1% (HR=0.66)[29, 31] - The Overall Response Rate (ORR) was higher in the ivonescimab plus chemotherapy arm (75.9%) compared to the tislelizumab plus chemotherapy arm (66.5%), with a p-value of 0.008[37, 38] - The median Duration of Response (mDoR) was 11.20 months in the ivonescimab plus chemotherapy arm compared to 8.38 months in the tislelizumab plus chemotherapy arm, with a p-value of 0.0219[41] - The safety profile of ivonescimab plus chemotherapy was manageable in squamous NSCLC, with Grade ≥ 3 Treatment-Related Adverse Events (TRAEs) occurring in 63.9% of patients in the ivonescimab arm and 54.3% in the tislelizumab arm[46, 47] AK112-206 Trial Results (Ivonescimab + Chemotherapy in Colorectal Cancer) - In the AK112-206 study, the investigator-assessed ORR for ivonescimab + FOLFOXIRI was 81.8% (95% CI: 59.7-94.8) and for ivonescimab + ligufalimab + FOLFOXIRI was 88.2% (63.6-98.5)[97] - The investigator-assessed Disease Control Rate (DCR) was 100% for both ivonescimab + FOLFOXIRI (95% CI: 84.6-100) and ivonescimab + ligufalimab + FOLFOXIRI (95% CI: 80.5-100)[97] - Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) with Grade ≥3 occurred in 68.2% of patients in the ivonescimab + FOLFOXIRI arm and 66.7% in the ivonescimab + ligufalimab + FOLFOXIRI arm[102] Ongoing and Planned Trials - HARMONi-3, a Phase 3 study of Ivonescimab + Chemo vs Pembrolizumab + Chemo in 1L Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), is ongoing globally with expected enrollment of 600 squamous and 1,000 non-squamous patients[59, 74, 77] - A Phase 3 study of Ivonescimab + Chemo vs Bevacizumab + Chemo in 1L Unresectable Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is planned with an enrollment of 600 patients[81, 83]

Core Insights - Merck announced the first presentation of results from the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-B96 trial, evaluating KEYTRUDA® in combination with chemotherapy for platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer [1] Group 1 - The trial, also known as ENGOT-ov65, assesses the efficacy of KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) combined with paclitaxel, with or without bevacizumab [1]

Core Insights - Merck announced that the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-B96 trial met its secondary endpoint of overall survival for patients with platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer [1] Group 1: Trial Details - The KEYNOTE-B96 trial, also known as ENGOT-ov65, studied the efficacy of KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in combination with chemotherapy (paclitaxel) with or without bevacizumab [1]

Summary of Cardiff Oncology Conference Call - October 09, 2025 Company Overview - **Company**: Cardiff Oncology (NasdaqCM:CRDF) - **Lead Asset**: Onvansertib, a small molecule targeting PLK1, a known cancer therapy target Industry Context - **Disease Focus**: Colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer globally, with increasing incidence, particularly in individuals under 50 in the U.S. - **Market Need**: High unmet need in RAS-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC), with limited innovation in the last 20 years Key Points and Arguments 1. **Onvansertib's Mechanism**: - First-in-class PLK1 inhibitor that is well tolerated and can be combined with chemotherapy for colorectal cancer treatment [2][3] - Demonstrates 5,000-fold greater specificity for PLK1 compared to other PLKs, contributing to its tolerability [3] 2. **Clinical Trial Insights**: - The CARDIFF-004 trial is a Phase II study focusing on first-line RAS-mutated MCRC, combining onvansertib with standard chemotherapy [7] - Confirmed objective response rate of 49%, a nearly 20% improvement over control [8] - Early signs of progression-free survival (PFS) separation observed, particularly in the 30 mg dose group [11][12] 3. **Patient Response**: - Significant depth of response noted, with some patients previously considered unresectable being referred for curative surgery [11] - High patient compliance due to the oral administration and low toxicity profile [13] 4. **Safety Profile**: - Minimal additive toxicity observed when combined with standard chemotherapy, with no significant increase in grade III or higher adverse events [13] 5. **Strategic Partnerships**: - Pfizer invested $15 million in Cardiff Oncology in 2021 and has a member on the Scientific Advisory Board, indicating strategic interest in onvansertib [19] - Pfizer is acting as a contract research organization for the ongoing trial, while Cardiff retains full ownership of onvansertib [20] 6. **Financial Position**: - As of June 30, 2025, Cardiff had $71 million in cash, funding operations into early 2027 [21] - Anticipated updates from the CARDIFF-004 trial in Q1 2026, expected to provide more data on durability and PFS [27] 7. **Commercial Opportunity**: - Analysts estimate peak sales for onvansertib between $2 billion and $3 billion annually, with a favorable competitive landscape in first-line RAS-mutated MCRC [31] - Rapid adoption expected if efficacy is demonstrated without additional toxicity [32] 8. **Market Positioning**: - Onvansertib targets RAS-mutated MCRC, which constitutes about 50% of the patient population, while competitors like Meris focus on RAS wild type patients, thus not seen as direct competition [35] Additional Important Content - **Future Directions**: Cardiff is exploring other indications for onvansertib, including triple-negative breast cancer and small cell lung cancer, while maintaining focus on colorectal cancer [24] - **Research Findings**: Novel findings regarding the synergy between onvansertib and bevacizumab published in top journals, with patents extending the commercial runway for onvansertib [18] This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the conference call, highlighting Cardiff Oncology's strategic positioning, clinical advancements, and market potential for onvansertib in treating colorectal cancer.

Core Viewpoint - Akeso, Inc. has initiated a Phase III clinical trial for ivonescimab as a first-line treatment for advanced metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), addressing a significant unmet clinical need in this area [1][2][7]. Industry Overview - Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer globally and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with over 1.9 million new cases and approximately 904,000 deaths reported in 2022 [3]. - About 95% of mCRC cases are classified as microsatellite stable (MSS) or proficient mismatch repair (pMMR), which traditionally show poor responses to immunotherapy [3]. - Current standard treatments for mCRC include chemotherapy combined with targeted therapies, but the overall efficacy remains limited, with a five-year survival rate for advanced patients of less than 20% [4]. Company Initiatives - The Phase III trial (AK112-312/HARMONi-GI6) aims to validate the clinical benefits of ivonescimab, which has shown promising Phase II efficacy data in combination with chemotherapy for MSS/pMMR-type mCRC [5][7]. - The combination of ivonescimab with FOLFOXIRI demonstrated an overall response rate (ORR) of 81.8% and a disease control rate (DCR) of 100%, indicating compelling anti-tumor activity in this difficult-to-treat patient population [6]. Future Prospects - If successful, ivonescimab could provide a novel first-line immunotherapy treatment option for patients with advanced mCRC, potentially improving outcomes compared to existing therapies [7].

Core Insights - Innovent Biologics has presented promising clinical data for IBI363, a first-in-class PD-1/IL-2α-bias bispecific antibody fusion protein, at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting, demonstrating its potential to convert "cold tumors" into "hot tumors" in advanced colorectal cancer [1][2][10] Clinical Data Summary - IBI363 monotherapy showed a median overall survival (OS) of 16.1 months in patients with advanced colorectal cancer, significantly better than standard treatments which range from 6.4 to 9.3 months [6][10] - In Phase 1 studies, IBI363 combined with bevacizumab resulted in a confirmed objective response rate (cORR) of 15.1% and a disease control rate (DCR) of 61.6% among 73 participants [9] - The combination therapy showed a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 4.7 months, with a notable increase in efficacy for patients without liver metastases, achieving a cORR of 31.3% and a DCR of 81.3% [9] Mechanism of Action - IBI363 operates by blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway while activating the IL-2 pathway, specifically targeting tumor-specific T cells, which enhances its therapeutic efficacy in treating colorectal cancer [11][12] - Tumor immune cell infiltration analysis indicated that higher levels of CD8+ T cells were associated with improved clinical responses to IBI363, supporting its mechanism of action [8] Future Development - Innovent is conducting further clinical studies in multiple countries to explore IBI363's efficacy across various tumor indications, including immune-resistant and cold tumors [12] - The company has initiated a pivotal trial for IBI363 targeting unresectable locally advanced or metastatic mucosal or acral melanoma [12][13] Company Overview - Innovent Biologics, founded in 2011, focuses on developing high-quality biopharmaceuticals for various diseases, including cancer, and has launched 15 products to date [14][15] - The company has received fast track and breakthrough designations from regulatory authorities for IBI363, indicating its potential in treating specific cancer types [13]