Early clinical data suggest that ozekibart (INBRX-109), a DR5 agonist, could offer a new treatment option for Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer.
In a Phase 1 study, ozekibart was combined with standard chemotherapy (temozolomide and irinotecan) in patients with relapsed or refractory disease. Among 31 patients, the response rate reached 64.5%, much higher than the roughly 20% typically seen with chemotherapy alone. Notably, responses were seen even in patients who had previously failed the same chemotherapy drugs. Side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea were similar to chemotherapy alone, with no major added toxicity.
Ozekibart works by triggering cancer cells to undergo programmed cell death. The study is now expanding to include younger patients, and future trials will aim to confirm these results and identify which patients benefit most.