Marengo Therapeutics reports phase 2 trial data for Invikafusp alfa
Trial results from the STARt-001 study indicate an 18 percent objective response rate in patients with solid tumors previously resistant to checkpoint blockade.
Marengo Therapeutics presented findings from the phase 2 STARt-001 study at the ESMO 2026 conference, detailing the activity of Invikafusp alfa in patients with TMB-H solid tumors. The study focused on subjects who had shown little to no response to standard immune checkpoint blockade treatments.
According to the trial data, 56 percent of evaluable patients experienced tumor shrinkage, with an objective response rate (ORR) of 18 percent. These responses were documented across eight different cancer types, including breast, colorectal, gastric, and non-small cell lung cancers, suggesting the drug may have tissue-agnostic properties.
These data highlight a potential avenue for patients whose cancers remain unresponsive to conventional immunotherapy. The company aims to further evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of the treatment in subsequent clinical stages.