Antengene and MSD Announce Global Clinical Collaboration on Immunotherapy Combo Trial

SHANGHAI and HONG KONG, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Antengene Corporation Limited ("Antengene", SEHK: 6996.HK), a leading innovative, commercial-stage global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing first-in-class and/or best-in-class medicines for cancer, today announced it has entered into a global clinical collaboration with MSD (Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA) to evaluate the combination of ATG-022, a CLDN18.2-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), and MSD's anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA^® (pembrolizumab) in patients with advanced solid tumors.

At the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO GI 2025), Antengene presented the latest data from its Phase I/II CLINCH study. Results showed an objective response rate (ORR) of 42.9% and a disease control rate (DCR) of 95.2% in patients with moderate to high CLDN18.2 expression (IHC 2+ ≥ 20%). Additionally, the study demonstrated an ORR of 30.0% and a DCR of 50.0% in patients with low CLDN18.2 expression (IHC 2+ < 20%). ATG-022 also exhibited a favorable safety profile and extended treatment durations, with no observed cases of ophthalmological or neurological toxicities, nor interstitial lung disease.

ATG-022 is uniquely positioned in the global landscape, with data supporting meaningful efficacy across all levels of Claudin 18.2 expression in gastric cancer, including high, low, and ultra-low expressors. This broad-spectrum activity positions ATG-022 as a promising treatment for a wider patient population compared to other CLDN18.2-targeting therapies.

KEYTRUDA^® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.