Biokin scores phase 3 win for BMS backed bispecific ADC

Chinese biotech Biokin’s phase 3 trial for its bispecific antibody-drug conjugate, izalontamab brengitecan (iza-bren), met at least one primary endpoint in treating advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Backstory: In 2023, Bristol Myers Squibb struck a deal with Biokin worth up to $8.4 billion, paying $800 million upfront for rights to iza-bren outside China.

The drug: Iza-bren is a bispecific antibody-drug conjugate designed to engage EGFR and HER3—receptors linked to tumor growth—and deliver a cytotoxic payload directly to cancer cells that express them.

Why it matters: Biokin is not the only one to target those two receptors and multiple biotech players are racing to bring similar therapies to market, including Duality Biotherapeutics, Avenzo Therapeutics, Biocytogen, and CStone Pharmaceuticals.

The trial: The study tested iza-bren against chemotherapy in patients with recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma who had failed prior treatments. While full data isn’t public, Biokin says at least one primary endpoint—either response rate or overall survival—was met.

Big picture: While BMS is focusing on triple-negative breast cancer—with a phase 2/3 trial launching soon—Biokin is testing the drug in several other tumor types. The outcome could position iza-bren as a broadly effective cancer therapy.