Zymeworks halts plans for phase 2 ADC trial to mull 'evolving clinical landscape'

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) may be one of the hottest dealmaking areas this year, but that hasn't stopped Zymeworks from halting phase 2 plans for its HER2 ADC to assess the “evolving clinical landscape.”

The bispecific ADC combines Zymework’s lead asset, a HER2-targeted bispecific antibody called zanidatamab, with a toxic chemotherapy. The company hailed “promising results” from a phase 1 trial of zanidatamab zovodotin, also known as ZW49, as a monotherapy for an array of HER2-expressing cancers at the end of 2022.