Category Archives: News

New final data: Immunotherapy with atezolizumab brings no additional benefit in recurrent ovarian cancer

New final data: Immunotherapy with atezolizumab brings no additional benefit in recurrent ovarian cancer

The final results of the AGO-OVAR 2.29 (ENGOT-ov34) study were published in December 2025.

This large international phase III trial investigated whether the additional administration of the immunotherapy drug atezolizumab together with bevacizumab and non-platinum-based chemotherapy can prolong the survival of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.
This form of cancer recurs even though platinum-based chemotherapy has already been given and is considered particularly difficult to treat.

A total of 574 patients were randomized in the study and received either the standard treatment (chemotherapy + bevacizumab + placebo) or atezolizumab in addition.

What did the study show?

➡️ No clear survival benefit was found with the addition of atezolizumab:

  • The median overall survival (OS) was around 14.2 months with atezolizumab and 13.0 months in the control group – this difference was not statistically significant, i.e. not clear enough to speak of a reliable advantage.

  • The median progression-free survival (PFS) – i.e. the time during which the tumor does not grow again – was practically the same with atezolizumab compared to 6.7 months in the control group and also without a statistically proven advantage.

💡 This means that immunotherapy with atezolizumab did not lead to a clear improvement in disease control or prolongation of life when given in addition to bevacizumab and chemotherapy in this study.

What about side effects?

Severe side effects (grade ≥ 3) occurred slightly more frequently in patients receiving atezolizumab (72% vs. 69%), but overall the safety profile was comparable to that already known for the individual drugs.

Was a difference observed depending on PD-L1 status?

The study also investigated whether patients with PD-L1-positive tumors (a possible indication of a better response to immunotherapy) benefit more from atezolizumab. This was not the case – the results were similar regardless of whether the tumor was PD-L1-positive or -negative.

Important contribution to research
Even if these particular results are negative, such large studies are important in order to understand exactly which therapies really help in which situations – and where we still need new approaches.

💡 Standards remain unchanged
For patients with platinum-resistant relapse, the established treatment options, such as chemotherapy with bevacizumab or other effective combinations, currently remain the recommended standard. Immunotherapy such as atezolizumab is currently not demonstrably more effective than standard treatment in this setting.

Source: Publication from ASCO (the article is in English)

New findings on the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer – results of the ROSELLA study

New findings on the treatment of platinum-resistant
ovarian cancer - Results of the ROSELLA study

At the end of January, the pharmaceutical company Corcept Therapeutics published a press release on the positive results of the ROSELLA study!

This study investigated whether the combination of the drug Relacorilant and the chemotherapy nab-paclitaxel can improve the survival of patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

What was the study about?

Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer means that the tumor has continued to grow despite platinum-based chemotherapy and only responds to a limited extent to standard therapies. Such patients often have a poor prognosis and only limited treatment options.

In the ROSELLA study, 381 patients worldwide were randomly divided into two groups:

  • One group received nab-paclitaxel alone (standard chemotherapy),
  • the other nab-Paclitaxel plus Relacorilant.

What did the study show?

1. lower risk of death
Patients who received Relacorilant in addition to chemotherapy had a 35% lower risk of death than those who received chemotherapy alone. This means that the new combination significantly prolonged overall survival.

2. longer survival time
On average, patients with Relacorilant lived for 16.0 months compared to 11.9 months with chemotherapy alone – i.e. around 4 months longer.

3. better progression-free survival
It has previously been shown that the combination also improves the time until the disease progresses – i.e. the period in which tumors do not grow any further.

4. well tolerated
Important: The combination was well tolerated and severe side effects did not occur more frequently than with chemotherapy alone. This means that Relacorilant brings its benefits without noticeably worsening safety for patients.

5. no biomarker restriction
In contrast to some other therapies, it was not necessary to select patients according to a specific tumor biomarker in this study – the benefits of the therapy were independent of certain tumor characteristics.

What does this mean for patients in Germany?

Promising new treatment option in sight
The results are particularly important because they show for the first time that an additional substance not only delays progression but also prolongs overall survival – without additional safety issues.

Regulatory submissions currently underway
– In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently reviewing Corcept’s application for approval of Relacorilant for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer; a result is expected by July 11, 2026.
– In Europe – including Germany – the application is also currently being evaluated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Until approval, it will not remain a standard in Germany
Until Relacorilant is officially approved, this combination is not yet part of the regular treatment guidelines in Germany. But the current data are an important step in this direction.

Source: Corcept press release (the article is in English)

News for patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer

News for patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer

The pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly recently received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration with a Breakthrough Therapy Designation for a new drug called sofetabart mipitecan was awarded. This designation is only awarded if an active substance shows initial indications that it could deliver significantly better results in a serious disease than previously available therapies.

What is Sofetabart mipitecan?

Sofetabart mipitecan is a so-called antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that specifically targets the folic acid receptor alpha (FRα) on tumor cells and releases a chemotherapy substance there. This receptor is strongly present in many ovarian tumors, which should allow the drug to have a targeted effect.Previous results from early studies, which were presented at major cancer congresses such as ASCO 2025 and ESMO 2025, showed a tumor response in patientswho had previously received standard therapies such as bevacizumab or mirvetuximab soravtansine. The data to date also indicate that side effects are manageable and that severe lung problems, nerve damage or severe eye damage rarely occurred.

What does the FDA designation mean?

The Breakthrough Therapy Designation is intended to accelerate the development process and enable earlier discussions with authorities. Although it is not a sure indication of approval, it does mean that the results to date are so promising that faster development and testing seems sensible.

Phase 3 study FRAmework-01 to start soon in Germany!

Based on these positive interim results, Lilly has initiated the Phase 3 study called FRAmework-01 has been started. In this trial, sofetabart mipitecan is being investigated in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) as a single therapy patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer (PSOC) in combination with bevacizumab.The start of the trial in Germany is planned for spring 2026. spring 2026 and offers patients the opportunity to participate in an ongoing Phase 3 trial, provided they meet the inclusion criteria (e.g. diagnosis of a platinum-sensitive or platinum-resistant tumor).

Sofetabart mipitecan is a promising drug that could be effective in difficult-to-treat, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, especially in tumors that no longer respond to other treatments, and is therefore a potential new therapeutic option.
The new Phase 3 FRAmework-01 trial offers the opportunity to participate in an international trial in Germany. the chance to participate in an international trial in Germanybefore approval is granted at a later date. As soon as the study starts, you will find further information on our study portal!

Source: Press release from Lilly (the article is in English)

New study data from ESMO 2025: Immunotherapy brings survival benefit in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer for the first time

New study data from ESMO 2025:
Immunotherapy brings survival benefit in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer for the first time

A press release on the initial results of the ENGOT-ov65/KEYNOTE-B96 trial was published in May 2025, and the latest promising results were presented at the ESMO Congress in Berlin at the weekend. This international phase III trial investigated whether the combination of pembrolizumab (an immune checkpoint inhibitor) and paclitaxel (a chemotherapeutic agent), with or without bevacizumab (an angiogenesis inhibitor), can prolong the survival of patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer .

The results show: Although the gain in progression-free survival (PFS), i.e. the time until the disease continues to grow, was rather small at around 2 months, this difference was clinically relevant. However, the significant advantage in overall survival (OS) is decisive: patients whose tumors were PD-L1-positive (a marker for response to immunotherapy) lived an average of 18.2 months compared to 14.0 months in the comparison group that only received chemotherapy.

This means that for the first time in this difficult disease, where previous therapies are often only effective in the short term, a real survival benefit has been shown with immunotherapy – and in a patient group that has not been pre-selected.

The safety profile of the combination therapy was also acceptable overall, although grade 3 or higher side effects occurred in around two thirds of patients. Particularly noteworthy: the survival benefit was independent of whether or not bevacizumab was also given.

Experts see these data as a potential turning point in the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Until now, the effectiveness of immunotherapies in this type of cancer has been limited. This could now change, especially for patients with PD-L1-positive tumors.

Nevertheless, experts such as Dr. Rebecca Kristeleit (London) emphasize that the results should be interpreted with caution. The clinical benefit must be weighed against possible side effects and costs. It also remains to be seen whether the combination will be approved in the future or can only be recommended for certain subgroups.

Finally, future combination therapies were also discussed in Berlin: so-called antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) could be used together with immunotherapies in the future and thus offer further hope for patients with this difficult form of tumor.

Source: ESMO Congress Report (the article is in English)

Elahere (MIRV) keeps quality of life stable – new analysis of the MIRASOL study

Elahere (MIRV) keeps quality of life stable
- new analysis of the MIRASOL study

New results of the MIRASOL study were published in April 2025.

The study results showed that the drug mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx (trade name Elahere) prolonged the time to disease progression and overall survival in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer with high levels of the folic acid receptor α (FRα).

Focus on quality of life

The latest data from the study assess quality of life from the patient’s perspective (patient-reported outcomes).

This showed that Elahere can neither worsen nor clearly improve quality of life compared to conventional chemotherapy. There were slight indications of benefits, particularly for abdominal and digestive complaints: 21% of patients taking Elahere reported noticeable improvements – compared to 15% taking chemotherapy, although the difference was not entirely statistically certain. Nevertheless, in a follow-up analysis with other measurements, there were indications of actual improvements in up to 29% vs. 18%.

What does that mean in concrete terms?

  • No deterioration in quality of life: Women undergoing therapy with Elahere reported similar living conditions to those with standard therapy.

  • Symptoms remain stable: important everyday symptoms such as pain or appetite did not deteriorate.

  • Combination of efficacy and stability: Since Elahere has also been shown to prolong survival, it now offers a promising treatment option – without the additional burden of poor quality of life.

Why is this relevant?

  • Effective & well-tolerated treatment: Elahere not only postpones the disease, but also has no negative impact on patients’ everyday lives.

  • New option for a difficult-to-treat situation: There are only a few effective treatment options for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer – Elahere adds a solid option to this field.

Source: The Lancet Oncology (the article is in English)

No effect on ovarian cancer: development of Nemvaleukin is stopped

No effect on ovarian cancer:
Development of Nemvaleukin is stopped

In March 2025, Mural Oncology released disappointing news for patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

The international phase 3 ARTISTRY-7 trial investigated whether a combination of two immunotherapies – nemvaleukin and pembrolizumab – is more effective than standard chemotherapy. Unfortunately, an interim analysis showed that the combination therapy did not prolong patient survival compared to chemotherapy.

The mean survival time was 10.1 months in the immunotherapy group and 9.8 months in the comparison group – a very small and therefore not statistically relevant difference. The study was therefore stopped prematurely and the development of the drug for this form of cancer was discontinued.

What is Nemvaleukin?

Nemvaleukin is an experimental drug that was originally developed to specifically activate the immune system against tumor cells – without the strong side effects of conventional immune activators. It has already been tested in several studies, including in black skin cancer (melanoma). There, too, the hoped-for therapeutic successes failed to materialize.

Consequences: Company discontinues development

A few weeks after the initial results, Mural Oncology announced that it would discontinue all clinical development of Nemvaleukin – including for other types of cancer such as melanoma. At the same time, the company is planning a drastic restructuring in terms of job cuts and possibly a sale or merger with another company.

Significance for patients

For patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, treatment remains a major challenge – new options are urgently needed. Despite this disappointment, the study is an important contribution to a better understanding of why some cancers, such as ovarian cancer, respond so poorly to immunotherapies.

Source: Mural Oncology press release 1 and press release 2 (the articles are in English)

World Ovarian Cancer Day 2025

World Ovarian Cancer Day 2025
"Good therapy needs good communication" - Be part of it!

Once again this year, the German Ovarian Cancer Foundation cordially invites you to our campaign day. This year’s World Ovarian Cancer Day will take place on May 10, 2025, under the motto “Good therapy needs good communication” to draw attention to the importance of better communication in treatment.

We start at 4 pm at the Friedrichstadtpalast. After the parade, we cordially invite you to a get-together in the park – with a picnic, information stands and practical workshops on the topic of “communication”. Join us as we take to the streets together with drummers and cheerleaders! It will be loud and colorful, and we will make a statement with our political message “8 minutes are not enough”.

You can find more information about the event here: www.stiftung-eierstockkrebs.de