Corvus Pharmaceuticals presents interim data on ciforadenant in metastatic renal cell cancer trial.

Corvus Pharmaceuticals announced interim data from a Phase 1b/2 trial evaluating ciforadenant as a first-line therapy for metastatic renal cell cancer (RCC) in combination with ipilimumab and nivolumab. The triplet therapy was found to be feasible and well tolerated, but longer follow-up is needed to determine the potential benefits of blocking adenosine signaling. The data will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2025.

Corvus Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: CRVS) recently announced interim results from a Phase 1b/2 trial evaluating ciforadenant in combination with ipilimumab and nivolumab as a first-line therapy for metastatic renal cell cancer (RCC). The data, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2025, showed that the triplet therapy was feasible and well tolerated, but longer follow-up is needed to determine the potential benefits of blocking adenosine signaling.

The open-label trial enrolled 50 patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent stage IV clear cell RCC. The primary endpoint for the Phase 1b portion was safety and tolerability, while the primary endpoint for the Phase 2 portion was the percent of patients achieving a deep response, defined as complete response or depth of partial response of 50% tumor volume reduction. Key reported figures include a deep response rate of 34% versus the historical doublet rate of ~32%, an objective response rate of 46% (including 2 complete responses and 21 partial responses), and a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 11.04 months. Nineteen patients remain on therapy for longer follow-up.

Dr. Katy Beckermann, the presenter of the data, commented that the early results are encouraging, demonstrating consistent efficacy and favorable safety in a challenging RCC population. Corvus Pharmaceuticals' Chief Executive Officer, Richard A. Miller, M.D., stated that despite enrolling patients with more unfavorable disease compared to historical trials, the triplet combination demonstrated activity that compares favorably to historical results with the doublet alone.

The business mechanism behind this approach is straightforward: blocking adenosine A2a receptor with ciforadenant aims to augment checkpoint blockade activity. The interim data show a small absolute increase in deep responses but no statistical proof of superiority yet. The analysis depends on longer follow-up, maturation of events, and appropriate comparative statistics. Final, fully-analyzed Phase 2 results with statistical testing, updated PFS events, and duration of response are expected as the 19 patients complete follow-up.

Corvus Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of ITK inhibition as a new approach to immunotherapy for a broad range of cancer and immune diseases. The company's lead product candidate is soquelitinib, an investigational, oral, small molecule drug that selectively inhibits ITK.

The trial is evaluating ciforadenant, an investigational small molecule, oral, checkpoint inhibitor designed to disable a tumor’s ability to subvert attack by the immune system by blocking the binding of adenosine to immune cells present in the tumor microenvironment. The data presented at ESMO 2025 is a significant step forward in the company's efforts to develop a meaningful therapy for RCC patients.