Glenmark's blood cancer drug ISB 2001 shows promising results in trial

Time of India

02-06-2025

Ichnos Glenmark Innovation, a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on oncology, has announced promising results for an innovative drug used for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), a rare form of blood cancer that affects plasma cells in bone marrow.
Coded ISB 2001, the drug demonstrated an overall response rate (ORR) of 79% in a Phase 1 global study based on finding from patients who were administered a recommended dose. Patients who had exhausted other advanced treatments, such as CAR-T cell therapy and bi-specific antibodies, also showed encouraging results when given the drug.
IGI is an alliance between the New York-based scientific research group Ichnos Sciences and Indian drug maker Glenmark.
Senior haematologists say that the drug could potentially be an important candidate in the treatment of patients - who exhaust other therapy options due - to its unique mechanism of engaging the body's T cells (that are a vital part of the immune system) along with the attacking two sites on the tumour cell.
Dr Shyam Rathi, consultant, clinical hematology, PD Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre in Mumbai, said: 'It can definitely be a game changer in treatment of multiple myeloma which keeps relapsing thus exhausting treatment options quickly. This new drug looks very attractive because it targets two different sites on the cancer cell and it engages the body's own T-cells.'
'We have existing bi-specific antibodies where the target is only one antigen and they develop resistance very fast. However, ISB 2001 targets the two sites on the cancer cell and we expect some better results. It looks exciting in the future.'
In lay terms, ISB 2001 binds to three sites on the cancer tumour. First, the ISB 2001 activates the CD-3 T-lymphocytes, which are the cells that have the natural attacking power against tumour cells. Next, it binds to two additional sites. The first is BCMA (a protein found on myeloma cells), which is the target for bi-specific antibodies but there is also CD38, which is the binding site of the widely prescribed drug called daratumumab, branded as Darzalex by Johnson & Johnson.
Glenmark, which is pinning a lot of hopes on the new drug, is in advanced talks with multiple global Big Pharma companies for a licensing deal, Chairman and Managing Director Glenn Saldanha told analysts over an earnings call recently. 'The discussions are progressing really well, and we anticipate a positive outcome very quickly,' said Saldhana. He said a deal for ISB 2001 will 'really be transformational for Glenmark' and 'will overshadow anything else that we are doing in the near term.' 'You should see some visibility around a licensing deal pretty quickly.'
Last year Ichnos and Glenmark entered into a partnership for discovery of cutting-edge therapies, specifically to treat blood related cancers and malignancies like multiple myeloma. The global market for multiple myeloma treatment is seeing a surge. The business for such drugs is expected to rise to $33 billion by 2030, up from $23.5 billion in 2023,according to Bloomberg Intelligence estimates.
Hang Quach, professor of haematology at the University of Melbourne noted that the data presented on ISB 2001 highlighted the 'remarkable anti-myeloma activity of this first-in-class trispecific antibody-T cell engager in heavily pre-treated RRMM patients' including those who have exhausted other approved therapies.
According to Quach, ISB 2001 has the potential 'to redefine the treatment landscape for multiple myeloma, offering new hope for patients with limited therapeutic options.'
The drug demonstrated a favourable safety profile throughout the dose-escalation phase, with no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) reported.