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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - BeyondSpring Inc. (NASDAQ: BYSI), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company valued at $65.72 million, has released interim phase 2 data on a study for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who had previously progressed on PD-1/L1 inhibitors. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a strong liquidity position with a current ratio of 2.49, though it’s currently experiencing rapid cash burn. The data, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on May 31, 2025, showed encouraging results for the combination therapy of Plinabulin with pembrolizumab and docetaxel.
The study, funded by Merck with the provision of the study drug, included 47 patients who had progressed after PD-1/L1 inhibitor therapy. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was reported at 6.8 months, nearly doubling the 3.7 months observed with the current standard of care, docetaxel. The disease control rate (DCR) was 77.3%, suggesting a majority of the patients benefited clinically from the treatment. The 15-month overall survival rate was 78%, with the median overall survival not yet reached.
Patients experienced a confirmed objective response rate (ORR) of 18.2%, which is higher than the 12.8% seen with standard docetaxel treatment. Additionally, the median duration of response (DoR) was calculated at 7.2 months. The treatment was well tolerated, with 51.1% of patients experiencing grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse effects, but no treatment-related deaths were reported.
Dr. Lan Huang, CEO of BeyondSpring, highlighted the potential of Plinabulin as a therapy that addresses acquired resistance to checkpoint inhibitors, a significant challenge in oncology. The company aims to advance Plinabulin in combination strategies to meet critical needs in lung cancer treatment. With an overall Financial Health score of "GOOD" from InvestingPro, which offers 7 additional key insights about the company’s prospects, BeyondSpring appears positioned to pursue its clinical development goals despite current market challenges.
The study’s principal investigator, Dr. Mengzhao Wang, emphasized the critical unmet medical need for effective treatment options for NSCLC patients with no actionable driver mutation after progression of ICIs. He pointed out that the current standard of care, docetaxel, approved 25 years ago, has limited efficacy, and he expressed optimism for further study based on the promising efficacy data of the triple combination therapy. Investors should note that BeyondSpring’s next earnings report is due in 3 days, which could provide additional insights into the company’s development progress and financial position.
The information provided is based on a press release statement from BeyondSpring Inc.
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