Cancer Drug Mo-Rez Shows Promising Early Results

GSK said it has recorded encouraging early-stage clinical trial findings for Mo-Rez, an experimental treatment aimed at gynecological cancers. The London-based drugmaker presented the update on March 22, 2024, during the Society of Gynecologic Oncology’s annual meeting in Puerto Rico.

The company described Mo-Rez as an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and reported signs of tumor reduction or complete disappearance in patients whose disease had not responded to chemotherapy. In the trial results shared, 62% of ovarian cancer patients saw tumors shrink or vanish, and the same outcome was reported in 67% of endometrial cancer patients after prior chemotherapy failure.

GSK said the program included 224 patients across multiple countries, underscoring the global footprint of the early testing. Mo-Rez was obtained from China’s Hansoh Pharma in late 2023, and GSK indicated that the new readout, together with data from an intermediate-stage study in China, supports moving straight into late-stage trials.

Looking ahead, GSK said it plans five global clinical studies in the coming months, including trials in the UK. The company did not provide additional details in the update on study design, timelines, or regulatory pathways, but positioned the next set of trials as the step needed to confirm the early signals in larger patient groups.

The company also highlighted the scale of the diseases targeted. Endometrial cancer affects 1.6 million women globally, with 417,000 new cases annually, while ovarian cancer affects 843,000 people, with 240,000 new cases each year. GSK’s update framed Mo-Rez as a potential option for patients who have limited alternatives after chemotherapy has failed.

On the commercial side, GSK said it expects Mo-Rez could deliver peak annual sales above £2 billion. The company linked that potential to its longer-term growth ambitions, including a 2031 sales target of £40 billion.

GSK’s oncology business was cited as a key part of that strategy. The company said its oncology division generated nearly £2 billion in sales last year, representing a 43% increase from 2023.

While the early results were described as positive, uncertainty remains because the program is still in early development and the next phase will test whether the outcomes hold up in late-stage trials. GSK’s planned global studies will be closely watched for confirmation of efficacy and for additional information on how Mo-Rez performs across broader patient populations.