{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-25/agenus-colon-cancer-trial-response","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-25/agenus-colon-cancer-trial-response.md","title":"Agenus Trial Shows 72% Colon Cancer Response Rate","headline":"Agenus Reports 72% Complete Response in Phase 2 Colon Cancer Study","description":"Agenus reported 72% of patients had no detectable cancer after six weeks of its immunotherapy combination in an 18-patient Phase 2 colon cancer trial.","section":"Research & Clinical Trials","published_at":"2026-10-25T21:45:32+00:00","modified_at":"2026-10-25T21:45:32+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["Agenus reported that 72% of 18 patients with locally advanced dMMR colon cancer had no detectable cancer at surgery after six weeks of botensilimab and balstilimab.","The NEOASIS study met its primary goal with 83% of patients achieving a major pathologic response.","Agenus is enrolling a dMMR rectal cancer cohort to test whether the combination can help patients avoid surgery."],"companies":[{"name":"Agenus","is_primary":true,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00021yi/agenus","website":"http://agenusbio.com"},{"name":"Netherlands Cancer Institute","is_primary":false,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0007tfi/netherlands-cancer-institute","website":"http://www.nki.nl"}],"source":{"publisher":"TradingView","title":"Agenus reports response rate in colon cancer trial","url":"https://www.tradingview.com/news/seekingalpha:ba974d61c094b:0-agenus-reports-response-rate-in-colon-cancer-trial/"},"other_sources":[{"publisher":"The future of trading","url":"https://capital.com/en-int/news/agenus-reports-72-complete-pathologic-response-rate-in-phase-2"},{"publisher":"Yahoo","url":"https://finance.yahoo.com/healthcare/articles/agenus-reports-72-patients-locally-110000510.html"}],"tags":["Research & Clinical Trials","Agenus","Netherlands Cancer Institute"],"body_markdown":"Agenus reported that 72% of patients with locally advanced colon cancer had no detectable cancer remaining at surgery after a six-week course of its experimental immunotherapy combination, according to phase 2 results presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology's 2026 congress in Madrid. TradingView carried the [lead report](https://www.tradingview.com/news/seekingalpha:ba974d61c094b:0-agenus-reports-response-rate-in-colon-cancer-trial/).\n\n## How the NEOASIS Study Performed\n\nThe NEOASIS study, run by the [Netherlands Cancer Institute](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0007tfi/netherlands-cancer-institute), evaluated [Agenus](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00021yi/agenus)' botensilimab and balstilimab in 18 patients with mismatch repair-deficient colon cancer. The study met its primary goal, with 83% of patients achieving a major pathologic response, meaning 10% or less of their tumor remained alive when examined after surgery. Thirteen patients, or 72%, achieved a complete pathologic response, with no cancer detected in the removed tumor or nearby lymph nodes.\n\nAll patients had advanced disease, including 67% whose tumors had grown through the bowel wall and 72% whose cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes. At a median follow-up of 15 months, all 18 patients were alive and 16 remained free of cancer recurrence. Side effects were generally mild or moderate, although one patient developed severe inflammation of the colon that resolved with treatment. All patients underwent surgery, including one whose operation was moved forward because of a bowel obstruction.\n\n[The future of trading](https://capital.com/en-int/news/agenus-reports-72-complete-pathologic-response-rate-in-phase-2) reported that investigators are enrolling a rectal cancer cohort to assess whether the combination can help patients avoid surgery. [Yahoo](https://finance.yahoo.com/healthcare/articles/agenus-reports-72-patients-locally-110000510.html) reported that all patients proceeded to surgery with mostly mild side effects.\n\n## Agenus Pipeline and Financing Records\n\nAgenus is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing the BOT+BAL antibody combination to treat immunologically cold solid tumors, according to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data). The same records show a $141 million strategic collaboration with Zydus Lifesciences that closed in January 2026, transferring Emeryville and Berkeley biologics manufacturing facilities to Zydus in exchange for $75 million upfront cash, a $16 million equity investment in Agenus, up to $50 million in volume-order milestones, 5% royalties on India and Sri Lanka net sales, and retained U.S. rights.\n\nAgenus completed an $85 million post-IPO debt round in July 2026 led by Commodore Capital, the records show. The company's total funding stands at $467.1 million.\n\n## Earlier Agenus Trial Developments\n\nAgenus announced at Chardan's 10th annual healthcare conference in October 2026 that it is shifting focus to the ROBIN phase III trial in neoadjuvant colon cancer after discontinuing the BATMAN trial, Investing.com reported. The company completed a $340 million financing in 2026 and estimates a $7 billion U.S. market opportunity.\n\nAgenus reported a 23% response rate and 75% one-year survival in recurrent ovarian cancer, with a median overall survival of 14.8 months, AInvest reported in September 2026. Stock Titan reported that Agenus will present two posters on botensilimab and balstilimab at SITC 2026 in Phoenix on November 7, 2026.\n\n## What Comes Next for Agenus\n\nAgenus is enrolling patients with dMMR rectal cancer to investigate whether the combination could eliminate tumors sufficiently to allow some patients to avoid surgery. Both drugs remain investigational and are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}