GSK to update on potential cancer treatment at European congress

GSK said new data on belantamab mafodotin, an investigational anti-BCMA antibody-drug conjugate being tested on patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, would be presented at this year’s European Hematology Association Congress.

The treatment is not approved for use anywhere in the world. But in 2017 it was awarded breakthrough therapy designation by the US Food and Drug Administration and PRIME designation by the European Medicines Agency, and is undergoing clinical trials.

Research being presented at the EHA Congress includes patient reported experience as well as studies looking at the effectiveness of the treatment.

The UK’s biggest drug company reported full-year sales of more than £30bn in February, but at the time warned that generic competition would hurt its blockbuster asthma treatment.

The blue chip is looking to strengthen its pipeline of new drugs, with a particular focus on immunology, genetics and new technologies. It is selling its consumer healthcare business, which includes brands such as Horlicks, to Unilever, and earlier this year said it had doubled the amount of oncology assets in clinical development to 16 since July 2018.

The 24th EHA Congress will be held in Amsterdam on 13 – 16 June.