FDA Accelerates Cancer Therapy
ABL Bio's Givastomig Receives FDA Fast Track for Advanced Gastric Cancer
Key Points
Multiple reports detailed how Fast Track can change review mechanics: companies may receive closer FDA consultations, and—if criteria are met—benefit from rolling review (submitting portions of the application sequentially rather than all at once), along with priority review and accelerated approval pathways.
ABL Bio CEO Lee Sang-hoon said the company had already discussed a potential accelerated approval pathway with the FDA, adding: “we expect the Fast Track designation to further support the development of Givastomig.”
Market reaction was quantified: NovaBridge shares were up 9.5% premarket to $1.61, after having fallen nearly 50% over the prior three months through Monday’s close.
Beyond planning full Phase 1b disclosure later this year, ABL Bio said it aims to release topline results from the ongoing Phase 2 trial next year.
The FDA has granted Fast Track designation to Givastomig (ABL111), a bispecific antibody targeting gastric cancer, developed by South Korea's ABL Bio and its partner NovaBridge Biosciences, according to Korea Herald. The drug is aimed at patients with Claudin 18.2-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic gastric cancer — a group with few effective treatment options and a five-year survival rate below 10%.
NovaBridge shares surged 9.5% to $1.61 in premarket trading after the announcement, MarketScreener reported. The jump was a sharp reversal for a stock that had fallen nearly 50% over the prior three months.
What Givastomig Does and Why It Stands Out
Givastomig is a bispecific antibody — meaning it grabs two targets at once. It binds to Claudin 18.2, a protein found on tumor cells, while also locking onto 4-1BB, a receptor on T cells that activates the immune system. This dual action is designed to fire up the immune response directly inside the tumor, rather than throughout the whole body. Earlier drugs targeting 4-1BB caused serious liver toxicity by activating T cells systemically.
Gastric cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. About 35% to 40% of gastric cancer patients have high Claudin 18.2 expression, making them candidates for this type of therapy. Phase 1b results showed an objective response rate above 45% in the combination arm, compared to a historical baseline of roughly 30% for chemotherapy alone, according to Sedaily.
Fast Track Opens Faster Path to FDA Approval
Fast Track status does more than signal FDA interest. It allows "rolling review," meaning the FDA can start reading parts of the drug application before the full submission is complete. That can cut four to six months off the total approval timeline. Companies also get more frequent meetings with regulators during development.
ABL Bio CEO Lee Sang-hoon said the company had already been in talks with the FDA about an accelerated approval pathway. "We expect the Fast Track designation to further support the development of Givastomig," he said, according to Korea Herald. A pivotal Phase 3 trial is planned to start in Q4 2026, with enrollment of roughly 600 to 800 patients globally.
Phase 2 Combines Givastomig With Chemo and Nivolumab
The ongoing Phase 2 trial tests Givastomig alongside FOLFOX — a standard chemotherapy regimen — and nivolumab, a PD-1 inhibitor made by Bristol Myers Squibb. This "triple-threat" combination targets Claudin 18.2, blocks a key immune checkpoint, and adds chemotherapy. ABL Bio says topline Phase 2 results are expected in 2027. Full Phase 1b data will be presented at a global medical conference later this year, according to Sedaily.
The specific target patient group is narrow but defined: patients whose tumors are both Claudin 18.2-positive and PD-L1-positive, and who are HER2-negative. That biomarker-driven approach means patients will need detailed screening at diagnosis, likely boosting demand for companion diagnostic tests.
NovaBridge Stock Bounces as Investor Fears Ease
NovaBridge shares had been under pressure. The stock lost nearly 50% of its value over the three months before Monday's close. The Fast Track news changed the mood fast. Shares rose 9.5% premarket to $1.61, with some reports citing a gain as high as 11.5%, according to Investing.com.
Analysts described the move as a "relief rally." Investors in the Claudin 18.2 space had grown cautious after regulatory delays hit competitors, including Astellas Pharma's Zolbetuximab. The Fast Track designation is being read as a sign the FDA is comfortable with Givastomig's safety profile — a critical signal given the history of liver toxicity in earlier 4-1BB drugs. If approved for a first-line gastric cancer indication, analysts estimate peak annual sales could top $1.2 billion.
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