Onconic Therapeutics: "Nesuparib Achieves Complete Response and 3-Year Survival in Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer"

First Release of Real-World Clinical Data on Nesuparib at ASCO 2026
Combination Therapy in First-Line Pancreatic Cancer Shows 53.8% Objective Response Rate and 92.3% Disease Control Rate
Potential for Improved Survival Indicators Compared to Standard Treatments Confirmed

Onconic Therapeutics has, for the first time, released actual patient data showing a complete response (CR) and a case of long-term survival exceeding three years in early clinical trials of its next-generation dual-target anticancer drug candidate, Nesuparib, in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. This disclosure of real-world patient data marks a first for the company. As Nesuparib demonstrates the potential for improvement over existing standard treatments, it is drawing attention as a possible new therapeutic option for refractory pancreatic cancer.

Main image on the homepage of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO 2026). Screenshot from the ASCO homepage.

On May 22, Onconic Therapeutics announced through an abstract at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO 2026) that it had released part of the results from a Phase 1b clinical trial of Nesuparib, its next-generation dual-target anticancer drug candidate, in patients with metastatic and advanced pancreatic cancer. This is the first time clinical data involving actual patients for Nesuparib has been made public.

This analysis is based on data collected up to December 31 of the previous year. The study enrolled 27 patients with metastatic or advanced pancreatic cancer and evaluated the combination of Nesuparib with either the standard therapy—gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GemAbraxane)—or the multi-agent chemotherapy regimen mFOLFIRINOX.

In the GemAbraxane combination group, the objective response rate (ORR) was 53.8%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 92.3%. Notably, there was one case of complete response, where cancer cells in the target lesion completely disappeared. This patient has survived for more than three years (overall survival, OS) and continues to live long-term.

Survival indicators are also noteworthy. As of the data analysis cutoff, the median progression-free survival (mPFS) for the GemAbraxane combination group had not yet been reached, and the median overall survival (mOS) was calculated to be 14.2 months.

In the mFOLFIRINOX combination group, which uses another standard treatment, the ORR was 38.5%, DCR was 92.3%, mPFS was 7.33 months, and mOS was 18.5 months.

A representative from Onconic Therapeutics commented, "Given that the global clinical trial (MPACT) results for GemAbraxane monotherapy, the current first-line standard treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer, showed an ORR of 23%, DCR of 48%, and mOS of 8.5 months, the combination therapy with Nesuparib demonstrated the potential for improvement in both response rates and survival indicators."

Nesuparib is a dual-target mechanism-based candidate that simultaneously blocks DNA damage repair in cancer cells and the pathways of tumor growth and metastasis. It has received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for three types of cancer: pancreatic cancer, gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer, and small cell lung cancer.

An Onconic Therapeutics representative stated, "Metastatic pancreatic cancer is a representative area of refractory cancer with limited treatment options," adding, "The cases of complete response and long-term survival of more than three years demonstrate the differentiated therapeutic potential of Nesuparib."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.