Gilead Sciences Faces Setbacks with Magrolimab in Solid Tumor Trials

Gilead Sciences has encountered significant challenges with its anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody, magrolimab, leading to a pause in the enrollment of solid tumor trials at the FDA’s request. This decision impacts four phase 2 studies involving treatments for conditions such as colorectal and triple-negative breast cancers following Gilead’s $4.9 billion acquisition of Forty-Seven in 2020. Patients currently benefiting from magrolimab may continue with their consent. The pause comes as Gilead reviews magrolimab’s risks and benefits across all ongoing trials, especially after discontinuing its development for blood cancer due to increased mortality risks. This series of complications underscore the difficulties in treating both blood and solid tumors with magrolimab, reflecting broader skepticism towards CD47 as a target for cancer therapy despite initial enthusiasm. Gilead’s struggles with magrolimab, marked by failed phase 3 trials and patient deaths, highlight the uncertain future of CD47-focused treatments in oncology.

[Source: Fierce Biotech, February 16th, 2024]