Agenus advances Phase 3 ROBBIN trial in colon cancer, backed by July financing
Agenus reported second-quarter 2026 results and said dosing in its planned Phase 3 ROBBIN trial is expected to begin in early 2027, supported by a private placement completed in July.
Agenus Inc. reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, and detailed plans to move forward with its Phase 3 ROBBIN trial testing botensilimab plus balstilimab (BOT+BAL) before surgery in patients with high-risk, resectable microsatellite-stable (MSS) colon cancer. The company said ROBBIN addresses an estimated 38,000 newly diagnosed patients annually in the United States and more than 200,000 worldwide, representing an annual addressable sales opportunity of more than $7 billion.1 Agenus said trial initiation and first patient dosing are expected in the first quarter of 2027.1
The trial design calls for a global, randomized study enrolling roughly 850 previously untreated patients with high-risk Stage II and Stage III MSS colon cancer, randomized 1:1 to neoadjuvant BOT+BAL followed by surgery, or surgery followed by standard-of-care management alone.1 Event-free survival is planned as the primary endpoint,1 and key design elements have been informed by feedback from the FDA.1
Agenus cited supporting data from earlier neoadjuvant studies: among 38 BOT+BAL-treated patients, about 30% achieved a pathologic complete response and about 40% achieved a major pathologic response, with no disease recurrences reported at the applicable data cutoffs.1 Longer-term manuscripts from these studies are expected in the second half of 2026.1
On financing, the company said its private placement, announced and completed in July, delivered about $85 million in upfront gross proceeds, with warrants that could add up to roughly $255 million more if fully exercised.1 Agenus said the upfront proceeds are expected to fund ROBBIN initiation, regulatory work and operations through the third quarter of 2027, and full warrant exercise would extend support through the end of 2031.1
Separately, Agenus said it discontinued its funding commitment to BATTMAN, a Phase 3 study sponsored by the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, after which CCTG terminated the trial.1
Written by readthrough’s AI from the linked primary sources and fact-checked against them automatically before publishing. Not investment advice.