Protara Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company, announced updated interim results from a mid-stage clinical trial of its experimental therapy TARA-002 for patients with a difficult-to-treat form of bladder cancer. According to a press release, the findings, which were presented at the recent American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, showed that 68% of patients had no detectable signs of cancer six months after treatment.
The study focuses on people with BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, a form of the disease that has not responded to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, or BCG, the standard treatment given directly into the bladder.
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The ongoing Phase 2 trial, known as ADVANCED-2, is evaluating the cell therapy TARA-002 in this high-risk group. At a six-month follow up, 15 of 22 BCG-unresponsive participants treated with TARA-002 achieved complete response, meaning that doctors could find no visible evidence of cancer. At the 12-month mark, five patients remained cancer-free.
“These interim data are highly encouraging with respect to TARA-002’s efficacy and safety,” said Dr. Raj Satkunasivam, a urologic oncologist and the ADVANCED-2 study investigator. “The results in the BCG-Unresponsive cohort demonstrate compelling six-month response rates with maturing 12-month data showing promising signals of durability.”
In addition to signs of effectiveness, the treatment has so far shown a good safety profile. The company reported no severe treatment-related side effects in the patients evaluated to date.
Enrollment in the trial is continuing, with full enrollment expected later this year. Researchers will continue to follow participants to see how long responses last and whether the therapy can provide durable disease control over time.
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