Amivantamab therapy achieves complete tumor disappearance in advanced cancer trial

A phase‑II international clinical trial of the triple‑action antibody amivantamab, developed by Johnson & Johnson, enrolled 102 patients with advanced head‑and‑neck cancer across 11 countries. The subcutaneous injection led to tumor shrinkage in 43 participants, with 15 patients experiencing complete disappearance of their tumors. Overall, more than one‑third of the cohort showed a reduction or regression of disease. The median overall survival reached 12.5 months, and the median time to disease progression exceeded six months. Researchers noted that most adverse events were mild to moderate, and fewer than 10 % of patients stopped treatment because of side effects. The drug works by blocking EGFR and MET receptors while activating the immune system, offering a new mechanism for tumors resistant to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Results were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference, and the study’s investigators suggest further development of amivantamab for other cancer types, including lung, colorectal, brain and stomach cancers.