Dec. 7 Quick Takes: Strong Enhertu data continue with DESTINY-Breast03 readout at SABCS

Updated data from the Phase III DESTINY-Breast03 study of anti-HER2 ADC Enhertu fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki against HER2 ADC Kadcyla ado-trastuzumab emtansine are even stronger than the interim data that led to Enhertu’s approval in the second-line metastatic breast cancer setting. The updated data presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) showed treatment with Enhertu led to a 36% reduction in the risk of death vs. Kadcyla (HR=0.64, p=0.0037), although median overall survival had not yet been reached in either arm of the trial. The updated median progression-free survival (PFS) was 28.8 months for Enhertu vs. 6.8 months for Kadcyla, a risk reduction of 67%. Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4568) and AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NASDAQ:AZN) market Enhertu, and Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) markets Kadcyla.

The European Commission is putting a stake in the ground that it expects Illumina Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) to fully unwind its $8 billion acquisition of early cancer detection company Grail Inc. The commission published its Statement of Objections to the deal on Monday, laying out divestment measures Illumina is required to take to restore Grail to full independence, and transitional measures that ensure the companies remain separate until the divestment is complete. Illumina and Grail can respond to the Statement of Objections, after which the EC’s decision becomes legally binding. Last year, the EC found Illumina in breach of the EU’s merger regulations after the company formally completed its acquisition of Grail before the EC had completed its review...