Avacta Group PLC (AIM: AVCT) unveiled encouraging new clinical data for its lead oncology candidate AVA6000 (faridoxorubicin) at the ASCO 2026 annual meeting, highlighting both promising efficacy and a potentially transformative safety profile.
The latest results showed encouraging anti-tumour activity in patients with salivary gland cancers, with multiple confirmed partial and minor responses recorded among 38 evaluable patients. Disease control remained high at 92%, reinforcing confidence in the therapeutic potential of Avacta’s proprietary pre|CISION® platform.
AVA6000 is a tumour-activated form of doxorubicin designed to concentrate the chemotherapy agent within cancer tissue while reducing exposure to healthy organs. The approach aims to overcome the toxicity limitations that have historically constrained the use of conventional doxorubicin.
Perhaps the most significant finding from the ASCO presentation was the continued favourable cardiac safety profile. Across 111 patients treated, no severe cardiac toxicity events were reported and changes in left ventricular ejection fraction remained minimal.
As a result, investigators have removed the traditional lifetime cumulative dose limit associated with standard doxorubicin treatment, potentially allowing patients to receive substantially higher levels of therapy without the cardiac risks typically linked to the drug.
Despite patients receiving doses above those normally achievable with conventional doxorubicin, adverse events remained lower than expected, further supporting the tumour-selective mechanism of the pre|CISION® technology.
The data strengthen Avacta’s investment case as it advances AVA6000 through clinical development and seeks to demonstrate that its platform can unlock the full therapeutic potential of established cancer treatments while significantly improving safety and tolerability.
Christina Coughlin, CEO of Avacta, commented:
“Today’s data further underscores our confidence in both our Gen One product faridoxorubicin (AVA6000) and our pre|CISION® technology to significantly improve treatment options for cancer patients.
“We are particularly encouraged by signs of efficacy in patients with salivary gland cancers (SGC and the consistency of these data from Phase 1a and 1b support the potential for this agent to move to later stage trials. The excellent safety profile was further demonstrated by the absence of severe cardiac toxicity and lifting of the lifetime maximum, following careful analysis of drug concentration versus effect on the heart.
“We look forward to presenting further data updates from this trial later in June, at the BIO International Convention.”
Download a copy of the poster at https://avacta.com/investors/publications/
