Suvemcitug Plus Chemo Improves PFS and OS in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

The SCORES trial (NCT04908787), a phase 3 randomized, double-blinded study, evaluated the efficacy and safety of suvemcitug—an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody—when added to standard chemotherapy for patients with platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer. The study successfully met its primary and key secondary end points, demonstrating statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in survival outcomes.^1,2

The addition of suvemcitug to chemotherapy nearly doubled the median progression-free survival (PFS) from 2.7 months to 5.5 months (HR, 0.46; P <.001). Furthermore, the combination therapy showed a significant overall survival (OS) benefit, extending median OS to 15.3 months compared with 14.0 months in the placebo arm (HR, 0.77; P =.03). The benefits were observed across a broad and heavily pretreated patient population, including those who had previously received PARP inhibitors and/or other antiangiogenic agents.

A supplementary analysis that accounted for subsequent antitumor therapies as intercurrent events showed a more pronounced OS benefit, with suvemcitug extending median OS by 10.4 months (22.3 vs 11.9 months; HR, 0.59; P =.01).

“The OS benefit with suvemcitug in this trial was statistically significant albeit modest,” noted Yuan G et al, authors of the study. “The Kaplan–Meier OS curves of the 2 arms were relatively close during the first half of the trial period but the difference became more apparent as the follow-up time extended, especially after 18 months, supporting long-term survival benefits. Subsequent antitumor therapy may have attenuated the observed advantage in OS, which may have accounted for the modest prolongation of OS over the control arm. A preplanned supplementary analysis of OS in this trial that addressed subsequent antitumor therapy demonstrated that suvemcitug led to a 10.4-month extension of median OS, with a 41% reduction in the risk of death.”

The addition of suvemcitug led to higher rates of tumor response and disease control. The objective response rate (ORR) in the suvemcitug plus chemotherapy arm (n = 281) was 26.0% vs 12.1% in the placebo plus chemotherapy arm (n = 140). The disease control rate (DCR) was 76.5% in the suvemcitug plus chemotherapy arm vs 49.3% in the placebo plus chemotherapy arm. The median duration of response (DOR) was 8.8 vs 6.1 months between both arms.

A key finding of the SCORES trial is the consistent PFS benefit conferred by suvemcitug across nearly all prespecified subgroups, including those who had failed prior advanced therapies.

Suvemcitug was effective regardless of previous PARP inhibitor exposure (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.35–0.69 vs HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.40–0.77). Suvemcitug demonstrated a clear benefit in participants previously treated with antiangiogenic agents (HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.33–0.63 vs HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.42–0.83). PFS was significantly prolonged when suvemcitug was added to paclitaxel (HR, 0.45) and topotecan (HR, 0.37). A nonsignificant trend for benefit was observed with PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin (HR, 0.69).

Safety and Tolerability

The safety profile of suvemcitug was manageable and consistent with previous studies, with no unexpected toxicities. The median duration of treatment was longer in the suvemcitug arm (18.9 weeks) compared to the placebo arm (9.1 weeks).

Any-grade treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurred in 100% of patients in the suvemcitug arm and 98.6% in the placebo arm. Grade ≥3 TEAEs were more common in the suvemcitug arm (83.3% vs 66.2%).

The most common grade ≥3 TEAEs included neutrophil count decrease (49.8% in the suvemcitug arm vs 41.0% in the placebo arm), white blood cell count decrease (35.9% vs 27.3%), hypertension (18.9% vs 0.7%), and anemia (16.7% vs 17.3%). Other TEAEs included grade ≥3 proteinuria (3.9% vs 0%), and 1 case of gastrointestinal perforation in the suvemcitug arm vs none in the placebo arm. TEAEs led to discontinuation of suvemcitug in 6.8% of patients, vs 2.2% in the placebo arm. No grade 5 (fatal) TEAEs were related to suvemcitug.

SCORES Trial Overview and Design

The SCORES trial was conducted at 55 tertiary-care centers in China to assess suvemcitug in patients with platinum-resistant or refractory ovarian cancer.

Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive:

1. Suvemcitug arm (n = 281): Suvemcitug (1.5 mg kg⁻¹) every 2 weeks plus the investigator's choice of chemotherapy (paclitaxel, topotecan, or PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin).
2. Placebo arm (n = 140): Placebo plus the investigator's choice of chemotherapy.

The primary end point of the trial was PFS and the key secondary end point was OS. Other end points included ORR, DCR, DOR, safety, and quality of life.

Patient Characteristics

The study enrolled a patient population reflective of a modern, heavily pretreated cohort. The demographic and baseline characteristics were well-balanced between the 2 arms. A total of 617 patients were screened, and 421 patients were randomized. The median age of patients was 56 years in the suvemcitug arm and 55 years in the placebo arm. The vast majority of participants (98.3%) had high-grade serous adenocarcinoma. This was a heavily pretreated population with 69.8% of patients having received ≥2 prior lines of systemic therapy.

The SCORES trial demonstrates that the addition of suvemcitug to chemotherapy provides a significant and robust improvement in both PFS and OS for patients with platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer.

REFERENCES

1.Yuan G, Lou G, Li J et al. Suvemcitug plus chemotherapy in women with platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer: the SCORES randomized, double-blinded, phase 3 trial. Nat Cancer (2026). doi: 10.1038/s43018-025-01085-z

2.A phase III study of BD0801 combined with chemotherapy in recurrent, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer. ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated September 11, 2025. Accessed January 14, 2026. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04908787