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Regeneron bets big on Lynozyfic

The company is starting four new pivotal trials this year.

Regeneron’s Lynozyfic is behind in the BCMA-targeting T-cell engager race, but the group is pushing on, highlighting four new pivotal trials in its fourth-quarter presentation last week.In particular, the company will begin a phase 3 study this year in high-risk smouldering multiple myeloma head to head versus Darzalex, the Johnson & Johnson and Genmab anti-CD38 antibody that recently received FDA approval in this setting. Notably, J&J doesn’t appear to be pursuing pivotal trials of its own BCMA T-cell engager, Tecvayli, in this use.Instead, J&J has so far relied on investigator-sponsored trials of Tecvayli in smouldering multiple myeloma, namely the Immuno-Prism and Revive studies. Pfizer’s Elfexfio is also in an academic-led phase 2, called Erasmm, in this setting.Transplant-eligibleStill, the big use for anti-BCMA T-cell engagers looks like being the front line, where all three companies are vying for a piece of the pie.The new Lynozyfic trials, called Linker-MM7 and Linker-MM8, will both evaluate first-line transplant-eligible patients. The former will test monotherapy versus standard of care, while the latter will evaluate an as-yet-undisclosed combo versus autologous stem cell transplantation.Regeneron hopes that minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity will be enough to support a filing, in line with new FDA guidance that supports this endpoint in early multiple myeloma lines.MRD data are due from Linker-MM7 in 2028, and from Linker-MM8 in 2030, with PFS results expected in 2030 and 2032 respectively.Regeneron appears to be taking a different approach from J&J, which with its Majestec-4 trial is testing Tecvayli (with or without Revlimid) in post-transplant patients. Pfizer also has a post-transplant study of Elrexfio, Magnetismm-7.Magnetismm-7 completes in 2027, and Majestec-4 in 2028, potentially putting all three trials on a similar timeline.Transplant-ineligibleMeanwhile, in newly diagnosed transplant-ineligible patients, Lynozyfic is already in an investigator-sponsored pivotal study, Linker-MM6, testing monotherapy versus Darzalex, Revlimid and dexamethasone.Regeneron is again banking on MRD data, which are due in 2028.And again the group’s approach differs from that of J&J and Pfizer, which are both testing Darzalex/Revlimid combos, J&J in the Majestec-7 study, and Pfizer in Magnetismm-6. The Magnetismm-6 trial completes in 2030, and Majestec-7 in 2031.All this suggests that, in earlier lines at least, Lynozyfic could be catching up. Still, the next readout for Regeneron’s drug is expected next year from the Linker-MM3 trial in patients with one to four prior lines of therapy. The study is comparing monotherapy versus Empliciti, Pomalyst and dexamethasone.Tecvayli has already produced positive results in the second-line plus setting, as part of a Darzalex combo in Majestec-3, and as monotherapy in Majestec-9, recently toplined as a success.However, the latter study focused exclusively on post-Darzalex patients, while Linker-MM3’s clinicaltrials.gov entry only states that patients in the EU, UK and Israel must have received a prior anti-CD38 antibody.Pfizer is also running two pivotal trials in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: Magnetismm-5 tests Elrexfio with or without Darzalex in double class-exposed disease; and Magnetismm-32 tests monotherapy in patients who have received one to four prior therapy lines, including an anti-CD38 MAb. Both are now due to complete this year, versus 2025 previously. Ongoing and planned phase 3 trials of Lynozyfic in multiple myelomaTrialSettingRegimenNoteAnalagous Tecvayli trialLinker-MM31-4 prior linesMonotx, vs EPdMRD & PFS data due 2027*Majestec-9 (post-Darzalex)Linker-MM51-3 prior lines+/- Kyprolis, vs SOC combosStarted Jan 2026; MRD data due 2028*Majestec-3 (+ Darzalex)Linker-MM6/ EMN39**1st-line (transplant-ineligible)Monotx (after SoC debulking), vs DRdStarted Dec 2025; MRD data due 2028*Majestec-7 (+ Darzalex + Revlimid)Linker-MM71st-line (transplant-eligible)Monotx, vs SOCTo start H1 2026; MRD data due 2028*NoneLinker-MM8^1st-line (transplant-eligible)Undisclosed combo, vs ASCT SOCTo start H1 2026; MRD data due 2030*None (but Majestec-4 +/- Revlimid, post-ASCT)Linker-SMM2High-risk smouldering MMMonotx, vs DTo start H1 2026; PFS data due 2030NoneNotes: *MRD negativity expected to be registrational endpoint; **investigator-sponsored; ^ph2/3; ASCT=autologous stem cell transplant; D=Darzalex; d=dexamethasone; E=Empliciti; P=Pomalyst. Source: OncologyPipeline & company presentation.
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Molecular Drug Targets