A new antibody drug shrank brain tumors in two patients
Original title: Pilot report of an anti-PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody for treating recurrent H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomas.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
It was tried in only two people outside of a trial, so we do not know yet if it really works.
The short version
Two people whose brain tumor came back were given a new drug, and both tumors got smaller.
What was studied. Doctors treated two patients who had a type of brain tumor called H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are graded 1 to 4 by how fast they tend to grow. See the glossary. The tumors had come back quickly after standard treatment. Each patient got a drug called ivonescimab plus chemotherapy through a vein every 3 weeks, for 5-6 cycles.
What they found. After three cycles, scans showed the tumors had shrunk a lot, and both patients were able to do more day to day. By the end of treatment, tumor volume had dropped 66.7% in one patient and 68.7% in the other. Both patients were alive more than 16 months, and their tumors did not grow for more than 8 months. The drug was tolerated well. The most common problems were tiredness, blood count changes, and nausea and vomiting. No severe side effects were reported.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: This drug may be worth testing in people whose tumor comes back and who cannot have more radiation. It is not a standard treatment for this tumor today. If this sounds like your situation, you could ask your care team whether any trials of this kind of drug are open.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean the drug works for most people. Only two patients were treated, and that is far too few to know if it truly helps. This was not a clinical trial. The drug was used off-label, meaning outside its approved use. It is not a cure. It is not part of everyday care for this tumor. The authors say much larger and more careful studies are needed.
Source: PubMed, July 14, 2026 · Read the original
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