Biohaven announced on Monday that it will present clinical data for its novel FGFR3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), BHV-1530, at the upcoming European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress.

The data presentation will include preliminary results from the first-in-human clinical trial of BHV-1530 in patients with advanced solid tumors, focusing on the assessment of the drug's safety, tolerability, and initial anti-tumor activity.

The drug candidate targets the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), which is overexpressed in cancers such as bladder, cervical, and various squamous cell carcinomas, while having limited expression in normal tissues, making it an attractive therapeutic target.

A distinctive aspect of BHV-1530's design is its proprietary TopoIx payload, a novel topoisomerase I inhibitor that features a differentiated mechanism of action and a potentially improved therapeutic window compared to payloads commonly used in ADC development.

The ESMO Congress, taking place later this month in Madrid, Spain, is the largest oncology conference in Europe, bringing together leading global cancer researchers and pharmaceutical companies.

Biohaven's data for BHV-1530 will be presented as an oral report within the congress's "New Drugs" session.

The Chief Executive Officer of Biohaven stated that BHV-1530 is a lead program in the company's ADC pipeline and that this initial data disclosure at ESMO represents a significant milestone in the drug's development.

He noted that the company is focused on advancing the development of this drug in tumor types with high unmet medical need and has already initiated expanded cohort studies in bladder and head and neck cancers.