GSK ADC gets orphan drug designation in the EU
Summary by AI BETAClose X
Issued: 28 October 2025, London UK
GSK's B7-H3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, GSK'227, receives Orphan Drug Designation in the EU
· Regulatory designation based on encouraging early clinical data showing potential for GSK'227 in small-cell lung cancer
· Patients with relapsed or refractory extensive stage small-cell lung cancer often face a debilitating quality of life, limited therapies and poor outcomes
· Fourth designation further supports GSK plans to accelerate ADC development in a range of solid tumours with transformational potential
GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) today announced that GSK5764227 (GSK'227), its B7-H3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), has received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), a category of cancer that includes small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). The ODD was supported by preliminary clinical data showing durable responses in patients with extensive stage SCLC (ES-SCLC) who were treated with GSK'227 in the phase I ARTEMIS-001 clinical trial.[i]
This ODD recognises the potential of GSK'227 to address a significant unmet need for ES-SCLC, an aggressive type of NEC with poor outcomes and limited treatment options. An estimated 250,000 patients globally are diagnosed with SCLC each year and it is responsible for approximately 200,000 deaths annually.[ii]
This is the fourth regulatory designation for GSK'227, exemplifying the potential of this targeted ADC, which is being developed in a range of solid tumour types, including in lung, prostate and colorectal cancers. Previously, GSK'227 was granted Priority Medicines (PRIME) designation by the EMA for relapsed or refractory ES-SCLC and Breakthrough Therapy Designations for relapsed or refractory ES-SCLC and relapsed or refractory osteosarcoma granted by the US FDA.[iii],[iv],[v]
About GSK'227
GSK'227 is a novel investigational B7-H3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate composed of a fully human anti-B7-H3 monoclonal antibody covalently linked to a topoisomerase inhibitor payload. GSK acquired exclusive worldwide rights (excluding China's mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) from Hansoh Pharma to progress clinical development and commercialisation of GSK'227. GSK's global phase III trial for GSK'227 in relapsed ES-SCLC began in August 2025.
About GSK
GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at gsk.com.
|
GSK enquiries |
|
|
|
|
Media: |
Simon Steel |
+44 (0) 20 8047 5502 |
(London) |
|
|
Madison Goring |
+44 (0) 20 8047 5502 |
(London) |
|
|
Kathleen Quinn |
+1 202 603 5003 |
(Washington DC) |
|
|
Lyndsay Meyer |
+1 202 302 4595 |
(Washington DC) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investor Relations: |
Constantin Fest |
+44 (0) 7831 826525 |
(London) |
|
|
James Dodwell |
+44 (0) 20 8047 2406 |
(London) |
|
|
Mick Readey |
+44 (0) 7990 339653 |
(London) |
|
|
Steph Mountifield |
+44 (0) 7796 707505 |
(London) |
|
|
Sam Piper |
+44 (0) 7824 525779 |
(London) |
|
|
Jeff McLaughlin |
+1 215 751 7002 |
(Philadelphia) |
|
|
Frannie DeFranco |
+1 215 751 3126 |
(Philadelphia) |
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described in the "Risk Factors" section in GSK's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2024, and GSK's Q2 Results for 2025.
Registered in England & Wales:
No. 3888792
Registered Office:
79 New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1DG
[i] Wang J, et al. Presented at IASLC WCLC 2024
[ii] Qian Wang, Zeynep H. Gümüş, Cristina Colarossi, Lorenzo Memeo, Xintong Wang, Chung Yin Kong, Paolo Boffetta, SCLC: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Genetic Susceptibility, Molecular Pathology, Screening, and Early Detection, Journal of Thoracic Oncology, Volume 18, Issue 1, 2023, Pages 31-46, ISSN 1556-0864, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtho.2022.10.002.
[iii] GSK. GSK receives US FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for its B7-H3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate in relapsed or refractory extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer. Available at: https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/gsk-receives-us-fda-breakthrough-therapy-designation/.
[iv] GSK. GSK's B7-H3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, GSK'227, receives EMA Priority Medicines (PRIME) Designation in relapsed extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer. Available at: https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/b7-h3-targeted-antibody-drug-conjugate-receives-ema-priority-medicines-designation-in-relapsed-extensive-stage-small-cell-lung-cancer/.
[v] GSK. GSK's B7-H3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, GSK'227, receives US FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation in late-line relapsed or refractory osteosarcoma. Available at: https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/gsk-b7-h3-targeted-antibody-drug-conjugate-gsk227-receives-us-fda-breakthrough-therapy-designation-in-late-line-relapsed-or-refractory-osteosarcoma/.
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
Latest directors dealings
- 1 day ago Savannah Energy
- 1 day ago Buccaneer Energy PLC
- 1 day ago Savannah Energy
- 1 day ago Carclo
- 1 day ago Schroder Japan Growth Fund