At a Glance
- Company: Novartis
- Location: Basel, Switzerland
- Headline figures: 0% ORR in 30 patients; 26/30 progressed early
- Focus area: NKG2D ligand decoys in advanced solid tumours
- Next steps: Programme fully discontinued; no safety issues
What happened?
Novartis discontinued QEQ278, a phase 1 protein targeting NKG2D ligands in advanced solid tumours, after it showed no objective tumour responses in 30 patients. The trial halted in 2024 following data review, with status updated recently after the last participant discontinued. A spokesperson confirmed the asset’s removal from the pipeline, unrelated to safety.
Why does it matter?
Tumours evade NK cells by shedding NKG2D ligands as decoys; QEQ278 aimed to neutralise them and flag cancer cells. The 0% efficacy underscores challenges in NKG2D modulation, mirroring setbacks like Nkarta’s NKX101 drop (2024) and Astellas’ CAR-T (2025). Novartis prioritises higher-potential assets.
Who’s behind it?
Novartis developed QEQ278 internally for immunotherapy in exhausted standard-of-care patients.
How was it achieved?
QEQ278 binds soluble NKG2D ligands to eliminate immune distraction and attaches to tumour-expressed ligands to mark cells for NK destruction. In phase 1, no patients responded; 26 discontinued due to progression.
What’s next?
No further development; trial closure per protocol. Novartis maintains 99 clinical projects.