SAN DIEGO, Calif., July 1, 2026
92Bio, Inc. announced that the first patient has been dosed in its Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating NTB-928 for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, marking an important clinical milestone for the company’s next-generation T-cell engager (TCE) platform. The multicenter, open-label study is being conducted across multiple clinical sites in the United States, with the first patient enrolled and treated at START New York-Long Island under the leadership of Principal Investigator Dr. Geraldine O’Sullivan Coyne. NTB-928 is designed to address one of the biggest limitations of existing FOLR1-targeted therapies by combining an affinity-tuned anti-CD3 domain with an avidity-dependent FOLR1-binding arm, enabling selective targeting of FOLR1-overexpressing ovarian cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues expressing low levels of the same protein. Since FOLR1 is overexpressed in more than 75% of ovarian cancers, the company believes NTB-928 has the potential to become a differentiated therapeutic candidate for patients with limited treatment options following platinum-based chemotherapy failure.
Innovative T-Cell Engager Designed to Improve Tumor Selectivity
92Bio developed NTB-928 using a dual-mechanism approach intended to improve the balance between anti-tumor activity and patient safety. The investigational antibody combines controlled CD3-mediated T-cell activation with avidity-dependent binding to folate receptor alpha (FOLR1), allowing immune cells to preferentially attack tumors expressing high levels of the target while reducing activity against normal tissues. This design aims to overcome safety challenges associated with earlier FOLR1-targeted therapies and broaden the therapeutic window for treatment. Preclinical studies previously published in OncoImmunology demonstrated encouraging selectivity and potent anti-tumor activity, supporting the advancement of NTB-928 into human clinical evaluation. According to the company, the technology may also have future applications across additional FOLR1-positive solid tumors beyond ovarian cancer.
Phase 1 Trial Will Evaluate Safety, Dose Escalation and Early Activity
The ongoing Phase 1, single-arm, open-label clinical trial utilizes a Bayesian Optimal Interval dose-escalation with backfill (BOIN-BF) design to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacologic profile, and preliminary anti-tumor activity of NTB-928 in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Investigators will determine the optimal dose while collecting initial evidence of clinical benefit in a patient population with significant unmet medical need. Company Chief Executive Officer Ben Buelow, M.D., Ph.D., described the first patient dosing as a defining milestone, stating that NTB-928 was specifically engineered to overcome the selectivity limitations that have constrained previous FOLR1-directed T-cell engagers. Principal Investigator Dr. Geraldine O’Sullivan Coyne added that initiating the study represents an important advancement for patients with few effective treatment options and reflects the collaborative efforts of 92Bio, START New York-Long Island, and Northwell Health Cancer Institute.
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Clinical Milestone Strengthens 92Bio’s Oncology Development Pipeline
The successful initiation of patient dosing marks the transition of NTB-928 from preclinical development into clinical testing and represents a significant step in 92Bio’s strategy to develop next-generation T-cell engaging antibodies for difficult-to-treat cancers. Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer remains one of the most challenging gynecologic malignancies due to poor long-term outcomes and limited therapeutic options after chemotherapy resistance develops. By leveraging a precision-designed immune-engaging platform, 92Bio aims to deliver more selective cancer immunotherapies capable of improving efficacy while reducing treatment-related toxicity. As dose escalation progresses, data generated from the Phase 1 trial will help determine the future clinical development pathway for NTB-928 and its potential expansion into additional FOLR1-positive malignancies, reinforcing the company’s growing position within the field of precision oncology and next-generation immunotherapy.
Source: 92Bio press release
