BOSTON, July 17, 2026
Compass Therapeutics, Inc. announced that Phase 2/3 clinical data from its investigational DLL4 × VEGF-A bispecific antibody, tovecimig, have been accepted for an Oral Proffered Paper presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026, scheduled for October 23–27, 2026, in Madrid, Spain. The presentation will feature findings from the randomized, controlled COMPANION-002 Phase 2/3 clinical trial, which evaluated tovecimig in combination with paclitaxel for patients with previously treated advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). The study results will be presented by Dr. Nilofer Azad, Professor of Oncology and Associate Director of Clinical Research at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University, during an oral session on October 24, 2026. Selection for an oral presentation highlights the scientific significance of the study and reinforces the growing interest in bispecific antibody therapies targeting aggressive gastrointestinal cancers with limited treatment options.
COMPANION-002 Evaluates Bispecific Antibody in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer
The COMPANION-002 trial is a randomized Phase 2/3 study investigating tovecimig, a novel DLL4 × VEGF-A bispecific antibody, in combination with paclitaxel for patients with advanced biliary tract cancer who have previously received treatment. Biliary tract cancer remains one of the most difficult gastrointestinal malignancies to treat, with poor prognosis and limited effective therapies following disease progression. Tovecimig has been designed to simultaneously target Delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4) and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), two critical signaling pathways involved in tumor angiogenesis, tumor growth, and cancer progression. By inhibiting both pathways with a single therapeutic antibody, the investigational treatment aims to enhance anti-tumor activity while offering a differentiated therapeutic strategy for patients with advanced disease.
ESMO Presentation Highlights Compass Oncology Pipeline
Acceptance of the COMPANION-002 data for an ESMO 2026 Oral Proffered Paper presentation represents an important milestone for Compass Therapeutics’ oncology development program. Oral presentations at ESMO are reserved for studies considered to have significant scientific and clinical relevance, providing investigators an opportunity to present pivotal findings to leading global oncology experts. According to the company, additional clinical details will be released in accordance with ESMO Congress embargo policies before the scheduled presentation. The conference serves as one of the world’s leading scientific meetings for oncology research, making it an important platform for showcasing innovative therapies that have the potential to improve outcomes across difficult-to-treat cancers. Presentation of the COMPANION-002 results may further clarify the therapeutic potential of tovecimig in advanced biliary tract cancer and support its ongoing clinical development.
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Compass Therapeutics Expands Antibody-Based Cancer Innovation
Compass Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing proprietary antibody-based therapeutics targeting multiple biological mechanisms involved in cancer progression. Its research strategy centers on modulating angiogenesis, enhancing anti-tumor immune responses, and reducing tumor-driven immunosuppression through innovative antibody platforms. Tovecimig represents one of the company’s lead investigational assets designed to address cancers with significant unmet medical need by targeting complementary pathways involved in tumor vascularization and immune regulation. The upcoming ESMO 2026 presentation is expected to strengthen the company’s clinical profile while providing important evidence supporting continued development of DLL4 × VEGF-A bispecific antibody therapy for patients with advanced biliary tract cancer and potentially other solid tumors.
Source:Compass Therapeutics press release
