Gilead’s Magrolimab Ineffective, Linked to Increased Risk of Death in MDS Patients

1. Magrolimab Failure: Gilead's anti-CD47 drug magrolimab has been found ineffective and potentially harmful in treating high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients, leading to a 20% increased risk of death compared to placebo.
2. Phase 3 Trial Results: The ENHANCE trial showed that magrolimab combined with chemotherapy resulted in a median overall survival of 15.9 months, compared to 18.6 months for the placebo group. The complete remission rate (CRR) was also lower for magrolimab at 21.3% versus 23.6% for placebo.
3. Safety Concerns: Patients receiving magrolimab were twice as likely to discontinue treatment due to adverse events (24% vs. 12.1% for placebo). Grade 3 or above adverse events occurred in 76.4% of patients in the magrolimab arm, compared to 56.4% in the control group.
4. Gilead's Decision: Gilead has discontinued development of magrolimab in blood cancers, including MDS and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), due to the unfavorable results and increased risk of death.
5. Shift in Focus: Gilead is now investing in early-stage obesity and metabolic programs, including an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, GS-4571, which has shown promising preclinical results.