- Company expects to initiate enrollment in TEMPO-1 in September 2026
- OPSCC is estimated to represent 1 in 2 head and neck cancer patients in the 2L setting in the U.S. with approximately 14,000 patients eligible annually for treatment
NORWOOD, Mass., July 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRBP) (“Corbus” or the “Company”) a clinical-stage company focusing on developing new therapies in oncology and obesity, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the start of the Company’s registrational study (“TEMPO-1”) of CRB-701, a next-generation Nectin-4 targeted antibody drug conjugate (ADC), in second-line (2L) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).
TEMPO-1 is a randomized controlled study (n=250) designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CRB-701 compared with investigator’s choice of capecitabine, cetuximab or docetaxel. The study's primary endpoint is objective response rate (ORR), which is intended to support a potential accelerated approval; overall survival (OS) is intended to support potential conversion to full approval.
The incidence and prevalence of OPSCC continue to rise in the U.S. largely driven by HPV infection. The disease primarily affects men in their 50s and 60s who have little or no history of smoking or heavy alcohol use. Each year approximately 14,000 OPSCC patients are estimated to be eligible for 2L treatment and approximately 7,000 patients are estimated to succumb to the disease in the United States alone.
The FDA's decision to allow the registrational study to proceed was supported by results from Corbus' ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical study of CRB-701, presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. In an analysis of patients with 2L+ OPSCC treated at the 3.6 mg/kg dose, CRB-701 achieved a confirmed ORR of 42.9%, with a median duration of response (DoR) of 6.3 months and a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 5.6 months (ongoing).
“The data presented at ASCO provided important insight into the potential clinical path for CRB-701 in 2L oropharyngeal cancer, a distinct tumor-type that is on the rise due to HPV infections,” said Yuval Cohen, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Corbus. “Unfortunately, current treatment options have shown limited efficacy underscoring the need for additional therapeutic options. OPSCC represents a significant commercial opportunity.”
About CRB-701
CRB-701 (SYS6002) is a next-generation antibody drug conjugate targeting Nectin-4, that contains a site-specific, cleavable linker and a homogenous drug antibody ratio of 2, using monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) as the payload. Nectin-4 is a clinically validated, tumor-associated antigen in urothelial cancer and highly expressed in other tumor types such as cervical and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The FDA has granted two Fast Track designations to CRB-701 in HNSCC and cervical cancer.
About Corbus
Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. is a clinical-stage company focused on developing new therapies in oncology and obesity and is committed to helping people defeat serious illness by bringing innovative scientific approaches to well-understood biological pathways. Corbus’ pipeline includes CRB-701, a next-generation antibody drug conjugate for the treatment of Nectin-4-expressing tumors, and CRB-913, an orally delivered highly peripherally restricted CB1 inverse agonist for the treatment of obesity. Corbus is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts. For more information on Corbus, visit corbuspharma.com. Connect with us on X, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Forward-Looking Statements
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INVESTOR CONTACTS:
Sean Moran
Chief Financial Officer
Corbus Pharmaceuticals
[email protected]
Dan Ferry
Managing Director
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
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MEDIA CONTACT:
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Founder & Principal
Melone Communications, LLC
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