Bantam Pharmaceutical Set to Showcase Cancer Treatment Progress at ASCO 2025 Annual Meeting
Bantam Pharmaceutical, known for its innovative work in drug discovery specifically targeting cancer treatments, is making headlines again. The company recently announced that its Trial in Progress abstract has been accepted for presentation at the prestigious American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2025 Annual Meeting. This significant event is set to take place from May 30 to June 3, 2025, at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois.
One of the key highlights of Bantam's presentation will be a poster discussion centered around their leading product candidate, BTM-3566. This drug aims to offer new hope to patients grappling with relapsed or refractory mature B-cell lymphomas, a category of cancer known for its challenging treatment landscape. BTM-3566 is a first-in-class small molecule therapeutic that activates a novel mitochondrial homeostasis pathway called the OMA1-ATF4 Integrated Stress Response (ISR). This mechanism is critical in addressing aggressive tumors that have proven difficult to treat with standard therapies.
The ongoing Phase 1 trial is a multicenter, prospective study that follows a dose-escalation design, set to enroll patients across the United States and Canada. The first U.S. enrollment site was inaugurated at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, a leader in cancer treatment and research.
Dr. Michael Wang, the global principal investigator and an esteemed professor of lymphoma and myeloma at MD Anderson, expresses significant optimism regarding the potential of BTM-3566. He asserts, “Patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas continue to face significant clinical challenges, particularly those who have progressed following cell therapy or targeted agents. The opportunity to investigate BTM-3566 and its novel mechanism of action is especially compelling given its preclinical activity across diverse hematologic tumor models, including those with high-risk features.”
The trial employs a standard 3+3 dose escalation design for the U.S. cohort, starting at 0.3 mg/kg. Meanwhile, the Canadian arm of the study initiates at 0.9 mg/kg using an accelerated single-patient cohort approach. Patients will receive the investigational drug orally over a 14-day cycle. This collaborative and complementary approach across borders is aimed at quickly identifying an effective dosing regimen for lymphoma patients while maintaining the scientific rigor necessary for substantial clinical outcomes.
Primary endpoints of the study will include safety and tolerability, while secondary and exploratory endpoints will cover metrics like objective response rate (ORR), duration of response (DoR), and progression-free survival (PFS). Initial clinical data from this groundbreaking trial is anticipated in the latter half of 2025.
While BTM-3566's current focus is on treating lymphomas via activation of the OMA1-ATF4 ISR pathway, emerging preclinical data highlights its potential broader therapeutic applications. Recent studies have shown that BTM-3566 might induce significant tumor regression in solid tumors as well, particularly those that are notoriously difficult to treat. Moreover, evidence of synergistic effects with standard-of-care agents in acute myeloid leukemia emphasizes the drug's far-reaching potential across various cancer types. As the development of BTM-3566 progresses, Bantam Pharmaceutical is keen on advancing clinical studies to explore these promising findings further.
Presentation Details at ASCO 2025
- - Title: A phase 1 trial of BTM-3566 in relapsed/refractory mature B cell lymphomas
- - Presenter: Michael Wang, MD, Department of Lymphoma & Myeloma, MD Anderson Cancer Center
- - Session: Hematologic Malignancies—Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- - Date/Time: Sunday, June 1st, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET
- - Abstract Number: TPS7097
For additional meeting details, attendees can visit the ASCO website. Following the event, Bantam plans to make the poster available in the News & Resources section of their own website.
About BTM-3566
BTM-3566 represents a cutting-edge approach in oncology, being an orally bioavailable small molecule engineered to target a multitude of cancers, both hematologic and solid tumors. Initially, the clinical focus is centered on mature B-cell lymphomas, such as mantle cell lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, among others. Preliminary findings from preclinical studies indicate that BTM-3566 boasts robust anti-cancer activities, even demonstrating the ability to induce complete tumor regression in cases resistant to existing therapies like CAR-T cell treatments.
This drug's action is rooted in its ability to disrupt mitochondrial function within tumor cells, leveraging the natural apoptotic process to eliminate malignant cells. Notably, its efficacy appears to be independent of tumor genotype, addressing a pressing need for treatments that can deliver substantial and lasting responses across genetically diverse tumors. As Bantam continues to advance BTM-3566 through clinical development, the company aims to significantly enhance treatment options for patients battling hard-to-treat cancers.
For further information about the ongoing trials, prospective participants and interested parties can access detailed listings on ClinicalTrials.gov for the U.S. trial and ISRCTN.com for the Canadian study.
About Bantam Pharmaceutical
Bantam Pharmaceutical is dedicated to drug discovery and development focused on leveraging mitochondrial dynamics to tackle unmet needs in oncology. With a deep expertise in mitochondrial cellular biology, Bantam is committed to advancing first-in-class oral small molecule therapies for challenging hematological and solid tumors. With active Investigational New Drug (IND) applications in the U.S. and Clinical Trial Applications (CTA) in Canada, the company is poised to significantly influence the landscape of cancer treatment. To learn more about their initiatives, please visit
Bantam Pharmaceutical's website.