Amplia Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:ATX) has presented updated interim data from its lead ACCENT clinical trial at the 2026 American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium, highlighting continued encouraging results for its experimental drug narmafotinib in advanced pancreatic cancer.
The data were showcased in a poster presentation delivered by Amplia chief medical officer Dr Jason Lickliter at the specialist oncology meeting, which brings together clinicians and researchers focused on gastrointestinal cancers.
Amplia said the updated analysis continues to show that narmafotinib, when combined with standard chemotherapy, compares favourably with gemcitabine and Abraxane alone — a commonly used first-line treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Updated efficacy signals from ACCENT trial
ACCENT is a Phase 2a study evaluating narmafotinib, Amplia’s focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor, in combination with gemcitabine and Abraxane in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
According to the company, the poster presentation highlighted several key efficacy and safety measures from the ongoing trial, including:
- Updated median progression-free survival of 7.7 months, compared with 5.5 months reported for gemcitabine and Abraxane alone in historical benchmarks
- An overall response rate of 35%, rising to 42% when unconfirmed responses are included
- A safety profile showing narmafotinib continues to be well tolerated, with adverse events similar to those seen with chemotherapy alone
Amplia noted that the trial has already met its primary endpoint, achieving a confirmed response rate of 35%, exceeding the 23% response rate reported in the benchmark MPACT study for gemcitabine and Abraxane alone.
Positioning narmafotinib in a difficult cancer setting
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most challenging solid tumours to treat, with limited effective options for patients diagnosed at an advanced stage. Amplia’s strategy centres on targeting FAK, a protein overexpressed in pancreatic cancer and increasingly recognised for its role in tumour growth, fibrosis and treatment resistance.
Narmafotinib (also known as AMP945) is designed to inhibit FAK activity and has been tested in combination with established chemotherapy regimens rather than as a standalone therapy. Amplia believes this approach may enhance the effectiveness of existing treatments without significantly adding to toxicity.
The company has previously reported that narmafotinib demonstrated promising activity across a range of preclinical cancer models, supporting its progression into clinical trials.
International exposure and next steps
Chief executive officer Dr Chris Burns said Amplia was pleased to present its findings at ASCO GI, which he called “one of the world’s premier pancreatic cancer meetings”.
“Presenting at ASCO GI positions Amplia among leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies internationally and underscores the company’s exciting progress in the development of narmafotinib in pancreatic cancer,” Burns said.
Amplia is also expanding its clinical program beyond ACCENT. A second trial, AMPLICITY, has recently opened under an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in Australia and the United States. That study is assessing narmafotinib in combination with the more intensive FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy regimen in advanced pancreatic cancer patients.
Other recent milestones include patent protection for narmafotinib in the United States extending to at least 2040, and a separate collaboration agreement aimed at further advancing its pancreatic cancer research.
Read more: Second agreement builds on Amplia Therapeutics' early pancreatic cancer results
For now, the latest ASCO GI presentation adds to a growing body of clinical evidence supporting narmafotinib’s potential role in a cancer area where new treatment options are urgently needed.
Amplia Therapeutics' ASCO GI poster