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This Duke phase 1 trial evaluated D2C7, an experimental therapy that targets EGFR and EGFRvIII proteins on glioma cells and delivers a toxin intended to kill them. The treatment was delivered directly into the tumor through convection-enhanced delivery (CED) and resulted in a median overall survival of 7.9 months among 72 patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Treatment-related side effects were mild to moderate, and exploratory analyses identified biomarkers associated with longer survival in some patients.
While this initial study was meant only to establish safety and dosing, Duke has already expanded on this work and is currently testing D2C7 together with 2141-V11, an experimental immune-stimulating anti-CD40 antibody. In a November 2025 conference abstract reporting preliminary results from 27 recurrent glioblastoma patients, median survival was 16.4 months with the combination approach. Treatment included a single convection-enhanced delivery treatment course with both agents, followed by repeated subcutaneous injections of 2141-V11 near the lymph nodes in the neck. No treatment-related grade 4 or 5 adverse events were reported. These early findings are encouraging, and we are eager to learn further results from the combined approach.