Astellas Pharma Inc. / Potenza Therapeutics, Inc.

Solid Tumors (Immuno-oncology)

Disease Overview

Solid tumors include the major epithelial cancers (lung, colorectal, breast, GI, GU) where checkpoint inhibitors transformed care for a subset of patients but most remain resistant or relapse. Next-wave immuno-oncology targets like TIGIT, NRP1 and GITR aim to restore T-cell function or expand response beyond PD-1/PD-L1, particularly in 'cold' tumors that don't respond to first-generation checkpoint therapy.

Competitive Landscape

By late 2018, the post-PD-1 immuno-oncology arms race centered on next-generation checkpoint and co-stimulatory targets. The TIGIT field at deal time was led by Roche/Genentech's tiragolumab (Phase 2 with atezolizumab), Merck's vibostolimab, BMS's BMS-986207, Arcus/Gilead's domvanalimab, and iTeos/GSK's belrestotug — making ASP8374 a back-of-pack entrant. GITR agonists were similarly crowded with Merck (MK-4166), Incyte/Agenus (INCAGN1876), and Leap Therapeutics in flight. NRP1 was less contested, giving ASP1948 differentiation. The Potenza buy converted a 2015 Astellas option into full ownership of three Phase 1/IND-stage assets, slotting alongside Astellas's existing Xtandi and Padcev oncology franchise. The deal underwhelmed in execution: ASP8374 was discontinued in 2020 after failing Phase 1 continuation criteria, and ASP1951 (GITR) was terminated in April 2022, leaving anti-NRP1 ASP1948 as the residual program. The deal is now widely viewed as a casualty of the broader TIGIT/GITR class disappointments.