Late-breaking results from its Phase 2 IMGN853-0420 trial of mirvetuximab soravtansine (Elahere®; AbbVie), a first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), were presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO), held April 9 – 13, 2026, in San Juan, PR. The study evaluated mirvetuximab soravtansine in combination with carboplatin, followed by ELAHERE® monotherapy, for patients with recurrent, folate receptor alpha (FRα)-expressing, platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer (PSOC).
Mirvetuximab soravtansine, approved in the U.S. and Europe for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer with high FRα expression, is an ADC consisting of a folate receptor alpha-binding antibody linked to DM4, a potent tubulin inhibitor. Its design ensures tumor-selective drug delivery and minimizes off-target toxicity.
IMGN853-0420 (NCT05456685), a multicenter, open-label study, enrolled 125 patients with measurable, FRα-positive platinum-sensitive ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer, all of whom had received one prior platinum-based regimen. After up to eight cycles of combination therapy, patients without disease progression continued on single-agent mirvetuximab soravtansine.
In this study, nearly half of the participating patients had prior exposure to a polymerase inhibitor (PARPi), a patient population that may experience reduced responses to subsequent platinum-based chemotherapy. [1]
Key Findings
- The confirmed objective response rate (ORR) was 62.7% in patients with ≥50% FRα expression and 62.4% in the overall population (FRα ≥25%) after six cycles of combination therapy.[2]
- The median duration of response (DoR) was 11.2 months.[2]
- Among participants who had previously received a PARP inhibitor, the ORR was 63.9%.
- The safety profile was consistent with previous studies, with predominantly low-grade, reversible ocular adverse events. The most common grade ≥3 events were neutropenia (15%), blurred vision (10%), thrombocytopenia (10%), cataract (6%), dry eye, diarrhea, and peripheral sensory neuropathy (all 5%).[2]
- Of the 125 enrolled patients, 81% transitioned to mirvetuximab soravtansine monotherapy, with an ORR of 68% during this phase.[2]
A Novel Approach for a Challenging Disease
Platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer remains difficult to treat, as responses to chemotherapy often diminish with each recurrence and toxicities accumulate. Mirvetuximab soravtansine targets the FRα protein, highly expressed on ovarian cancer cells, enabling tumor-selective delivery of a potent cytotoxic payload.[3]
“Despite being considered chemotherapy-responsive, platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer (PSOC) remains challenging to treat. With each recurrence, responses to standard platinum-based chemotherapy often diminish, and patients may experience cumulative toxicities,” noted Daejin Abidoye, MD, vice president and oncology therapeutic area head at AbbVie.
“The combination of mirvetuximab soravtansine and carboplatin delivered strong responses in this Phase 2 study, and many patients continued to experience responses during the monotherapy treatment phase,” explained Gottfried E. Konecny, M.D., Professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and primary investigator.
“The findings support further investigation of a novel treatment approach that integrates antibody drug conjugates with standard chemotherapy in patients with folate receptor alpha (FRα)-expressing recurrent platinum‑sensitive ovarian cancer and in patients previously treated with PARP inhibitors who often face resistance and remain in need of additional options,” Geffen added.
Looking Ahead
While the regimen is not yet approved for platinum-sensitive disease, these encouraging results provide strong support for further investigation and potential regulatory submissions. Ongoing research will explore additional combinations and optimize dosing.
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Note:* The combination of mirvetuximab soravtansine plus carboplatin is investigational for platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer and not yet approved in the U.S. or other regions.
Clinica trials
Mirvetuximab Soravtansine (MIRV) With Carboplatin in Second-line Treatment of Folate Receptor Alpha (FRα) Expressing, Platinum-sensitive Epithelial Ovarian Cancer – ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT05456685
Highlights of prescribing information
Mirvetuximab soravtansine (Elahere®; AbbVie)[Prescribing Information]
Reference
[1] MacAulay Vacheresse, Genevieve, et al. “Response to Subsequent Platinum‑Based Chemotherapy Post PARP Inhibitor in Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.” Journal of Clinical Oncology, vol. 41, no. 16 suppl., 2023. Abstract 5578 presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. Chicago, Illinois
[2] Konecny, Gottfried E., et al. “Mirvetuximab soravtansine plus carboplatin in folate receptor alpha-expressing recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.” Abstract presented at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting, 2026. San Juan, Puerto Rico
[3] Richardson DL, Eskander RN, O’Malley DM. Advances in Ovarian Cancer Care and Unmet Treatment Needs for Patients With Platinum Resistance: A Narrative Review. JAMA Oncol. 2023;9(6):851–859. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.0197
Featured image: Hanging Pink Umbrellas- San Juan, PR, Photo courtesy © 2019 – 2026 Chandler Walters on Unsplash. Used with permission.
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