Avacta shares rise on presentation of new preCISION data

21st Apr 2026 14:58

(Sharecast News) - Avacta Therapeutics shares were rising on Tuesday, after new data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2026 annual meeting highlighted the favourable profile of its AVA6103 candidate and the broader potential of its 'preCISION' tumour-targeted delivery platform.

The AIM-traded clinical-stage group presented updated preclinical and pharmacology data for AVA6103, its second clinical candidate, alongside initial in vivo exposure and efficacy data for its dual payload technology programme.

AVA6103, a FAP-activated peptide-drug conjugate delivering the topoisomerase I inhibitor exatecan, recently entered phase one development, with the first patient dosed in March in the FOCUS-01 trial.

The company said preclinical analyses demonstrated robust antitumour activity for AVA6103 across multiple patient-derived xenograft models, including those with low levels of FAP expression.

Comparative data against the marketed antibody-drug conjugate Enhertu reportedly indicated a more favourable pharmacokinetic profile, including faster tumour penetration, higher tumour payload concentration and a tumour selectivity index around three times greater.

Avacta added that initial clinical data from the phase one FOCUS-01 study, which was evaluating AVA6103 in patients with advanced cancers, was expected later in the year.

The trial was expanded to include colorectal cancer and hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, based on preclinical activity and biomarker insights.

Separately, the group showcased the dual payload capability of its preCISION platform through AVA6207, designed to deliver both a topoisomerase inhibitor and a DNA damage repair inhibitor to the tumour microenvironment.

It said early in vivo data indicated tumour-selective release of both payloads and demonstrated efficacy in a HER2-positive gastric cancer model, including activity in tumours with low FAP expression.

"The data being presented at AACR underline the potential of our preCISION technology and AVA6103 to make a considerable difference to cancer patients," said chief executive Christina Coughlin.

"These observations could significantly increase the probability of success with AVA6103, given both the ability of FAP-Exd to deliver more payload selectively to the tumor in the preclinical setting, and the success of Enhertu in the clinic.

"The FOCUS-01 phase one clinical trial of AVA6103, now underway in the US, is designed to demonstrate the benefits of preCISION in unlocking the full potential of exatecan while minimizing systemic toxicity."

She added that the company had shown how preCISION "delivers a therapeutically relevant combination of payloads" specifically to the tumor microenvironment while reducing systemic dose-limiting toxicities, "broadening its utility in the delivery of novel medicines".

"The dual delivery mechanism of preCISION shows its potential to dramatically increase the therapeutic window and reduce systemic toxicities, offering improved outcomes for patients with cancer."

At 1438 BST, shares in Avacta Group were up 3.84% at 79.96p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

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