Early data revive interest in OX40 immunotherapy

12 May 2026

US biotech Inhibrx Biosciences (Nasdaq: INBX) has reported encouraging mid-stage data for its OX40 agonist INBRX-106, showing the drug significantly improved response rates when added to Merck & Co’s (NYSE: MRK) Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in first-line head and neck cancer.

Interim Phase II findings from the HexAgon study showed a confirmed objective response rate of 44% for the combination, versus 21.4% for Keytruda alone, in patients with PD-L1-positive metastatic or unresectable recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

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