Episode summary
Vir Bio's Cancer Treatment Progress Driving Shares Hight | Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Businessweek Daily
· · 11 min · Hosts: Carol Massar, Tim Stenovec · Guests: Marianne De Backer
Summary
Vir Biotechnology’s shares jumped after the company reported updated phase 1 data for VIR-5500, its PSMA-targeting T-cell engager for metastatic prostate cancer. Marianne De Backer said the drug has been tested in 58 patients, with especially strong results in a subset treated at efficacious doses, including 82% with PSA 50 declines and 53% with PSA 90s.
De Backer argued the early readout is notable not just for anti-tumor activity but also for tolerability, which she said matters in prostate cancer because existing therapies can be limited by side effects. She pointed to dramatic imaging examples in heavily pretreated patients, including one with five prior lines of therapy and multiple liver lesions whose scans improved after nine weeks.
The company is now broadening development. De Backer said Vir will start three expansion cohorts next quarter, including late-line monotherapy work and two early-line combination studies, and plans to enter registrational trials next year. She framed the Astellas partnership as a strategic way to accelerate development rather than a takeover, alongside a $150 million equity raise announced the same week.
Key takeaways
- Marianne De Backer said VIR-5500 showed strong early activity in 58 patients, with 82% PSA 50 declines and 53% PSA 90s in a more responsive subset.
- De Backer said the drug’s tolerability profile is a major advantage because many prostate cancer treatments have side-effect limitations.
- Vir is expanding into three cohorts next quarter, including late-line monotherapy and two early-line combination studies.
- De Backer said the Astellas deal was designed to speed development and expand trials, not to set up an acquisition.
- Vir also announced a $150 million equity raise, adding fuel for a broader clinical push.
Notable quotes
“we have actually tested our drug var 5500 which is a mask dell engager in 58 patients”
“82% of the patients showing PSA 50 declines PSA is a biomarker in prostate cancer you probably know”
“We also had quite a number of patients where we could actually measure the tumor”
“You see all these liver lesions and other tumor lesions really disappearing”
“we are starting expansion trials as I said early line already in the next quarter”
How the episode opens
Bloomberg Audio Studios podcasts, radio news. — You're listening to Bloomberg Business Week with Carol Masser and Tim Stenc on Bloomberg Radio. Mayor Manni saying in a tweet, "I just got off the phone with President Trump. In our meeting earlier, I shared my concerns about Colombia student Elena Agayva who was detained by ICE this morning. He has just informed me that she will be released imminently.
All right. — And he he uh sent a New York Times story that says immigration agents arrested a Columbia University student after misrepresenting themselves to access a building, the school said.
All right. So certainly um some actions there are coming off of that meeting or those conversations. Um okay.
And we'll monitor in case there's any other headlines that cross folks. Uh in the meantime, we want to kind of get to some stuff that's been going on in the biotech space. There's actually a lot going on, I feel like.
And when you think about the big pharmaceutical companies constantly watching that space um looking to maybe beef up beef up their own pipelines. One company we want to talk about is Ver Biotechnology shares closing higher by 20% on Tuesday after the drug developer gave updated data from an earlier stage trial for its investigative therapy for prostate cancer and said it is collaborating with Estellisma on that same asset.
I want to bring in Maryanne Deber CEO of the 1.2 2 billion market cap via biotechnology ticker VIR. The stock up more than 50% this year. It's up uh 11 about 11.6% of the float is shorted. She joins us once again from San Francisco. It's been about a month since we last connected. It was during the JP Morgan Health Conference. And a lot of news from your company since then.
From the episode’s captions: roughly the first two minutes, lightly cleaned. Keep watching on YouTube →
Topics
- vir-5500 phase 1 trial
- t-cell engager therapy
- prostate cancer
- cancer treatment progress
- share price runup
Companies and tickers mentioned
- VIR
- Vir Biotechnology
Watch the episode
Watch “Vir Bio's Cancer Treatment Progress Driving Shares Hight | Bloomberg Businessweek” on YouTube
Summary, takeaways and quote selection by Octagon. Quotes are short excerpts; the full conversation is in the episode.
More from Bloomberg Businessweek Daily
-
Bloomberg Businessweek Weekend - November 13th, 2026 | Bloomberg Businessweek -
Inside Jensen Huang’s Final Hours as Nvidia CEO | Bloomberg Businessweek -
Jensen Huang's Exit Kicks Off Nvidia Strategy Reset | Bloomberg Businessweek -
Special Episode: Bobby Jain on Why He Chose Millennium Again | Bloomberg Businessweek -
Bloomberg Businessweek Daily Podcast: Jensen’s Nvidia Departure -
Take-Two Releasing Long-Awaited Grand Theft Auto VI Next Week | Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Businessweek Daily, this episode and its artwork belong to Bloomberg. Octagon is not affiliated with the show; this page is an independent summary.
