Investing.com -- Shares of Innate Pharma SA (OTC: IPHYF ) (NASDAQ: IPHA ) rose by 10.7% following the presentation of new preclinical data for its novel drug candidate, IPH4502, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025. The company’s research indicated that IPH4502, a topoisomerase I inhibitor Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) targeting Nectin-4, may offer a more effective treatment option for various cancers, including those resistant to existing therapies.

Innate’s IPH4502 demonstrated anti-tumor activity in patient-derived xenograft models resistant to enfortumab vedotin (EV), a currently approved ADC for urothelial carcinoma (UC). The preclinical findings also showed promise in treating triple-negative breast cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and esophageal cancer. Notably, IPH4502 outperformed a clinical-stage Nectin-4-exatecan ADC in tumor models with low Nectin-4 expression, suggesting a broader clinical applicability and the potential to address treatment resistance issues.

Sonia Quaratino, Chief Medical Officer of Innate Pharma (EPA: IPH ), expressed optimism about the drug’s prospects, stating, "We are highly encouraged by these preclinical data, which suggest that IPH4502 has the potential to translate into improved clinical benefit in indications with unmet medical need." She also highlighted the ongoing Phase 1 trial of IPH4502 in advanced solid tumors known to express Nectin-4, with initial clinical data expected to be shared in 2026.

The positive market response to Innate Pharma’s announcement underscores investor confidence in the company’s pipeline and its ability to address significant unmet medical needs in oncology. As the Phase 1 trial continues, stakeholders will be closely monitoring the progression of IPH4502, which could represent a significant advancement in cancer treatment if clinical outcomes align with preclinical results.

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