Nanobiotix’s radiotherapy-activated cancer drug, JNJ-1900, has shown promise in oesophageal cancer, expanding the drug’s potential indications.
During a Phase I trial (NCT04615013), the nanoparticle-based injectable was tested in two cohorts, with oesophageal cancer patients either receiving JNJ-1900 plus proton chemoradiotherapy (CRT) or JNJ-1900 plus photon CRT.
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In the early-stage study, the intratumoural drug combination – previously known as NBTXR3 – exhibited a disease control rate (DCR) of 85%. JNJ-1900 also showed some positive signals in other surrogate endpoints, with the drug triggering an objective response rate (ORR) of 69%.
Of the patients who responded to treatment, three experienced biopsy-confirmed partial responses (PR),
while six achieved complete response (CR).
Meanwhile, the Phase I study proves that the combination of JNJ-1900 and photon CRT was both feasible and well tolerated. All patients experienced some form of treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) during the study, with six experiencing events related to the drug specifically.
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By GlobalDataOf these six, two experienced TEAEs of Grade 3 and above related to the drug, while none experienced this impact due to the injection procedure. No AEs were reported post-procedure.
Steven Lin, the study’s principal investigator and radiation oncology professor at MD Anderson, noted: “We observed encouraging rates of disease control and complete response, suggesting this novel approval could help improve local tumour control while potentially sparing patients from the risks … of esophagectomy.
“These early findings provide a strong foundation for further investigation.”
Investors seem to agree with this sentiment, as Nanobiotix’s stock value rose 10% from $18.86 at market open on 1 October to $20.79 at market open on 2 October after the news debuted.
The future for JNJ-1900
Moving forward, Nanobiotix and partner Johnson & Johnson (J&J) will continue to recruit patients to the Phase I dose escalation trial. This will be followed by the dose expansion portion of the study.
Though Nanobiotix has not specified if or when it will begin Phase II trials for JNJ-1900, a recommended dose has already been set.
This will be welcome news for J&J, which signed an exclusive co-development and licensing agreement for NBTXR3 with Nanobiotix in 2023. This deal set the New Jersey-based big pharma back approximately $2.6bn after a $100m agreement tweak in March 2025.
Through this updated deal, J&J will cover all the costs associated with the pivotal NANORAY-312 study (NCT04892173), which is assessing JNJ-1900 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). To account for this, Nanobiotix has cancelled select milestone payments moving forward.
Nanobiotix estimates that interim analyses for the drug’s efficacy in HNSCC will be available in H1 2026.
However, Nanobiotix and J&J are not just exploring JNJ-1900 in these two indications, as the partners currently have five ongoing clinical trials in advanced solid tumours. This includes studies in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as pancreatic cancer and recurrent HNSCC.
Addressing unmet needs in oesophageal cancer
While 572,000 patients are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer each year, the standard of care (SoC) regimen revolves around radiotherapy, chemoradiation and surgery, which can have a distinct impact on patient quality of life (QoL).
With JNJ-1900, Nanobiotix claims that it can address this unmet need, potentially reducing reliance on invasive surgical procedures.
However, if the drug were to make it to market in this indication, it would face stiff competition from the wide range of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- approved targeted therapies already on the market.
This includes MSD’s oncology blockbuster and 2024’s best-selling drug, Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and BMS’ Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab).
Despite this, JNJ-1900 could hold a competitive edge over targeted therapies such as Keytruda, due to its immune-stimulating radiation sensitising activity. This means its use may be suitable in patients who are refractory to such treatment options.
