Galmed’s Aramchol and Bayer’s Stivarga show synergistic effect in GI cancers

Galmed (GLMD) announced results from its joint research with Virginia Commonwealth University, or VCU, evaluating Aramchol’s effect on overcoming drug resistance in gastrointestinal cancers. The collaboration is based on breakthrough findings published in Nature Communications linking Aramchol to overcome cancer drug resistance. Previously in May, Galmed announced that Aramchol significantly enhances Bayer’s (BAYRY) (BYRY) regorafenib, or Stivarga, effect in GI cancer models to kill GI tumor cells. In addition, regorafenib and Aramchol interacted to suppress tumor growth in hepatoma models without normal tissue toxicities. The new top line results include new data regarding the synergetic effects of Aramchol and Stivarga with Metformin. In this latest study, Aramchol demonstrated the mechanism of action of Aramchol’s anti-tumor abilities, alone or when combined with the mutli-kinase inhibitor regorafenib and the type 2 diabetes drug, Metformin, suggesting a synergistic effect and potential for fixed dose combination for treatment. The combination could potentially become a life-cycle IP strategy when Stivarga’s main European and U.S. patents expires in August 2028 and July 2032, respectively. The combination of Aramchol and Stivarga is expected to enter phase 1b clinical trials early 2026 in metastatic colorectal cancer, hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma patients with a planned expansion cohort including metformin.