Zanidatamab for treating advanced or metastatic HER2-positive biliary tract cancer in adults

Zanidatamab is being developed for adult patients with advanced or metastatic human epidermal growth factor-2 (HER2)-positive biliary tract cancer (BTC). BTCs are a rare and diverse group of aggressive cancers arising from the gallbladder and bile ducts. The bile ducts are tubes that link the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas together, all of which are used in digestion. HER2 is linked to increased tumour growth when found in high levels on cancer cells. Surgical management can be curative in early-stage BTC; however, relapse rates (when the cancer comes back) are high. A high proportion of patients have advanced or metastatic disease which means the cancer has spread around the body at diagnosis and are currently managed with palliative chemotherapy or supportive care. BTC is associated with a poor prognosis. Currently, there is a lack of effective therapeutic options for patients with advanced or metastatic BTC. There is a need for alternative treatments such as biological therapies.