CatalYm Begins Phase 2b Trial for Visugromab Cancer Treatment

The trial will evaluate the company's drug in combination with chemoimmunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 5:55pm by Ben Kaplan

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A translucent, ghostly X-ray image revealing the intricate internal structures of a human liver, conceptually illustrating the advanced medical technology being used to treat this form of liver cancer.A novel cancer treatment combines immunotherapy with chemotherapy to target the complex internal structures of the liver affected by hepatocellular carcinoma.San Francisco Today

CatalYm, a biopharmaceutical company, has announced that the first patient has been dosed in the GDFATHER-HCC-01 clinical trial. The trial will evaluate the company's lead drug candidate, visugromab, in combination with chemoimmunotherapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer.

Why it matters

This trial represents an important step forward in the development of new treatment options for HCC, which is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Combining visugromab with chemoimmunotherapy has the potential to improve outcomes for patients with this aggressive form of liver cancer.

The details

The GDFATHER-HCC-01 trial is a Phase 2b study that will assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of visugromab in combination with chemoimmunotherapy in patients with advanced HCC. The trial is being conducted at multiple sites in the United States and Europe.

  • The first patient was dosed on April 7, 2026.

The players

CatalYm

A biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel cancer immunotherapies.

Visugromab

CatalYm's lead drug candidate, a novel immunotherapy that is being evaluated in combination with chemoimmunotherapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

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What’s next

The GDFATHER-HCC-01 trial is expected to enroll approximately 200 patients with advanced HCC. The company plans to provide updates on the progress of the trial throughout 2026 and 2027.

The takeaway

This trial represents an important milestone in CatalYm's efforts to develop new treatment options for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, a devastating form of liver cancer with limited treatment options. The combination of visugromab and chemoimmunotherapy has the potential to improve outcomes for these patients.