Early Efficacy and Exploratory Biomarker Data of Bel-sar in Patients with Intermediate-risk and High-risk Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer.

Publication Title

Eur Urol Open Sci

Authors

• Jennifer M Linehan, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, USA.Follow
• Piyush K Agarwal
• Xianne Penny
• Max Kates
• Joseph Jacob
• Seth P Lerner
• Rhonda C Kines
• John T Schiller
• Elisabet de Los Pinos
• Neal D Shore
• Jill Hopkins
• Joseph McQuaid
• Sabine D Brookman-May

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-2026

Keywords

Belzupacap sarotalocan; Immunogenic cell death; Non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer; Photoimmunotherapy; Tertiary lymphoid structures; Tumor microenvironment; Urothelial carcinoma; Virus-like drug conjugate.; california; santa monica; jwci; sjci

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Despite available therapies, patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) are impacted by recurrence and progression risk. Bel-sar (belzupacap sarotalocan) is a first-in-class virus-like drug conjugate composed of a tumor-targeting virus-like particle linked to a photoactivatable dye, inducing proimmunogenic tumor cell death and antitumor immune response. We report clinical and exploratory immune biomarker data from a phase 1 study in intermediate-risk and high-risk NMIBC.

METHODS: Seventeen participants received focally injected bel-sar (100-200 µg) without (

KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: Bel-sar was well tolerated, with only grade 1 adverse events, and no grade ≥2, serious, or dose-limiting toxicities. Among 10 efficacy-evaluable patients receiving light activation, four of five low-grade tumors achieved complete response. Responses were also observed in high-grade and untreated tumors, suggesting a urothelial field effect. Immune profiling demonstrated conversion of immune-cold or exhausted tumors into immunogenically primed tumors, with tertiary lymphoid structure formation, expansion of cytotoxic and memory CD4+ T cells, and marked natural killer cells and eosinophils recruitment. Limitations include the small sample size and short follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Bel-sar demonstrated focal administration feasibility, a favorable safety profile, and encouraging preliminary efficacy in NMIBC, with robust immune activation in treated and untreated tumors. These findings support bel-sar's continued development as a therapy combining local tumor eradication with durable immune surveillance.

Area of Special Interest

Cancer

Specialty/Research Institute

Oncology

Specialty/Research Institute

Urology

DOI

10.1016/j.euros.2026.05.017