Foghorn Therapeutics (FHTX) Goldman Sachs 47th Annual Global Healthcare Conference 2026 summary

Strategic priorities and pipeline outlook

• FHD-909, a selective SMARCA2 inhibitor partnered with Eli Lilly, is the top priority with a key go/no-go decision expected in summer 2026 regarding expansion based on clinical data in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

• Proprietary pipeline includes a CBP selective degrader for ER-positive breast cancer, a selective EP300 degrader for multiple myeloma and lymphomas, an undisclosed I&I asset, and an ARID1B selective degrader, all progressing toward IND-enabling studies or in vivo proof of concept by 2027.

• The company is advancing preclinical and animal studies for these assets, with IND filings targeted for 2027.

• Cash runway is projected into the first half of 2028, with $184 million on hand and $50 million earmarked for the FHD-909 program.

• Additional capital or partnerships will be needed to advance the broader pipeline beyond initial INDs if FHD-909 progresses.

Clinical and scientific insights

• FHD-909 targets SMARCA2 selectively to avoid the tolerability issues seen with dual SMARCA2/4 inhibition; early clinical data suggest good safety and tolerability.

• SMARCA4 mutations are present in about 10% of NSCLC and 5% of all solid tumors, with affected patients having significantly worse prognosis and limited response to standard therapies.

• Patient identification for SMARCA4 mutations is routine via NGS panels in the US.

• In NSCLC, SMARCA4 mutant patients have a median PFS of 2.7 months and OS of 8 months, about half that of wild-type patients.

• The phase I study with Lilly is enrolling heavily pretreated NSCLC patients, with efficacy endpoints focused on partial response rates and durability in a population with poor prognosis.

Development strategy and future directions

• Key efficacy bar for FHD-909 in late-line NSCLC is achieving at least three partial responses with durability of 3–4 months in a cohort of 10–20 patients.

• Preclinical data support combinations of FHD-909 with pembrolizumab and KRAS inhibitors, with future studies likely to explore these avenues.

• The company’s degrader programs require deep, sustained target engagement (>90%) for efficacy, and so far, the inhibitor FHD-909 has outperformed available degraders.

• Selectivity between CBP and EP300 is crucial to avoid myelosuppression; selective agents are being developed for specific cancer types and to enable combination regimens.

• Expansion into autoimmune and inflammation indications is planned, with promising preclinical data for an oral I&I asset.