On April 16, 2015, Immunocore Limited, a biotechnology company developing novel biological drugs to treat cancer and other diseases, and MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, made the announcement that they have entered into a second collaboration.
Under the terms of the agreement, Immunocore will conduct a Phase Ib/II clinical trial combining MedImmune’s investigational checkpoint inhibitors MEDI4736 (anti-PD-L1) and/or tremelimumab (anti-CTLA-4) with IMCgp100, Immunocore’s lead T-cell receptor based investigational therapeutic, for the potential treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma. MedImmune has an exclusive relationship with Immunocore for the development of IMCgp100 in combination with MEDI4736 and/or tremelimumab, and will have first right of negotiation for the future commercial development of these combinations for tumors expressing gp100.
Immunocore and MedImmune will collaborate to establish a dosing regimen for IMCgp100 combined with MEDI4736 and/or tremelimumab, as part of the Phase Ib study. The Phase II study will assess the safety and efficacy of the different combinations.
The companies have a pre-existing research collaboration and licensing agreement, announced in January 2014, to develop novel cancer therapies using Immunocore’s Immune Mobilising Monoclonal T-Cell Receptor Against Cancer (ImmTAC) technology.
Dr. Ed Bradley, Senior Vice President and Head of the Oncology Innovative Medicines unit, MedImmune, said: “We are pleased to expand our partnership with Immunocore, a leader in the discovery and development of novel T-cell receptor-based drugs, to include this combination clinical trial in melanoma.”
Eliot Forster, Chief Executive Officer of Immunocore, said: “We are excited to deepen our relationship with MedImmune through this combination study agreement. We look forward to a successful partnership in the development of novel combination treatments in metastatic melanoma, which we believe have the potential to be best-in-class treatments.”
MEDI4736, tremelimumab and IMCgp100 are members of a new class of cancer treatments known as immunotherapy’s, which are designed to enhance the body’s own immune system in fighting cancer.
AstraZeneca and MedImmune have a broad programme of Immuno-oncology combination trials planned and underway to address multiple immune pathways, harnessing the company’s own extensive pipeline and working in partnership to explore the significant potential of immunotherapy’s in transforming the way cancer patients are treated.
Bradley added: “Immuno-oncology is a priority area for us and by employing combinations with biological synergies, we believe we have the potential to enhance treatment effectiveness and ultimately to see improved overall survival rates. Our partnership with Immunocore is further evidence of our belief that combination therapies have the potential to be one of the most effective ways of treating cancer.”