Date: 2018-01-30
Type of information: Clinical research agreement
Compound: durvalumab and IPH5401
Company: Innate Pharma (France) MedImmune (USA - global biologics arm of AstraZeneca (UK)
Therapeutic area: Cancer - Oncology
Type agreement: clinical research
Action mechanism:
- monoclonal antibody/immune checkpoint inhibitor. Durvalumab is a human monoclonal antibody directed against programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Signals from PD-L1 help tumours avoid detection by the immune system. This antibody blocks PD-L1 interactions with PD-1 and CD80, countering the tumor’s immune-evading tactics and inducing an immune response.
- Preclinical findings suggest that C5aR blockade increases immune-mediated tumor killing and efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors. Complement cascade factor 5a (C5a), secreted by
tumor cells, attracts and stimulates C5aR-overexpressing myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and neutrophils in the tumor microenvironment. Part of the innate immune system, these types of cells promote tumor growth by secreting inflammatory mediators, immunosuppressive cytokines and angiogenic factors. They potently suppress T and NK cells and hamper the activities of PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockers.
- IPH5401 is a first-in-class fully human antibody that blocks the binding of C5a to C5a receptors (C5aR), thereby reducing the accumulation and activation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and neutrophils in the tumor microenvironment.
Treatment with IPH5401 may unleash anti-tumor activities of T cells and NK cells. Preclinical experiments support development of IPH5401 in combination with PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockers or other cancer immunotherapies.
Disease: advanced solid tumors
Details:
- • On January 30, 2018, Innate Pharma announced
that it has entered into a clinical trial collaboration with MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca. The Phase I/II study (STELLAR-001) will evaluate the safety and efficacy of durvalumab, an anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, in combination with Innate’s investigational first-in-class anti-C5aR monoclonal antibody, IPH5401, as a treatment for patients with selected solid tumors.
- The Phase I part of the trial is expected to establish a recommended dose regimen of IPH5401 in combination with durvalumab in selected solid tumors, and the Phase II part will assess the safety and efficacy of the combination in these patients. The study will be conducted by Innate and the costs will be equally shared by both parties. The agreement between Innate Pharma and MedImmune is non-exclusive.
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