AstraZeneca partners Incyte for immunotherapy cancer treatment trial

14th May 2014 07:44

- Tie-up with Incyte to evaluate drug combination- Focused on immunotherapy cancer treatment- Equally co-funding studyMedImmune, the biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, has entered into a clinical study collaboration with biopharmaceutical company Incyte Corporation.The study, which will be co-funded equally, is focused on oncology and will evaluate the efficacy and safety of MedImmune's investigational drug MEDI4736, which has been designed to help block the signals that help tumours avoid detection by the immune system. The drug is being evaluated in combination with Incyte's oral inhibitor drug, INCB24360, which enhances the ability of immune cells to combat the tumour. Both drugs are being investigated as part of a new class of cancer treatments known as immunotherapies, which use the body's own immune system to help fight cancer. "Preclinical evidence suggests that the combination of these two agents may lead to an enhanced anti-tumour immune response," Astra explained. MedImmune and Incyte will collaborate on a non-exclusive basis on the study, to evaluate the combination in multiple solid tumours, including metastatic melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and pancreatic cancer.In the first phase of the trial, the companies expect to establish a recommended dose of both MEDI4736 and INCB24360 and in phase two they will assess the safety and efficacy of the combination, which will determine whether further clinical development is warranted. Dr. Bahija Jallal, the Executive Vice President of MedImmune, said: "Immuno-oncology is one of the most exciting areas in our industry and we are progressing our strong pipeline as rapidly as possible. Our partnership with Incyte is further evidence of our belief that combination therapies have the potential to be one of the most effective ways of treating cancer." NR