14th May 2014 06:50
LONDON (Alliance News) - British drugs giant AstraZeneca PLC, the subject of a GBP63 billion takeover approach from US rival Pfizer Inc, Wednesday said its MedImmune biologics arm would collaborate with Incyte Corp on an early-stage cancer treatment trial using a combination of the two companies' drugs.
In a statement, AstraZeneca said the companies would conduct a phase I/II oncology stody to evaluate the the efficacy and safety of MedImmune's investigational anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, MEDI4736, in combination with Incyte's oral indoleamine dioxygenase-1 inhibitor, INCB24360.
The non-exclusive collaboration will look at the combination in treatment of cancers including metastatic melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and pancreatic cancer.
Both MEDI4736 and INCB24360 are investigational compounds that are part of a new class of cancer treatments known as immunotherapies, which use the body's own immune system to help fight cancer. MEDI4736 blocks the signals that help tumours avoid detection by the immune system, countering the tumour's immune-evading tactics, while INCB24360 enhances the ability of immune cells to combat the tumour.
"Preclinical evidence suggests that the combination of these two agents may lead to an enhanced anti-tumour immune response," AstraZeneca said.
"AstraZeneca and MedImmune have recently initiated other immuno-oncology combination trials, including MEDI4736 with IRESSA and MEDI4736 with tremelimumab. Other combination trials are planned to start imminently, demonstrating the strength and rapid progression of the company's immuno-oncology portfolio," the company added.
The announcement is the latest in a string of drug development news that AstraZeneca has put out in recent days, as it continues to reject the approach from Pfizer. It has called the approach opportunistic and said it undervalues the company, although it hasn't ruled out accepting a higher bid if it was made.
On Monday, AstraZeneca announced a selection of positive data from mid-stage trials from MedImmune's respiratory, inflammation and autoimmune portfolio.
On Tuesday, AstraZeneca released positive results from its late-stage study of combination treatment saxagliptin and dapagliflozin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, which showed that patients treated with the combined drug in addition to metformin saw a significant reduction in glycated haemoglobin, a key indicator of the control of diabetes.
It also said it would announce Phase IIb data for its asthma treatments benralizumab and tralokinumab at the upcoming American Thoracic Society 2014 International Conference in San Diego on May 16 to 21.
By Steve McGrath; [email protected]; @SteveMcGrath1
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