Advertisement MedImmune, Mirati to conduct Phase I/II immuno-oncology combination trial to treat lung cancer - Pharmaceutical Business review
Pharmaceutical Business review is using cookies

ContinueLearn More
Close

MedImmune, Mirati to conduct Phase I/II immuno-oncology combination trial to treat lung cancer

MedImmune, a global biologics R&D arm of AstraZeneca, has entered into an exclusive clinical trial collaboration with Mirati Therapeutics, US-based oncology firm focusing on genetic and epigenetic drivers of cancer.

injection

As part of the deal, a Phase I/II trial will be conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MedImmune’s durvalumab (MEDI4736) in combination with Mirati’s mocetinostat in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with the potential to explore additional indications in the future.

Durvalumab is an investigational anti-PDL1 immune checkpoint inhibitor designed to counter the tumor’s immune-evading tactics by blocking a signal that helps tumors avoid detection.

Mocetinostat, an investigational spectrum-selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor of Mirati, selectively inhibits Class I HDAC enzymes, which has the potential to improve the positive effect of checkpoint inhibitors, such as durvalumab, on tumor immunity.

MedImmune Oncology Innovative Medicines unit head and senior vice-president David Berman said: "The collaboration with Mirati is yet another example of our combination-focused immuno-oncology strategy and our comprehensive approach in lung cancer as a key disease area.

"We continue to follow the scientific evidence to explore novel combination treatments to meet unmet patient need, with durvalumab as the cornerstone."

The deal will see MedImmune supply durvalumab for the Phase I/II trial, which will be funded and conducted by Mirati starting next year.

A Joint Steering Committee has been established by the parties to oversee the trial.

If the initial trial shows positive results, MedImmune will have an exclusive period of time in which to negotiate a commercial license for the combination in this indication.

Currently, mocetinostat is in two single-agent Phase II trials evaluating the treatment of patients that carry inactivating mutations of the histone acetyltransferase genes CREBBP and EP300.

Durvalumab is an investigational human monoclonal antibody directed against programed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and signals from this ligand help tumors avoid detection by the immune system.


Image: The Phase I/II trial of MedImmune’s durvalumab in combination with Mirati’s mocetinostat will start in 2016. Photo: courtesy of Baitong333/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net.