AstraZeneca And Advaxis Partner On Immuno-Oncology Trial
British drugmaker AstraZeneca announced that its global biologics R&D arm MedImmune has entered into partnership with U.S. biotech Advaxis on an immuno-oncology clinical trial. The Phase I/II immunotherapy study will investigate Asvaxis’ vaccine ADXS-HPV in combination with AZ’s MEDI4736.
Both vaccines are cancer immunotherapies designed to enlist the body’s own immune system against cancer. MEDI4736 is MedImmune’s investigational anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint vaccine that blocks a signal which helps tumors evade the immune system. ADXS-HPV is Advaxis’ lead cancer immunotherapy developed to improve the immune cells’ ability to fight a tumor. The combination therapy will be evaluated as a treatment for patients with HPV-associated head and neck cancer and advanced, recurrent, or refractory human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cervical cancer.
Dr. Bahija Jallal, EVP of MedImmune, said, “We believe there could be an important clinical benefit from the combination of MEDI4736 with Advaxis’ antigen-specific cancer vaccine.” AstraZeneca recently revealed its planned designs for a transparent glass R&D building in Cambridge that will lead to the marriage of MedImmune’s operations and portfolio to AZ’s team and pipeline.
“We are excited to be partnering with MedImmune and evaluating MEDI4736 in combination with our immunotherapy. This is the first time a PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor will be used with a new class of immunotherapies,” said Daniel J. O’Connor, CEO of Advaxis. The company’s immunotherapy ADXS-cHER2 was recently featured on CBS New York following the release of promising data from a study that combined the immunotherapy treatment with radiation therapy in dogs with bone cancer.
As part of the agreement, Advaxis will fund and lead the clinical trials to assess the efficacy and safety of the combination. MedImmune holds a non-exclusive relationship with the company regarding HPV-driven tumors types. MedImune will have the first right of negotiation for further development of the combination therapy. Results from the study will guide decisions for the combination therapy’s potential for future clinical development.
This is not the first time MedImmune has entered into an immuno-oncology partnership. Just this May, MedImmune entered into a partnership with Incyte to study MEDI4736 plus Incyte’s oral indoleamine dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) inhibitor INCB24360. The phase 1 trial aims to determine proper dosage for the combination treatment, as well as the combination’s safety and efficacy.