AstraZeneca, Peregrine partner on immuno-oncology combination trial to treat solid tumors

Bavituximab is Peregrine’s investigational phosphatidylserine (PS)-signalling pathway inhibitor and durvalumab is AstraZeneca’s investigational anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, while both are investigational immunotherapies with different mechanisms that assist the body’s immune system in fighting cancer.

The deal will see the two firms collaborate on a non-exclusive basis, to evaluate the combination with chemotherapy as a potential treatment in various solid tumors.

The trial’s Phase I part is expected to establish a recommended dose regimen for the combination, while the Phase Ib part will evaluate the safety and efficacy of the investigational combination.

AstraZeneca Global Medicines Development Immuno-Oncology head Robert Iannone said: "We believe that combination therapy in immuno-oncology has the potential to be a novel and highly effective approach to treating cancer.

"Our partnership with Peregrine provides the opportunity to explore an exciting, novel combination that could deliver important clinical benefit to patients across a range of cancers."

Peregrine president and chief executive officer Steven King said: "Data generated to date have shown significant potential for combining bavituximab with agents targeting the PD-1/PDL-1 pathway and we’re excited to further explore this approach in studies with durvalumab."

Under the deal, Peregrine will be responsible for carrying out the initial trial.

Bavituximab targets and modulates the activity of phosphatidylserine, a highly immune-suppressive molecule expressed broadly on the surface of cells in the tumor microenvironment, while durvalumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1).

Image: AstraZeneca headquarters in London, UK. Photo: courtesy of AstraZeneca plc.