BioInvent announces new clinical trial collaboration with Merck

Swedish immuno-oncology specialist BioInvent International (Nasdaq Stockholm: BINV) announced a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with MSD International Business GmbH, a subsidiary of Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) for a Phase I/IIa study of its monoclonal antibody BI-1910 in combination with the US pharma giant’s blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab).

Under the terms of the supply accord, MSD will provide its anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda to be used in combination with BI-1910. The Phase I/IIa trial will be conducted in the USA and Europe and has an innovative, adaptive design to allow for ideal dose escalation.

BioInvent noted that BI-1910 is the firm’s second tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) program to enter clinical development, after BI-1808 currently in Phase IIa. BI-1910 displays a differentiated, agonist approach to cancer treatment compared to BI-1808, BioInvent’s first-in-class anti-TNFR2 antibody that is currently also being trialled in combination with Keytruda for lung cancer and ovarian cancer patients.