BRIEF—Sosei and Astra move novel I-O candidate into Phase II

Japan’s Sosei Group will receive a $15 million payment from AstraZeneca after reaching a clinical development milestone with its partnered next generation immuno-oncology candidate AZD4635.

The small molecule, which was exclusively licensed to AstraZeneca globally in 2015, has been advancing through a Phase I program as a single agent and in combination with Imfinzi (durvalumab) in solid tumors.

Astra will now move the trial towards Phase II. Headline data from the Phase I study will be presented this year.