Debiopharm collaborates with Merck and Pfizer on cancer immunotherapy

Switzerland-based Debiopharm International has entered into a collaboration agreement with Germany’s Merck KGaA (MRK: DE) and US pharma giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) to evaluate Debio 1143, an oral, small molecule inhibitor of IAPs (inhibitor of apoptosis Proteins), in combination with avelumab, an investigational fully human anti-PD-L1 IgG1 monoclonal antibody, in patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Debio 1143 is currently in Phase II development for head and neck and ovarian cancer. Avelumab is under clinical investigation across a broad range of tumor types by Merck and Pfizer. Under the terms of the agreement, Debiopharm will be responsible for conducting the Phase I/Ib clinical trial in NSCLC. No financial terms of the accord were disclosed.

Represents third collaboration this month