BMS, PsiOxus Therapeutics to study immuno-oncology combination

Enadenotucirev has the capacity to selectively destroy tumour cells and alert cells of the immune system in the process.

Opdivo is indicated to treat melanoma, lung cancer or kidney cancer by working with the body’s immune system.

Under the exclusive clinical collaboration agreement, the companies plan to assess the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of

PsiOxus’ enadenotucirev anti-cancer therapeutic in combination with BMS’ immuno-oncology agent Opdivo (nivolumab).

The partnership is designed to support phase I trials to identify whether the combination of the two treatments can significantly enhance the proportion of patients achieving objective tumor responses, as well as the extent of tumor shrinkage, and/or the durability of responses.

BMS agreed to make a one-time $10m upfront payment to PsiOxus, while development costs will be shared by both the companies.

PsiOxus will carry out the phase I study, with patient recruitment anticipated to commence in the third quarter of this year.

The companies have also agreed to work exclusively with each other on anti-programmed death-1/anti-programmed death ligand-1 (anti-PD-1/PD-L1) antagonist antibody and enadenotucirev combination regimens, with BMS having a time-limited right of exclusive negotiation for commercial rights to enadenotucirev.

BMS global clinical research lead for oncology Jean Viallet said: "This collaboration continues to expand our clinical development of Opdivo and explores how oncolytic viruses may provide a complementary mechanism to address tumors that are resistant to I-O therapy."

Image: Bristol-Myers Squibb and PsiOxus Therapeutics to study immuno-oncology combination. Photo: courtesy of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.