The study, the first programme under Immunocore’s collaboration with GSK to proceed into clinical development, will assess the safety and tolerability of IMCnyeso in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), bladder cancer, melanoma and synovial sarcoma, positive for NY-ESO-1 and/or LAGE-1A.
The start of the study has triggered an undisclosed milestone payment to Immunocore.
Under the terms of the collaboration entered into in 2013, Immunocore is responsible for all pre-clinical development and for the initial clinical trial in patients for each of the first two target programmes.
Upon exercise of each programme option, GSK would be responsible for the remaining development and commercialisation activities for that target.
Immunocore biology director and head Joseph Dukes said: “We are delighted that our world-leading science has delivered a second ImmTAC into the clinic. This is the first partnered programme to commence dosing in patients, representing a critical milestone in our collaboration.
“It puts this promising programme onto a clinical development path, which we hope will ultimately result in a new treatment option for patients with some of the most difficult-to-treat tumours.”
GSK vice president and immuno-oncology DPU head James Smothers said: “At GSK we are focussed on delivering transformational medicines for cancer patients and we are excited to investigate the scientific promise of ImmTAC technology. The start of this phase I study is another marker of success in our productive collaboration with Immunocore.”
Source: Company Press Release