On November 12, 2026 Immuneering Corporation (Nasdaq: IMRX) reported it has entered into a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., a subsidiary of Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503). Under the agreement, Immuneering will supply its investigational MEK inhibitor, atebimetinib, for two Astellas-sponsored studies targeting the subset of pancreatic cancer patients whose tumors express CLDN18.2. One trial will evaluate an Astellas investigational CLDN18.2-targeted program added to atebimetinib plus modified gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel (mGnP) in first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer patients. A second trial will evaluate a chemotherapy-free regimen combining a different Astellas investigational CLDN18.2-targeted program with atebimetinib in previously-treated metastatic pancreatic cancer patients. Further trial details will be forthcoming.
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"This collaboration reflects our conviction that atebimetinib has the potential to become an essential backbone therapy in a broad range of combinations across MAPK-driven cancers," said Ben Zeskind, Immuneering CEO and co-founder. "Atebimetinib’s unique tolerability profile and broad activity make it well suited to combine with a wide range of innovative medicines targeted to specific subsets of patients, including the CLDN18.2-targeted therapies that Astellas is developing."
"Claudin 18.2 has emerged as a promising target in gastrointestinal cancers," said Igor Matushansky, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of Immuneering. "By combining CLDN18.2 targeted therapy with atebimetinib, these studies will evaluate the extent to which there is synergy between these distinct yet complementary mechanisms that can benefit patients with CLDN18.2-expressing pancreatic cancer."
Under the terms of the collaboration, Astellas will sponsor and conduct the planned studies and Immuneering will supply atebimetinib. Immuneering maintains global development and commercialization rights to atebimetinib, and Astellas maintains global development and commercialization rights to its CLDN18.2-targeted programs.
(Press release, Immuneering, NOV 12, 2026, View Source [SID1234674698])