On January 25, 2018 Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:FPRX), a biotechnology company discovering and developing innovative immuno-oncology protein therapeutics, reported that a development milestone for cabiralizumab has been achieved, triggering a $25 million payment from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS, NYSE:BMY) under the license and collaboration agreement between the companies established in 2015 (Press release, Five Prime Therapeutics, JAN 25, 2018, View Source [SID1234523577]). The milestone was triggered by initiation of a multi-arm Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT03336216), sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, evaluating cabiralizumab and Opdivo (nivolumab) with and without chemotherapy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
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"Effective treatment for patients with pancreatic cancer remains a significant unmet need and is a cancer for which existing immunotherapies have not been successful to date," said Helen Collins, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Five Prime. "We are encouraged by the preliminary data presented at SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) 2017 and are pleased to see this trial underway."
The Phase 2 trial is expected to enroll approximately 160 patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer that has progressed during or after one line of chemotherapy.
About Cabiralizumab (FPA008)
Cabiralizumab is an investigational antibody that inhibits the CSF-1 receptor and has been shown in preclinical models to block the activation and survival of monocytes and macrophages. Inhibition of CSF1R in preclinical models of several cancers reduces the number of immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the tumor microenvironment, thereby facilitating an immune response against tumors. Cabiralizumab is currently in clinical trials in oncology indications and in pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS). Cabiralizumab is being developed under an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement entered into with Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) in October 2015.