On January 24, 2019 ArQule, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ARQL) partner, Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. (SIX: BSLN), reported that it entered into a collaboration with Roche (SIX: RO, ROG) to explore a combination of derazantinib (BAL087) and Roche’s PD-L1-blocking immune-checkpoint inhibitor, atezolizumab (Tecentriq), in patients with urothelial cancer. Basilea expects to start a biomarker-driven multi-cohort phase 1/2 study in mid-2019 (Press release, ArQule, JAN 24, 2019, View Source [SID1234532887]).
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The planned study will assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of the derazantinib-atezolizumab combination in patients with advanced urothelial cancer and confirmed FGFR genomic aberrations. Basilea will be the sponsor of the study, and Roche will provide clinical supply of atezolizumab.
Peter Lawrence, President and Chief Operating Officer of ArQule, said, "This new combination trial with Tecentriq represents an important step in the development of derazantinib (BAL087, formerly ARQ087) and has the potential to expand meaningfully its therapeutic utility. We look forward to further progress and updates from Basilea."
Derazantinib was licensed to Basilea Pharmaceutica in April 2018 in the US, EU, Japan and the rest of world excluding Greater China. Under the terms of the license agreement, ArQule is eligible to receive up to $326 million in regulatory and commercial milestone payments.