On December 20, 2018 Apexigen, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, reported a collaboration with Columbia University Irving Medical Center on a new Phase 2 study for its lead immuno-oncology (I-O) therapeutic APX005M, a monoclonal antibody targeting CD40, in combination with doxorubicin and olaratumab in patients with advanced sarcomas (Press release, Apexigen, DEC 20, 2018, View Source [SID1234590999]). The trial is being funded by Apexigen and is being conducted by researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

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"We are excited to collaborate on this important new study," said Xiaodong Yang, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Apexigen. "We believe that combining APX005M with the standard of care could benefit many cancer patients. In conducting this trial we hope that we may advance better I-O treatment options for patients with sarcomas."

Additional information on this trial can be found on the ClinicalTrials.gov website at: NCT03719430.

About APX005M
APX005M is a novel, humanized monoclonal antibody that stimulates the anti-tumor immune response. APX005M targets CD40, a co-stimulatory receptor that is essential for activating both innate and adaptive immune systems. Binding of APX005M to CD40 on antigen presenting cells (i.e., dendritic cells, monocytes and B-cells) initiates a multi-faceted immune response bringing multiple components of the immune system (e.g., T cells, macrophages) to work in concert against cancer. APX005M is currently in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of cancers such as melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancers and renal cell carcinoma in various combinations with immunotherapy, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.