On February 24, 2020 CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTMX), a clinical-stage oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company pioneering a novel class of investigational antibody therapeutics based on its Probody therapeutic technology platform, reported that its partner, Bristol-Myers Squibb, has initiated a randomized Phase 2 cohort expansion in its ongoing first-in-human Phase 1/2a trial of the anti-CTLA-4 Probody BMS-986249 alone and in combination with Opdivo (nivolumab) (Press release, CytomX Therapeutics, FEB 24, 2020, View Source [SID1234554640]). BMS-986249 is a peptide masked version of the anti-CTLA-4 antibody Yervoy (ipilimumab). The randomized cohort expansion is designed to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of BMS-986249 in combination with Opdivo in patients with metastatic melanoma, as part of the larger clinical trial (NCT03369223). The advancement of BMS-986249 into this part of the planned study triggers a milestone payment of $10 million from Bristol-Myers Squibb to CytomX.
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In September 2019, Bristol-Myers Squibb also initiated the dose escalation phase of a Phase 1/2a clinical trial (NCT03994601) of a second anti-CTLA-4 Probody, BMS-986288, based on a modified version of ipilimumab, administered as monotherapy and in combination with nivolumab in patients with selected advanced solid tumors.
These Probody programs, designed to optimize the risk-benefit profile of CTLA-4-directed therapy, arose from the companies’ foundational 2014 worldwide oncology license and collaboration agreement.
"CTLA-4 is the prototypical checkpoint target and blocking this mechanism has proven highly effective in the treatment of melanoma and other cancer types. This exciting progress within our alliance with Bristol-Myers Squibb is aimed at the development of anti-CTLA-4 therapies to broaden the reach of this foundational pathway for cancer patients," said Sean McCarthy D.Phil., president, chief executive officer and chairman of CytomX Therapeutics. "This ongoing work by the Bristol-Myers Squibb team complements CytomX’s own work and continued clinical progress with the combination of our anti-PD-L1 Probody, CX-072, with ipilimumab, which will further delineate the potential of our Probody therapeutic platform to deliver differentiated anti-cancer therapies."
Additional details on the Phase 1/2a trial of BMS-986249 are available at ClinicalTrials.gov using the Identifier NCT03369223.
Additional details on the Phase 1/2a trial of BMS-986288 are available at ClinicalTrials.gov using the Identifier NCT03994601.