On March 22, 2023 Jacobio Pharma (1167.HK) reported it has entered into a clinical collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA to evaluate the combination of Jacobio’s CD73 monoclonal antibody JAB-BX102 in combination with Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) (Press release, Jacobio Pharmaceuticals, MAR 22, 2023, View Source [SID1234629188]).

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The clinical study will evaluate the clinical effect of JAB-BX102 in combination with KEYTRUDA for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. Under the terms of the agreement, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA will provide KEYTRUDA.

"The CD73 monoclonal antibody is Jacobio’s first large molecule project to enter the clinic. CD73 is an important target in the tumor immune pathway. We believe the combination of CD73 and anti-PD-1, an inhibitor on the same tumor immune pathway, can potentially relieve immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment, stimulate the proliferation and activation of killer immune cells, enhance tumor immunity," said Dr. WANG Yinxiang, Chairman and CEO at Jacobio. "We look forward to exploring the potential benefit of CD73 in combination with an anti-PD-1 in tumor immunotherapy through this collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and potentially giving patients new treatment options."

KEYTRUDA is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.

About JAB-BX102

JAB-BX102 is a humanized CD73 monoclonal antibody developed by Jacobio that was granted approvals for clinical trials in the U.S. and China in October 2021 and March 2022. Jacobio is currently initiating a Phase I/IIa, multi-center, open study of the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and preliminary anti-tumor efficacy of JAB-BX102 alone and in combination with pablizumab to treat advanced solid tumors in China and the U.S. Current published clinical data show that CD73 in combination with PD-(L)1 significantly prolongs survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.