On September 25, 2017 NewLink Genetics Corporation (Nasdaq: NLNK) reported that it has entered into a clinical collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca to evaluate the combination of indoximod, NewLink Genetics’ small molecule IDO pathway inhibitor, and durvalumab, AstraZeneca’s anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, along with standard of care chemotherapy for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (Press release, NewLink Genetics, SEP 25, 2017, View Source [SID1234520626]).
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The primary objective for this randomized placebo-controlled, Phase 2 study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the immuno-oncology-based combination compared to gemcitabine/ABRAXANE alone. Patients will also be enrolled into a smaller cohort evaluating the combination of durvalumab with gemcitabine/ABRAXANE.
The Phase 2 trial will be funded equally by both companies, with NewLink Genetics serving as the study sponsor. NewLink Genetics’ share of the aggregate expense of the trial is not expected to have a material effect on its financial position.
“We are pleased to initiate a joint immuno-oncology clinical collaboration with AstraZeneca,” said Dr. Charles J. Link, Jr., Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer of NewLink Genetics. “As recent data have indicated, indoximod combinations with immunotherapy and chemotherapy show promise of improving outcomes for patients with multiple tumor types.”
About Durvalumab
Durvalumab (Imfinzi), a human monoclonal antibody directed against PD-L1, blocks PD-L1 interaction with PD-1 and CD80 on T cells, countering the tumour’s immune-evading tactics and inducing an immune response.
Durvalumab is being assessed in Phase III trials as a monotherapy in various stages of NSCLC, in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), in metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) and in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The combination of durvalumab and tremelimumab is being assessed in Phase III trials in NSCLC, SCLC, mUC and HNSCC and in Phase I/II trials in hepatocellular carcinoma and haematological malignancies.
Imfinzi received accelerated approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for previously treated patients with advanced bladder cancer and is under review in Canada and Australia for similar use.
About Indoximod
Indoximod is an investigational, orally available small molecule targeting the IDO pathway. The IDO pathway is one of the key immuno-oncology targets involved in regulating the tumor microenvironment and immune escape.
NewLink Genetics is currently evaluating indoximod in multiple combination studies for patients with various types of cancer including melanoma, acute myeloid leukemia, pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer.
About Metastatic (Stage IV) Pancreatic Cancer1
Approximately 53,670 new cases of pancreatic cancer in the US will be diagnosed in 2017 according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and a little over 43,000 people will die of the disease this year. Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect in its early stages. Because of this, approximately 52% of all pancreatic cancers are metastatic, or advanced, in nature and are associated with a poor prognosis. The 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer overall is only 8.2%, and drops to a low of 2.7% for individuals whose pancreatic cancer has metastasized to farther regions of the body.
1National Cancer Institute: Pancreas Cancer