On December 8, 2021 SOTIO Biotech, a clinical stage immuno-oncology company owned by PPF Group, reported that it has entered into a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with MSD, a tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ., through its subsidiaries, to evaluate the combination of SOT101, SOTIO’s IL-15 superagonist, and MSD’s KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in patients with selected advanced/refractory solid tumors in the phase 2 AURELIO-04 study (Press release, SOTIO, DEC 8, 2021, View Source [SID1234596595]).

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"SOT101 in combination with KEYTRUDA has shown promising clinical efficacy across multiple indications in our ongoing phase 1/1b AURELIO-03 study," said Radek Špíšek, Ph.D., Global CEO of SOTIO. "We are excited to collaborate with MSD, a global leader in oncology, to continue studying the combination as part of the AURELIO-04 study for the treatment of certain patients with solid tumors while exploring the full potential of SOT101. We look forward to advancing SOT101 to the benefit of patients globally."

Under the terms of the agreement, SOTIO will conduct a Phase 2 open-label, multicenter study of SOT101 in combination with KEYTRUDA to evaluate efficacy and safety in patients with selected advanced or refractory solid tumors. The study is expected to treat up to 300 patients with a combination of SOT101 and a standard dose of KEYTRUDA. The study will enroll patients in the U.S. and selected European countries across six different indications, including second line non-small cell lung cancer, first and second line cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, first line microsatellite instability-high colorectal cancer, second line hepatocellular carcinoma, first line metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, and second line ovarian cancer. MSD will supply KEYTRUDA for the study.

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

About SOT101
SOT101 (SO-C101) is a subcutaneously-administered IL-15 superagonist that is fused to the sushi+ domain of the IL-15 receptor α chain. SOT101 has demonstrated strong preclinical in vivo efficacy in various tumor models showing increased long-term survival and tumor regression, as well as a favorable toxicology profile. SOT101 has been shown in pre-clinical models to synergize with checkpoint inhibitors and antibody therapies exerting ADCC.