4D Pharma inks collaboration with Merck and Pfizer

(Sharecast News) - Biotherapeutics developer 4D Pharma announced a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck and Pfizer on Monday, for 'Bavencio', or avelumab).
The AIM-traded firm described Bavencio as "the first and only" immunotherapy approved as a first-line maintenance treatment for patients with locally-advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

It was co-developed and co-commercialised by Merck of Germany and Pfizer.

Under the collaboration, 4D said it intended to start a clinical trial in 2021 to evaluate Bavencio in combination with MRx0518 as a first-line maintenance therapy for patients with locally-advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma that had not progressed with first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy.

"With this second clinical trial collaboration for MRx0518 with a leading immune checkpoint inhibitor, 4D is able to evaluate MRx0518 in a new combination and earlier treatment setting," said chief executive officer Duncan Peyton.

"Following the promising data already generated in combination with checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab in refractory patients, and MRx0518 monotherapy data demonstrating single agent immuno-modulation presented last year at SITC, this collaboration allows us to continue to build a broad understanding of the safety and efficacy of MRx0518 across a range of solid tumors and stages of disease.

"The combination of MRx0518 with Bavencio has the potential to further enhance the positive clinical outcomes achieved by Bavencio for the significant number of patients in this treatment setting."

At 1248 GMT, shares in 4D Pharma wre up 1.06% at 133.4p.