(Alliance News) - 4D Pharma PLC on Monday said it has entered into a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck KGaA and Pfizer Inc to evaluate MRx0518 in combination with Bavencio as a treatment for carcinoma.
MRx0518 is single strain live biotherapeutic product in development for the treatment of cancer. It stimulates the body's immune system, directing it to produce cytokines and immune cells that are known to attack tumours. Bavencio - or avelumab - was first approved in the US for the treatment of urothelial carcinoma in June and is approved for this indication in 38 countries.
4D Pharma said it will team up with Darmstadt, Germany-based biopharmaceutical company Merck and New York-based pharma giant Pfizer to commence a clinical trial to evaluate Bavencio plus MRx0518 as a first-line maintenance therapy for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma that has not progressed with first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy.
"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, " said 4D Pharma Chief Executive Duncan Peyton.
Shares in 4D Pharma were trading 3.0% higher at 136.00 pence each on Monday morning in London.
By Ife Taiwo; ifetaiwo@alliancenews.com
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