Bavarian Nordic has entered a drug supply agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb, under which BMS will supply OPDIVO (nivolumab) for use in a clinical study exploring the benefit of combining CV301 with OPDIVO in patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). OPDIVO is approved for treatment of NSCLC in the second line setting, among other indications.
 
CV301 targets two tumor-associated antigens, CEA and MUC-1, which are over-expressed in major cancer types, including lung, bladder and colorectal cancer.
 
Preclinical data shows the ability of CV301 to upregulate PD-L1 by mounting an immune response against a tumor target.
 
“We are extremely excited to announce this agreement. While we have discussed the potential benefit of combining our cancer vaccines with checkpoint inhibitors for some time, this is now within reach as we have once again been able to strike an agreement with the leading immune-oncology company in the world, this time to explore the potential synergy between our programs to benefit patients with lung cancer. We look forward to the initiation of this study later this year,” said Paul Chaplin, president and chief executive officer of Bavarian Nordic.