Innate Pharma SA has received a $5 million milestone payment from Bristol-Myers Squibb as part of the lirilumab licensing agreement.

This payment was triggered by the dosing of a first patient in a Phase II trial of lirilumab in combination with rituximab in patients with relapsed/refractory or high-risk untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Herve Brailly, chief executive officer and co-founder of Innate Pharma, said, “This milestone marks the start of a new Phase II trial of lirilumab in hemato-oncology outside of acute meloid leukemia. We are pleased with the broad clinical program for lirilumab, and expect that results will begin to be delivered in 2016.”

In total, 6 trials are currently being performed with lirilumab, testing a range of solid and hematological cancer indications, multiple rationales and combinations with cytotoxic antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy.