Alkermes and Clovis Oncology have entered into a research collaboration to evaluate ALKS 4230, Alkermes’ investigational engineered interleukin-2 (IL-2) variant immunotherapy, in combination with rucaparib, Clovis’ marketed PARP inhibitor, and lucitanib, Clovis’ investigational tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The collaboration will explore the potential anti-cancer effects of both treatment combinations in preclinical models across multiple tumor types. Results of this research may form the basis for potential future clinical studies of the novel combinations of ALKS 4230 with rucaparib and/or lucitanib.
 
“Our preclinical partnership with Clovis reflects our ongoing efforts to explore the numerous combination options afforded to ALKS 4230. The collaboration will allow us to examine combinations in two areas of keen interest, PARP and tyrosine kinase inhibition pathways,” said Mark Namchuk, senior vice president, research, pharmaceutical and non-clinical development, Alkermes. “Evidence of combined benefit of ALKS 4230 with rucaparib and/or lucitanib from these preclinical studies may provide a strong rationale to advance into clinical development.”
 
Patrick Mahaffy, president and chief executive officer, Clovis Oncology, said, “The unique profiles of rucaparib, lucitanib and ALKS 4230 may offer the potential for complementary therapies that could represent a meaningful opportunity for the development of new anti-cancer combination treatment options. We are committed to exploring combinations such as these with Alkermes in order to bring improved therapeutic outcomes to patients with multiple tumor types.”
 
Under this collaboration agreement, Alkermes and Clovis will perform preclinical studies to examine the mechanism of action and efficacy of the combinations of ALKS 4230 with rucaparib and ALKS 4230 with lucitanib in multiple tumor models. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will share costs related to the preclinical studies, and each will contribute their respective compounds to the research collaboration.