Crescendo Biologics Ltd., a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing targeted T cell enhancing therapeutics, plans to augment the ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial of CB307 through the addition of a new pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1) combination expansion cohort. Additional financing of $32 million has been secured to fund the combination expansion arm of the adaptive clinical protocol, with support of all major existing shareholders, including Sofinnova Partners, Andera Partners, IP Group BioNTech, Takeda and Quan Capital, and new investor Kreos Capital.

CB307, Crescendo’s lead program, is now entering the cohort expansion part of the ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial. The monotherapy expansion cohort is already underway in individuals with PSMA+ metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in a last-line setting. The additional pembrolizumab combination expansion cohort is expected to be initiated in 3Q23 and will be open to those with PSMA+ mCRPC.

“We are delighted to have secured this additional financing which will enable us to accelerate the clinical development of CB307,” said Theodora Harold, CEO at Crescendo Biologics. “Preclinical data generated by Crescendo, such as those recently presented at AACR in Orlando, as well as clinical data presented by others earlier this year, illustrate the profound effect that adding PD-1 antagonism can have to the co-stimulation of T cells, including via CD137 agonism. We are very excited to further investigate the activity of the combination of CB307 plus pembrolizumab in our clinical study and would like to thank everyone involved in the trial and our existing investors for their ongoing support as well as the team at Kreos Capital for joining us and sharing our vision.”