Immunocore, MedImmune in Immuno-oncology Alliance

Immunocore and MedImmune, the global biologics R&D arm of AstraZeneca, have entered into a second collaboration to conduct combination trials in melanoma. Immunocore will conduct a Phase Ib/II trial combining MedImmune’s investigational checkpoint inhibitors MEDI4736 (anti-PD-L1) and/or tremelimumab (anti-CTLA-4) with IMCgp100, its lead T-cell receptor, for the potential treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma.

MedImmune has an exclusive relationship with Immunocore for the development of IMCgp100 in combination with MEDI4736 and/or tremelimumab, and will have first right of negotiation for the future commercial development of these combinations for tumors expressing gp100. The companies will collaborate to establish a dosing regimen for IMCgp100 combined with MEDI4736 and/or tremelimumab, as part of the Phase Ib study. The Phase II study will assess the safety and efficacy of the different combinations.
 
“We are pleased to expand our partnership with Immunocore, a leader in the discovery and development of novel T-cell receptor-based drugs, to include this combination clinical trial in melanoma,” said Dr. Ed Bradley, senior vice president and head of the Oncology Innovative Medicines unit, MedImmune. “Our partnership with Immunocore is further evidence of our belief that combination therapies have the potential to be one of the most effective ways of treating cancer.”
 
“We are excited to deepen our relationship with MedImmune through this combination study agreement. We look forward to a successful partnership in the development of novel combination treatments in metastatic melanoma, which we believe have the potential to be best-in-class treatments,” said Eliot Forster, chief executive officer of Immunocore.
 
The companies entered a research collaboration and licensing agreement in January 2014 to develop novel cancer therapies using Immunocore’s Immune Mobilizing Monoclonal T-Cell Receptor Against Cancer (ImmTAC) technology.