Eli Lilly and Co. and Immunocore have entered into an immunotherapy-based clinical collaboration to explore Immunocore’s lead T cell receptor-based investigational therapeutic, IMCgp100, in combination with Lilly’s galunisertib (LY2157299) and merestinib (LY2801653) for the treatment of melanoma. The collaboration aims to identify combination regimens that provide synergies in efficacy and durability in patients with metastatic cutaneous and uveal melanomas.

Immunocore and Lilly will conduct a Phase Ib/II study evaluating the safety and efficacy of the drug combination in metastatic cutaneous melanoma, and a second Phase Ib/II study will be conducted in metastatic uveal melanoma. Lilly will sponsor the trials, which are expected to begin in 2016. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“This collaboration with Immunocore underscores Lilly’s commitment to discovering the potential of combination therapies, which will be key to the future of cancer care for people fighting diseases such as melanoma,” said Richard Gaynor, M.D., senior vice president, product development and medical affairs for Lilly Oncology. “Lilly is building a robust portfolio of potential advances in immunotherapy through our own research as well as with strategic collaborations like Immunocore.”

Immunocore and Lilly entered into a discovery and development collaboration in July 2014 to research and develop other novel T cell-based cancer therapies built on Immunocore’s ImmTAC platform.

“We are very pleased to be able to announce a second collaboration with Lilly after entering into a collaboration last year,” said Eliot Forster, chief executive officer of Immunocore. “Combining our ImmTAC, IMCgp100 with Lilly’s galunisertib and merestinib has the potential to transform the treatment of metastatic cutaneous and uveal melanoma. Immunocore is committed to the development of IMCgp100 in metastatic uveal and cutaneous melanoma where there is such great unmet medical need.”