BMS, Eli Lilly Form Immuno-Oncology Clinical Trial Collaboration

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly and Company have formed a clinical trial collaboration to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of Bristol-Myers Squibb's immunotherapy Opdivo (nivolumab) in combination with Lilly's galunisertib. The Phase I/II trial will evaluate the investigational combination of Opdivo and galunisertib as a potential treatment option for patients with advanced (metastatic and/or unresectable) glioblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and non-small cell lung cancer.

Opdivo is a human programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) blocking antibody that binds to the PD-1 receptor expressed on activated T-cells. Galunisertib ( is a TGF beta R1 kinase inhibitor that in vitro selectively blocks TGF beta signaling. TGF beta promotes tumor growth, suppresses the immune system and increases the ability of tumors to spread in the body. This collaboration will address the hypothesis that co-inhibition of PD-1 and TGF beta negative signals may lead to enhanced anti-tumor immune responses than inhibition of either pathway alone.

The study will be conducted by Lilly. Additional details of the collaboration were not disclosed.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved Opdivo (nivolumab) injection, for intravenous use. Opdivo is a PD-1 blocking antibody indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma and disease progression following Yervoy (ipilimumab) and, if BRAF V600 mutation positive, a BRAF inhibitor. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a broad, global development program to study Opdivo in multiple tumor types consisting of more than 50 trials as a monotherapy or in combination with other therapies.

Source: Bristol-Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly

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