AbbVie and BMS announce oncology clinical collaboration to evaluate the combination of Rova-T plus Opdivo and Opdivo + Yervoy regimen

Collaboration will explore the safety and potential enhanced efficacy of combining checkpoint inhibitors with a cancer stem cell-targeting antibody drug conjugate in SCLC.

The Phase I/II clinical program will explore the potential of combining BMS’s immuno-oncology agents, which are designed to alleviate immune suppression, in conjunction with AbbVie’s investigational antibody drug conjugate, Rova-T, to drive improved and sustained efficacy and tolerability above the current standard of care. Rova-T is a novel antibody drug conjugate that targets and eliminates tumor initiating cells and other bulk tumour cells. This collaboration will determine if the targeted cell killing and antigen release caused by Rova-T may further enhance the effect of immunotherapy.

“We are excited to explore the potential benefits of combining BMS’s immunotherapies with a targeted approach like Rova-T in small cell lung cancer where the need for new therapies is particularly acute for this aggressive form of lung cancer,” said Jean Viallet, Global Clinical Research Lead, Oncology, BMS. “As the science around cancer research continues to rapidly evolve, we are building on our leadership in immuno-oncology with numerous collaborations that may help advance new therapies for cancers in need of better options.”

“We believe the combination of these cancer-fighting agents may offer patients a new treatment option in a disease with limited therapies,” said Scott J. Dylla, vice president, research and development, AbbVie. “By combining immune-checkpoint inhibitors that prime the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells with Rova-T’s approach to target cancer stem cells, we hope to build on our goal to develop differentiated treatments with therapeutic benefit that elevate the standard of care for small cell lung cancer patients.”