Benzinga | Dec 6, 2021 08:04AM EST

IO Biotech Announces Third Clinical Collaboration With Merck To Evaluate IO102-IO103 In Combination With KEYTRUDA As First-Line Treatment In A Phase 2 Multi-Arm Basket Trial

IO Biotech (NASDAQ:IOBT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, immune-modulating cancer therapies based on its T-win(r) technology platform, announced today that it has entered into a third clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA (known as MSD outside the US and Canada), through a subsidiary. The purpose of the collaboration is to evaluate IO Biotech's lead candidate, IO102-IO103, in combination with KEYTRUDA(r) (pembrolizumab), Merck's anti-PD-1 (programmed death receptor-1) therapy, in previously untreated patients with three different tumor types-- metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), and metastatic urothelial bladder cancer (UBC). IO102-IO103 is an investigational novel immunotherapeutic agent designed to target the mechanisms mediated by key immunosuppressive proteins such as Indoleamine 2,3-dehydrogenase (IDO) and PD-L1.

"We are pleased to be collaborating once again with Merck to study the potential of our IDO and PD-L1 derived immune-modulating therapy in combination with pembrolizumab as part of our broad, late-stage development program," said Mai-Britt Zocca, PhD, CEO and founder of IO Biotech. "We believe IO102-IO103 has the potential to show utility for multiple cancer indications, and we look forward to expanding our dataset in these additional settings."

The planned Phase 2 trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination of IO102-IO103 with pembrolizumab in patients with previously untreated metastatic NSCLC, SCCHN, or UBC. Additional correlative endpoints will also be explored to elucidate the mechanism of action. Under the terms of the agreement, IO Biotech will sponsor the Phase 2 trial and Merck will supply pembrolizumab. IO Biotech maintains global commercial rights to IO102-IO103.