Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Gossamer Bio, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has entered into a clinical collaboration agreement with Merck (known as MSD outside the US and Canada) to evaluate the combination of Gossamer’s investigational product candidate GB1275, the first-in-class oral modulator of CD11b, and Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in patients with selected advanced solid tumors.
Collaboration with Merck
Under the terms of the agreement, Gossamer will conduct a Phase 1/2 study, KEYNOTE-A36, in advanced solid tumors, with the Phase 1 consisting of dose escalation of three GB1275 regimens including one with KEYTRUDA. Additionally, the Phase 2 consists of expansion cohorts evaluating GB1275 in combination with KEYTRUDA or chemotherapy. Gossamer owns worldwide commercial rights to GB1275.
“We are very excited to collaborate with Merck, an established leader in cancer immunotherapy, on our fourth clinical asset and first oncology agent, GB1275, as we work to improve the lives of cancer patients,” said Sheila Gujrathi, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Gossamer.
“Immunotherapies are revolutionizing the treatment of patients with certain types of cancers, but there remain many tumor types in which existing immunotherapies have not demonstrated sufficient efficacy,” said Jakob Dupont, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Gossamer. “Based on the preclinical data and the novel mechanism targeting the CD11b receptor, we believe GB1275’s effect on the immunosuppressive mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment will lead to enhanced anti-tumor activity in combination with KEYTRUDA or chemotherapy.”
GB1275 is an oral modulator of CD11b, a receptor broadly expressed on immunosuppressive myeloid cells found within the tumor microenvironment (TME). In preclinical studies, GB1275 has been shown to reduce the recruitment of these cells into the TME, while also converting the cells within the TME from an immunosuppressive to an active state. The FDA has granted GB1275 orphan drug designation for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.
