Tuesday, September 24, 2019
I-Mab Biopharma ("I-Mab"), a China and U.S.-based clinical stage biopharmaceutical company exclusively focusing on the discovery and development of potential first-in-class and best-in-class biologics in immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases, today announced that it has entered into a clinical research collaboration agreement with MSD, a tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ., USA, to evaluate the combination of I-Mab's TJC4 and MSD's anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in patients with multiple cancer types.
Under this collaboration agreement, MSD will supply KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) to I-Mab for use in clinical studies in combination with TJC4, a fully human anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody. Both parties will collaborate on a Phase 1 clinical trial, based on an agreed and finalized protocol, to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and preliminary efficacy of TJC4 and KEYTRUDA® in patients with multiple cancer types.
"TJC4 is a highly differentiated anti-CD47 antibody currently under clinical development. This collaboration will provide an excellent opportunity to further explore therapeutic potential of combining TJC4 with KEYTRUDA® across different tumor types." said Dr. Jingwu Zang, Founder and Chairman of I-Mab.
KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.
