AbbVie And Bristol-Myers Squibb Strike Oncology Clinical Alliance To Assess Rova-T plus Opdivo And Opdivo + Yervoy Regimen

AbbVie Inc. ABBV and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company BMY revealed Monday a clinical study alliance to assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of the former's investigational biomarker-specific antibody drug conjugate Rova-T in combination with the latter's Opdivo and Opdivo + Yervoy. They were meant for the treatment of relapsed extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Both companies said the Phase 1/2 clinical program would explore the possibility of integrating Bristol-Myers Squibb's immuno-oncology agents in conjunction with AbbVie's investigational antibody drug conjugate, Rova-T, to fuel enhanced, as well as sustained efficacy and tolerability above the current standard of care.

The drug makers said Rova-T was a novel antibody drug conjugate, which targets and eliminates tumor initiating cells apart from other bulk tumor cells. The companies said that this alliance would decide whether the targeted cell killing and antigen release caused by Rova-T might further improve immunotherapy effect.

AbbVie's VP for R&D, Scott Dylla, said, "We believe the combination of these cancer-fighting agents may offer patients a new treatment option in a disease with limited therapies. 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."

Similarly, Bristol-Myers' global clinical research lead, Jean Viallet, said, "We are excited to explore the potential benefits of combining Bristol-Myers Squibb'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."