Corvus and Genentech expand 2015 deal, add second combo trial

Corvus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:CRVS) said the Genentech Inc. unit of Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) will manage a Phase Ib/II trial evaluating Corvus’ CPI-444 in combination with Genentech’s Tecentriq atezolizumab in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who are resistant or refractory to prior therapy with a PD-L1 or PD-1 mAb. Corvus expects enrollment to begin next half. Corvus declined to provide financial terms, and Genentech did not respond to inquiries.

The deal expands a 2015 deal under which the companies are evaluating CPI-444 as a single agent and in combination with Tecentriq to treat advanced solid tumors. Data from the trial were released earlier this year (see BioCentury, Dec. 7, 2015 & April 10, 2017)...