Cancer Research, Parker Institutes to test I-O combos for pancreatic cancer

Cancer Research Institute (CRI) and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy partnered with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY) and Apexigen Inc. (San Carlos, Calif.) to evaluate combinations of immunotherapies with chemotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer. The partners started a Phase I/II trial to test combinations of BMS's Opdivo nivolumab and Apexigen's APX005M in patients with previously untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer.

The study will evaluate combos of Opdivo and APX005M with standard chemotherapy drugs gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. Phase I will assess safety and Phase II will evaluate overall survival (OS) and other efficacy outcomes. Robert Vonderheide at the University of Pennsylvania will lead the study, which will be conducted at six U.S. Parker Institute cancer research centers...