- AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) and Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) will collaborate in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial assessing the former's antibody-drug conjugate Rova-T (rovalpituzumab tesirine) and the latter's Opdivo (nivolumab) and Opdivo + Yervoy (ipilimumab) in patients with relapsed extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The objective is to determine if the targeted cell killing and antigen release caused by Rova-T enhances the effect of immunotherapy. Patient recruiting should start later this year.
- Small cell lung cancer, accounting for ~15% of lung cancer cases, is very resistant to treatment. The five-year survival rate is less than 5%.
- Rova-T combines a targeted antibody that selectively binds to delta-like protein 3 (DLL3), expressed in more than 80% of SCLC tumors, with a cytotoxic agent. AbbVie obtained the rights to the product candidate via its acquisition of Stemcentrx.